Cara Cao

Mrs. Fleming

English 1

3 March 2016

Romeo and Juliet Analysis Essay

If love leads to death, is it true love? While reading William Shakespeare’s famous play

Romeo and Juliet, this question comes to readers’ minds. It is a sad love story ending in a

tragedy caused by two opposing families. Romeo, the main character in the play, doesn't

demonstrate true love since he loved Juliet with emotion instead of heartfelt caring. The reason

he loved Juliet was false. His courtship of Juliet was irresponsible and improper. The final

decision he made was woeful as well.

First, how can love be generated? It is built on a long relationship with a woman. Love is

not a simple physical response; it needs a strong reason that will cause love to deepen. But

Romeo’s love lacked reason. He just loved because of Juliet’s face. “O,she doth teach the torches

to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night. As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear;

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, As

yonder lady o’er her fellows shows. The measure done, I’ll watch her place of stand, And,

touching hers, make blessed my rude hand. Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I

ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (Act 1, scene 5, lines 45-55) Based on Romeo’s words, he

“loved” Juliet because of her beauty. It was his first time seeing Juliet, he even didn't know her

name, age, or background. True love, is not the same as a beautiful expression of sweet words,

speaking vows of eternal love, or clinging to a kiss or hug. It is a kind of beautiful, pure, noble

feeling. It was too rushed by him, for readers to consider that he was really in love with her.
“Young men's love then lies, not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Act 2, scene 3, lines 68-

69) As Friar Lawrence said, Romeo was so young that he uses his eyes to love, not heart. His

love is cheap and untrue. Before Romeo met Juliet, he loved another woman Rosaline. Ironically,

he loved her for the same reason --- beauty. It shows that Romeo is a man who easily loves

women because of their beauty. If he meet another woman who is more beautiful than Juliet, he

will change his love again. True love is generated by two people’s deep understanding of each

other, instead of a short meeting and a beautiful face. It should be a loyal commitment rather

than a rash action.

Second, true love shows responsibility. It is not just for momentary happiness. Through

the courtship, true love needs to consider the families involved because they will affect the lovers

for the rest of their lives. “I was dining with my enemies, when all of a sudden, one of them

wounded me, whom I in turn wounded.”（Act 2, scene 3, lines 50-52) In the quote, Romeo

knew Juliet was Capulet, but he didn’t stop hanging out with Juliet. Even though he knew it is

impossible for the two families accept their love. They only met once then he wanted to marry

her. Marriage can’t be in such haste. Spending time in courtship is a very important thing for a

woman. If he really loved Juliet, he should consider their future without their families’ support.

He should think of Juliet’s situation if they get married. Juliet’s family won’t forgive Romeo.

Romeo’s only thought was to get Juliet without caring about her future. Since he couldn't give

her a good future, he ought to give her up. Sometimes giving up is a kind of true love. “Tybalt

fatally stabs Mercutio, and, in turn, Romeo avenges his friend's death by killing Tybalt.” (Act 3,

scene 1) When he killed Tybalt, he didn’t care about the result and Juliet. It demonstrates again

that Romeo was an overly emotional man. Romeo was so impulsive that he acted with emotion
and lack of caring for Juliet while true love requires careful consideration. True love is mutual

caring and replaces self-centeredness.

Third, death isn’t the way to demonstrate true love. If they truly love each other, they

should know that true love is helping each other to live well. “Here's to my love! O true

apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act 5, scene 3,

lines 119-120) In the quote, Romeo used death to demonstrate his love for Juliet. He didn’t think

that Juliet, as his lover, wouldn’t want him to die. If Juliet could choose, she would want Romeo

to live. “This is my sheath. There rust, and let me die.” (Act 5, scene 3, line 175) As Juliet said,

she committed suicide because she was in despair. Romeo’s decision indirectly caused Juliet’s

death. If Romeo didn't commit suicide, the tragedy won’t happen. To choose death is a

misunderstanding of true love. A double suicide for love is a perversion of love. Real love does

not say, “I love you so I will die for you.” True love is living a good life for each other instead of

choosing death.

In conclusion, Romeo used his overly emotional and hastey personality to love Juliet

which made him act irresponsibly and hurt both Juliet and himself. His impulsive and

thoughtless love caused the tragedy. True love is to experience a lot of things together. True love

is to think of each other all the time, and be responsible for each other. True love is

understanding that even if you can't be together you desire the other to live well. Love is both

romantic and dangerous. If you don’t treat it well, it can cut people like a knife. Every person

should treat love seriously because nobody wants their lover to die. Before you make a decision,

please think hard. It may just save your life or the life of the one you love.