Elodie Orkin

English Class
Ms. Jarvis
02-13-17

Romeo’s Love For Juliet:

Exploring the True Relationship between Romeo and Juliet

“With love’s light wings did I o’erperch

these walls, / For stony limits cannot
hold love out”(Act II, sc 2, ll. 71-72).

In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s love for Juliet seems limitless. For

example, in the scene referenced above, Juliet asks Romeo how he got to her balcony with the

Capulet walls being so difficult to climb. Romeo says his love lifted him over the barrier.

Although the love between them appears perfect, their love is questionable. At the beginning of

the play, Romeo is depressed because he is in love with another girl, Rosaline. Because of his

love for Rosaline, his intentions behind meeting Juliet, and the speed in which they fell in love, it

is possible Romeo does not truly love Juliet.

One reason why Romeo’s love for Juliet is doubtful is because he appears to love

Rosaline. In the first act of Romeo and Juliet, Benvolio is telling Romeo to look at other girls in

order to get over his love for Rosaline. But Romeo declares that no one can compare to her:

“One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun/ Ne’er saw her match since first the world begun”

(Act I, sc 2,ll. 99-100). In this passage, Romeo shows his love for Rosaline is so past compare,

not even the sun can match his love for her. Romeo’s love seems so intense for her that his love

for Juliet can be seen as a shadow in comparison.

Another example of how Romeo’s love for Juliet is arguable is in his intentions while

falling in love with Juliet. In the well-known balcony scene, Romeo is comparing Juliet to

Rosaline. He exclaims, “It is the East, and Juliet is the sun,/ Arise fair sun, and kill the envious
moon” (Act II, sc 2, ll. 3-4). Romeo seems to suggest that he wants to kill his love for Rosaline

by making Juliet the sun. His love for Juliet is suspect because he still has Rosaline fresh in his

mind while speaking of his love for Juliet.

A finale example showing Romeo doesn’t really love Juliet is that their love is rushed.

When Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence’s cell for advice, the Friar makes fun of Romeo’s love for

Juliet. “Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear/ So soon forsaken?.... Lo, here upon thy cheek

the stain doth sit/ Of an old tear that is not washed off yet” (Act II, sc 3, ll. 70-80) The Friar

seems to question Romeo’s love for Juliet because an old tear for Rosaline still sits upon his face.

The quickness of Romeo’s transfer of love from Rosaline to Juliet makes his love for Juliet

debatable.

Although there are many points that prove Romeo’s love for Juliet is problematic, Romeo

does show many signs of love for her. Not only does he chose to marry her, he kills him-self out

of love. What is clear throughout the play is Romeo loves to love. But due to many examples

from the text including, the intensity of his love for Rosaline, his motives behind loving Juliet,

and his haste in pursuing her, it is evident his love for Juliet is ambiguous. Overall, one of the

most famous stories of love upon closer observation is unconvincing. In this perspective, the play

seems to be less about Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other and more about Romeo’s

individual struggles with love.