Romeo And Juliet Details Essay, Research Paper

Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare is generally regarded as one of the

greatest writers of English literature. Romeo and Juliet is considered one of

Shakespeare?s most popular plays of all time. It is a compelling and timeless

drama about innocent, young lovers separated by their feuding families. In Romeo

and Juliet, Romeo Montague is the tragic hero. As the play develops, Romeo grows

from boyhood to manhood through his change from lust to love. In the beginning

of the play, Romeo is a little boy moaning over love. Sad because he is not with

the women he believes he loves, ?Bid a sick man in sadness make his will. Ah,

word ill urged to one that is so ill!? . Never experiencing the true meaning

of love; he prances around, acting as if he knows of true love. For example, He

explains his emotions to be, ?A madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a

preserving sweet? (I, i, 191-192). He believes he is in love with Rosaline,

?I do love a woman? but is only lust from a young man ( I, i, 203). It is

lust because Romeo is easily persuaded by Benvolio to go to the Capulet ball to

look upon other beautiful ladies, ?Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so loves;

With all the admired beauties of Verona. Go thither, and with unattainted eye

Compare her face with some that I shall show, And I will make thee think they

swan a crow? (I, ii, 85-89). Romeo enters the Capulet ball where he meets

Juliet. At the ball, Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, ?What lady?s

that, which doth enrich the hand/Of yonder knight?? (I, iv, 41-42). There is

no turning back for him now. He does feel something, ?Did my heart love till

now? Forswear it, sight!/For I ne?er saw true beauty till this night? (I, v,

51-52). Is it love at first sight? He is quick in his confession of love towards

Juliet. It is not love but lust because hours before those same feelings were

devoted to Rosaline, ?She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow/Do I live

dead that live to tell it now? (I, i, 221-222). Romeo is still young and wild

at heart. His emotions are uncontrollable. He is not mature enough to know what

he is feeling. Romeo chases Juliet to the balcony, and speaks softly to himself

as he see her, ?Her vestal livery is but sick and green, And none but fools do

wear it. Cast it off? (II, i, 7-8), which has sexual meaning. Interpreted

means, ?You don?t look good in those clothes so Take them off!?. This is

an example of lust at its highest peak. Also in the balcony scene, as Juliet is

being called upon by the nurse, Romeo says, ?O, wilt thou leave me so

unsatisfied,? also being of sexual context (II, ii, 125). In astonishment,

Juliet replies, ?What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?? (II, ii, 126).

Romeo replies back, ?Th? exchange of thy love?s faithful vow for mine?

(II, ii, 127). Only knowing Juliet for a matter of hours; he confesses his love,

and has already forgot about Rosaline, ?No. I have forgot that name and that

name?s woe? (II, iii, 46). Wanting to marry Juliet, Romeo goes to Friar

Lawrence for help, ?I?ll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, That thou

consent to marry us to-day.? (II, iii, 63-64). From this point, it does show

that Romeo is starting to get serious about his affections towards Juliet.

Without consent from their parents, Romeo and Juliet get married. The true Romeo

is starting to emerge as he steps up to the manly responsibilities of marriage.

After being married, Romeo is confronted by Tybalt. Romeo hesitates in fighting

him, ?I do protest I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst

devise. Till thou shalt know the reason of my love; And so, good Capulet, which

name I tender/ As dearly as mine own, be satisfied,? because Tybalt is family

to him now (III, i, 68-71). This is where Romeo shows the deepest passions of

love towards Juliet. Fighting is the last thing on his mind. He does not permit

himself to fight Tybalt because of his love towards Juliet. Tybalt, the villain

he is, pushes Romeo into fighting him by killing Romeo?s bestfriend, Mercutio.

Romeo slays Tybalt, and is thereby banished by the Prince, ?Immediately we do

exile him hence? (III, i, 185). After Romeo finds out about his banishment he

falls to the floor of Friar Lawrence?s cell in despair, ?Tis torture, and

not mercy. Heaven is here, Where Juliet lives; and every cat and dog And little

mouse, every unworthy thing, Live here in heaven and may look on her; But Romeo

may not,? showing how much he truly does love Juliet for if he can not see

her; he rather die (III, iii, 29-33). He can not love Juliet anymore than he

already does. Instead of leaving, Romeo risks his life to stay in Verona with

Juliet, ?I have more care to stay than will to go? (III, v, 23). And if she

asks him, without hesitation he would surely stay longer. At this point,

Romeo?s ability to die for Juliet comes as no surprise. Upon hearing of

Juliet?s death, ?Her body sleeps in Capel?s monument,? and with the

words, ?I defy you, stars;? Romeo takes fate firmly in his hands and

determines the time and manner of his own death (V, i, 17/V, i, 24). In the very

shortness of his words, and speed of his actions lies Romeo?s true character.

Romeo does not pause to think about what has just happened but with unwavering

courage he goes to search out his true love in death, ?Juliet, I will lie with

thee to-night (V, i, 35). Juliet, and the love for her has become life for him,

and without Juliet there can be nothing but death in living. Romeo goes to the

tomb to die with Juliet, ?Here, here will I remain/With worms that are thy

chambermaids. O, here/Will I set up my everlasting rest/And shake the yoke of

inauspicious stars? (V, iii, 108-111). His passion now absorbs itself in

dying, as it did before in loving Juliet. ?Here?s to my love,? as he

drinks the poison prepared by the apothecary; he can finally rest with his true

love in heaven. William Shakespeare?s, Romeo and Juliet is a compelling and

timeless drama about love in its purest form. Romeo Montague makes the biggest

sacrifice anyone can make; his life. Romeo dies for true love, and in dying, his

passion and love for Juliet has reached its ultimate peak. Romeo will truly stay

the male symbol of passionate love until the end of time.

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