How Love Affects Romeo
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Fiona
Romeo and Juliet Research Paper
The many underlying themes in Shakespeare’s literature give his writing depth and meaning. The most significant theme in Romeo and Juliet is the affect love has on peoples lives in ways that they did not think that it could affect them. Love affects Romeo, Juliet, and the rest of the characters in many ways and drastically affects the outcome of the play, which is why it is the most significant theme.
One of the characters that love greatly affects is Romeo. When we first meet Romeo at the beginning of the story his family friends are very concerned about him. He is in love with a girl named Rosaline. He is upset about the relationship and it is affecting him negatively. His family and friends notice a change in him and try to figure out what is wrong. As Bernard explains, “When Benvolio appoints himself to determine and report the cause of Romeo's deep sighs and general sadness to old Montague, he does this in a curious manner. Having gotten
Romeo to admit that love is the underlying cause...” (3). Romeo’s father and best friend noticed a significant change due to love. Shakespeare starts the play out with this theme and he continues it throughout the play.
Love also greatly affects Romeo in other ways. Many characters in the story talk about how Romeo’s love for Juliet makes him effeminate. When Romeo finds out that he is going to be
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separated from Juliet and banished from Verona he starts bawling and even tries to kill himself.
Friar then says to him, “Hold thy desperate hand!Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art.
Thy tears are womanish; Thy wild acts denoteThy unreasonable fury of a beast.” (Romeo and
Juliet.3.3.117-130). Friar is saying that he is acting like a woman and telling him to man up and think rationally. His love for Juliet and the idea of staying away from her causes Romeo to act womanish and instinctively. His first thought is to kill himself instead of thinking things through and trying to figure
Fiona
Romeo and Juliet Research Paper
The many underlying themes in Shakespeare’s literature give his writing depth and meaning. The most significant theme in Romeo and Juliet is the affect love has on peoples lives in ways that they did not think that it could affect them. Love affects Romeo, Juliet, and the rest of the characters in many ways and drastically affects the outcome of the play, which is why it is the most significant theme.
One of the characters that love greatly affects is Romeo. When we first meet Romeo at the beginning of the story his family friends are very concerned about him. He is in love with a girl named Rosaline. He is upset about the relationship and it is affecting him negatively. His family and friends notice a change in him and try to figure out what is wrong. As Bernard explains, “When Benvolio appoints himself to determine and report the cause of Romeo's deep sighs and general sadness to old Montague, he does this in a curious manner. Having gotten
Romeo to admit that love is the underlying cause...” (3). Romeo’s father and best friend noticed a significant change due to love. Shakespeare starts the play out with this theme and he continues it throughout the play.
Love also greatly affects Romeo in other ways. Many characters in the story talk about how Romeo’s love for Juliet makes him effeminate. When Romeo finds out that he is going to be
2
separated from Juliet and banished from Verona he starts bawling and even tries to kill himself.
Friar then says to him, “Hold thy desperate hand!Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art.
Thy tears are womanish; Thy wild acts denoteThy unreasonable fury of a beast.” (Romeo and
Juliet.3.3.117-130). Friar is saying that he is acting like a woman and telling him to man up and think rationally. His love for Juliet and the idea of staying away from her causes Romeo to act womanish and instinctively. His first thought is to kill himself instead of thinking things through and trying to figure