Romeo's Loves

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

1Context

1.1Context

1.1.1Tragedy & Setting

1.1.2Relationships

1.1.3Religion & Fate

1.1.4End of Topic Test - Context

2Plot Summary

3Key Characters

3.1Romeo

3.1.1First Impressions & Juliet's Effect

3.1.2Character Development

3.1.3Reactions & Key Quotes

3.2Juliet

3.2.1First Impressions & Character Development

3.2.2Tragic Character

3.2.3Key Quotes

3.2.4End of Topic Test - Romeo & Juliet

3.3Mercutio

3.3.1Characterisation

3.3.2Key Quotes

3.4The Nurse, Benvolio & Tybalt

3.4.1The Nurse

3.4.2Benvolio

3.4.3Tybalt

3.5Friar Laurence

3.5.1Characterisation

3.5.2Key Quotes

3.5.3End of Topic Test- Mercutio, Nurse & Benvolio

3.5.4End of Topic Test - Tybalt & Friar Laurence

3.6Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.1Grade 9 - Key Characters

3.6.2Grade 9 - Key Characters: Extract Analysis

4Key Themes & Concepts

4.1Power & Danger of Love

4.1.1Romeo's Loves

4.1.2Friendship & Family

4.1.3Violent Love

4.1.4End of Topic Test - Love

4.2Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.1Violence, Conflict & Suicide

4.2.2Exam-Style Questions - Violence & Death

4.2.3Fate & Destiny

4.2.4Gender

4.2.5End of Topic Test - Violence, Fate & Gender

4.2.6Grade 9 - Key Themes

5Writing Techniques

5.1Writing Techniques

5.1.1Language, Rhythm & Rhyme

5.1.2Symbolism & Imagery

5.1.3Dramatic Irony & Soliloquys

5.1.4End of Topic Test - Writing Techniques

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