4.1.1

Romeo's Loves

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Love - Romeo and Rosaline

Love is the most important theme of the play - romantic love, the joyful consequences of love, but also the violent and overpowering consequences of love. Here are some key ideas explored through Romeo and Rosaline's 'love':

Lust

Lust

  • At the start of the play, we see Romeo’s immature love and sexual desire for Rosaline.
    • Romeo lusts after (has strong sexual desire for) Rosaline because she is beautiful - 'she is rich in beauty, only poor, that when she dies with beauty dies her store'.
Legacy

Legacy

  • Rosaline is from a poor family. Romeo feels that by refusing to love him back, Rosaline is wasting the only richness (beauty) she has. Her beauty will die with her. She will leave no legacy (reputation after she dies).
Unrealistic love

Unrealistic love

  • The audience never meets Rosaline in person. This shows that she is an unrealistic partner for Romeo and that she can never be who he wants her to be.
Obsession

Obsession

  • Although Rosaline does not return his love, Romeo is obsessed.
  • His obsession shows the audience that Romeo is not ready for true love to happen. He is yet to find his true love (who also returns his love): Juliet.

Love - Romeo and Juliet

Love is the most important theme of the play - romantic love, the joyful consequences of love, but also the violent and overpowering consequences of love. Here are some key ideas explored through Romeo and Juliet's love:

Genuine love

Genuine love

  • When Romeo and Juliet meet, we see real, genuine passionate love between the two.
  • Even in the prologue, the audience learns that they are 'star-cross’d lovers' who are fated to be together.
  • This is different to Romeo’s previous feelings for Rosaline.
  • When he meets Juliet, he feels a deep connection with her. She reciprocates (returns) his feelings. This suggests that a more stable, mature relationship is forming.
Inexpressible love

Inexpressible love

  • Juliet says 'my true love is grown to such excess I cannot sum up sum of half my wealth'.
  • This suggests that she loves Romeo so much so that she cannot fully express it.
Maturing in love

Maturing in love

  • When Romeo talks about Rosaline, he speaks in poetic sonnets (traditionally love poems) and pines for (wants) her.
  • When he talks to Juliet, he uses fewer sonnets. This shows that he is maturing in how he loves people.
Love influencing decisions

Love influencing decisions

  • Throughout the play, all of Romeo and Juliet’s decisions are based on their desire to be together and their love for one another:
    • They quickly marry and plan their future together.
    • Juliet refuses to marry Paris and fakes her death so she can be with Romeo.
    • Romeo lays next to Juliet and kills himself because he thinks she is really dead and cannot face life without her.
    • Juliet then kills herself because she cannot live without Romeo. Their love is almost violent in its power.
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1

Context

1.1

Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting1.1.2Relationships1.1.3Religion & Fate1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context1.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Era1.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Location
2

Plot Summary

2.1

Prologue

2.1.1Prologue
2.2

Act 1

2.2.1Scene 12.2.2Scene 1 Quotes2.2.3Scene 22.2.4Scene 32.2.5Scene 42.2.6Scene 52.2.7End of Topic Test - Prologue & Act 1
2.3

Act 2

2.3.1Scenes 1-22.3.2Scene 32.3.3Scene 42.3.4Scenes 5-62.3.5End of Topic Test - Act 2
2.4

Act 3

2.4.1Scene 12.4.2Scene 22.4.3Scenes 3-42.4.4Scene 52.4.5End of Topic Test - Act 3
2.5

Act 4

2.5.1Scene 12.5.2Scenes 2-32.5.3Scenes 4-5
2.6

Act 5

2.6.1Scene 12.6.2Scene 22.6.3Scene 32.6.4Scene 3 - Quotes2.6.5End of Topic Test - Acts 4 & 52.6.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Drugs2.6.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Knowing about the Wed2.6.8Diagnostic Misconceptions - Order of Deaths
3

Key Characters

3.1

Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect3.1.2Character Development3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes3.1.4Diagnostic Misconceptions - Age3.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Banishment3.1.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Naivety
3.2

Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development3.2.2Tragic Character3.2.3Key Quotes3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet3.2.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Real People?3.2.6Diagnostic Misconceptions - Montagues vs Capulets
3.3

Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation3.3.2Key Quotes
3.4

The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse3.4.2Benvolio3.4.3Tybalt
3.5

Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation3.5.2Key Quotes3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence3.5.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - What is a Friar?
3.6

Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis
4

Key Themes & Concepts

4.1

Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves4.1.2Friendship & Family4.1.3Violent Love4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love
4.2

Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death4.2.3Fate & Destiny4.2.4Gender4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes4.2.7Diagnostic Misconceptions - Type of Play
5

Writing Techniques

5.1

Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques5.1.5Diagnostic Misconceptions - Wherefore
6

Recap: Main Quotes

6.1

Main Quotes by Act

6.1.1Act 16.1.2Act 26.1.3Act 36.1.4Act 46.1.5Act 5
6.2

Main Quotes by Character

6.2.1Romeo6.2.2Juliet6.2.3Mercutio6.2.4Friar Laurence6.2.5Nurse6.2.6Benvolio6.2.7Tybalt

Practice questions on Romeo's Loves

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    What shows us (the audience) that Rosaline is an unsuitable partner for Romeo?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    What does Romeo think Rosaline is wasting by refusing to love him back?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which of these are true of Rosaline?True / false
  4. 4
    What shows that Romeo matures through loving Juliet?Multiple choice
  5. 5
    Romeo and Juliet's Decisions for LovePut in order
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Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis

Friendship & Family