It is true love that Romeo and Juliet share, not lust. Discuss.

The love that Romeo and Juliet share is genuine. Shakespeare indeed intends the play to be a
representation of love, showing the extremity of Romeo and Juliet’s actions to be driven by the
power of love. The sacrifice that characters, Romeo and Juliet, make and their selfless actions for the
sake of each other are definitely not motivated by lust but love. The extent of committing a double
suicide shows that it is love they share, their intention in death is definitely not to satisfy lust.
Physical closeness is not necessary for them; rather, they may feel physically attracted to each other
because of love.

In ‘Romeo and Juliet’ it is the true love that draws audiences to the play. Both Romeo and Juliet
motivated by their love, makes many sacrifices in the play. As Juliet states, “Or, if thou wilt not, be
but sworn my love/ And I'll no longer be a Capulet”, she shows that she can abandon family for the
sake of love. Similarly, Romeo also states, “Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized; Henceforth I
never will be Romeo.” This continual link between love and willingness to sacrifice family confirms it
is indeed love that Romeo and Juliet share. When Juliet claims, “My bounty is as boundless as the
sea/My love as deep; the more I give to thee/ The more I have for both are infinite,” Shakespeare
gives a wonderful image of the metaphor that compares her love to be as deep as a sea. Through the
image evoked, love is definitely indicated and endorsed in, as audiences see the beauty of love.

Not only do the characters make sacrifices, they also venture to the extreme, committing suicide. It
is implausible to think that one would kill themselves because of lust. Even if there are audiences
who believe that lust has the power to do so, Shakespeare creates doubt as he builds up to the
suicide. As Romeo is banished, in anguish, he exclaims, “there is no world without, Verona walls/But
purgatory, torture, hell itself.” Shakespeare, through the repeated nouns that have similar meanings,
emphasises the horrors of banishment as Romeo compares it to them. However, as the nurse
pleads, “for Juliet’s sake”, he endures it. In addition, just before returning to Verona to commit
suicide, he states, “How fares my Juliet? that I ask again; For nothing can be ill, if she be well.” Even
though Romeo considers banishment to be “torture”, he still feels that “nothing can be ill” if she is
well. This selflessness displayed proves again that it is love Romeo feels as lust is the complete
opposite, a self desire. It shows that even though they are apart, it does not lessen their love for
each other. Juliet, on the other hand, overcomes the fear of death through love. Though she is
scared that the vial will kill her, this does not prevent her from taking it, willed by the prospect of
being with Romeo. As the suicide finally takes place, the play ends tragically, fulfilling the “star-
crossed lovers [that] take their life.” It is not lust that prompts them to commit suicide but the
power of love that has doomed them to this fate for they feel the need to be together, not
necessarily physically but in life and death. Indeed, Shakespeare even from the prologue shows that
the feelings Romeo and Juliet have is love.

However, in the play, lust is also portrayed. After all, meeting one night is enough for them to agree
to marriage. Readers cannot help but to doubt whether marriage is just a reason for lust. As just
after killing Tybalt, even though Romeo is in danger, both of them feel a need to fulfil the marriage
through physical contact. In Juliet’s soliloquy, her anticipation indicates lust. As Shakespeare writes,
“Come, civil night…hood my unmann’d blood, bating in my cheeks,” this blatant display of lust is very
intense, giving further doubt to readers of the sincerity of their love. “Come, gentle night, come,
loving, black-brow'd night, Give me my Romeo;”, Shakespeare continues, the demanding tone and
repeated verb “come” heightens the urgency Juliet must be feeling. However, despite the lust,
Shakespeare shows that it is not only lust that the two characters feel. He shows that when in love,
there is physical attraction. As never once when lust is displayed, love is overcome but rather it
dominates. By promising marriage, they believe that it is exchange of “thy love's faithful vow”. In
Juliet’s soliloquy, she also states that through having fulfilling the marriage, it is completing an
“amorous rite” for “lovers.”

The love that Romeo and Juliet shares is therefore true. Shakespeare shows that lust is not enough
to be a reason to sacrifice or commit suicide but love. The two lovers do not feel the need to be
physically together but rather in spirit, in death. Even though they have felt lust in the play, it is due
to the love they have each other that physically attract them. By quenching their desire in lust, they
have also quenched their desire in love as they believe that it is a ritual-like stage that lovers
complete.