Is the love that Romeo feels true, or merely a deceiving hallucination?
Reading the story of the famous lovers Romeo and Juliet, a large topic has come up over the depth of Romeo's feelings. In fact this debate has lead me to think that he is the most "intriguing" character in the book so far. Right now Romeo seems to me as either very love-struck or very desperate and impulsive and there is evidence on both of these sides of him. It is strange that one would be able to fall in love so quickly but even stranger is that I do believe that what he feels is true. Because of this, today I will be showing my point of view as to how it is not his eyes, his desperateness, or even completely the stars, that has brought him and Juliet together.
First of all, on the very first page of the play, there is already an important piece of evidence that he is truly (or has truly become) in love with Juliet. What I am referring to is the extremely straightforward line of the prologue, line 6: "A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life". Right there Shakespeare has already stated clearly that they are lovers. Not only that but if Romeo weren't truly in love with Juliet, why would he take his life? Even a lover isn't worth that price. If you agreed with the sentence before that I wrote in bold then you would be agreeing that even lovers aren't worth one's own life which would prove that Romeo loves Juliet so much that she isn't even the common lover, since he is so in love with her that her "death" is worth his suicide. If you disagreed then you would be agreeing that lovers are worth one's own life which would also mean that he died for her because of his love which would prove his sincerity. Either way, it would still show that his love is true.
Although many people would consider Romeo rash for his actions, there are times when things cannot be judged. An example would be line 100 of act 2, scene 4: "O, let us hence. I stand on sudden haste." This happens when the friar (Friar Lawrence) agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet and Romeo wants to hurry to get married. To many people it would make sense that Romeo would seem impulsive but being impulsive doesn't mean that his love isn't true. I'm not saying that he absolutely couldn't be loving Juliet because of her looks or the fact that he seems to think that he needs to love someone but then again, if that could be true, can't his love for Juliet be as well? Love is nothing but a word, a noun that has four letters, but the actions done because of it show the meaning of this emotion. I don't see how one can judge the actions of a person and say that their love isn't true if there is no such thing as a standard for love.
In conclusion, Romeo has a split personality. Not the type in the mind but as viewed in the book. I do not honestly find a big deal out of this "controversy" for I believe that if I read this story without judgemental views, I would be able to see the bigger picture of the play. The morals about hate and violence and things that could but weren't prevented. Why does it matter whether or not Romeo's love is true? People would still die, grief would still come and his love wouldn't have changed anything. Although I believe that he did love Juliet, if I found out that he didn't, it wouldn't matter much since the hate between the Capulets and Montagues would still be there whether love was present or not and the truth is that it is easier to ignore love than hate. It is the hate of these two families, the misunderstandings and unwillingness to forgive, that killed these two "lovers". And perhaps in the end, the reason why Romeo is to me, the most interesting character is because his "not-so-important" actions have made such an impact that people have forgotten the rest of the play.
So is it really him that has been deceived, or us?
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The Truth About Roses
With petals so fair and a fragrance so sweet, still has its danger where its many thorns meet.
That is my interpretation of the theme "love", especially young love, in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Like the flower most commonly related to romance, "love" is very similar to the rose. Not only are they alike in their beauty, but their hidden dangers as well. As can be seen from different characters, love has many sides; it is deep and entrancing for Romeo, wild and free for Mercutio, and perhaps light and innocent for young Juliet. All these views reflect the attractive area of love but as the name of the play suggests, this story won't dwell long on love's petals. My blog post today will be about the many sides of love and its many, many, thorns.
Like the rose, love is very captivating and to many, may be the most beautiful thing in the world, but is it really? Of course, one side of love is very beautiful. With books, songs, poems, and even entire landmarks (ex. The Eiffel Tower) dedicated and centering around love, there is no doubt that this emotion has quite an impact on the world. And perhaps, when something becomes so powerful, it can become dangerous. It isn't a secret to readers that both Romeo and Juliet die in the story, and neither is the fact that love drove them to their graves, but unfortunately, to these two star-crossed lovers, it was. Indeed there are many sides of love in the story and they all show up and make a difference in the story line. Mercutio's wild freedom perspective is shown in the impulsive actions of Romeo and Juliet; Juliet's innocent view of love takes part to draw these two teenagers together, and finally, the depth of Romeo's opinion reveals itself in the desperate misery that took their lives.
In a way, like the petals of a rose, this choice of death over being separated is beautiful. On the other hand though, like the small pricks of thorns when being too close to the beauty of the rose, being too close to the enticing flower of love has made it so that it wasn't just the petals that were red, but the dagger of Romeo as well. Perhaps it was blind love that drove them together, charm and good looks, but would a pretty visage lead to suicide? Living a life with the direct of Cupid seems fun, until one realizes that the Cupid's arrow, is still an arrow.
It is sad to read the story of Romeo and Juliet and not feel helpless as their lives tick away without their knowledge. It is like watching a horror movie and seeing the monster behind the protagonist and not being able to warn him. Ironically, the silent killer in the story of Romeo and Juliet, is not a monster at all, but technically, an angel. Knowing that what these lovers cherished most, is what will lead them to their deaths is indeed, like the title, a tragedy.
Though the smell of roses is mesmerizing, if one leans in too far, they will indeed find its thorns and then, if still captured by the beauty of the flower and missing the proximity of the danger, one will most certainly get pricked.
Please feel free to comment.
That is my interpretation of the theme "love", especially young love, in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Like the flower most commonly related to romance, "love" is very similar to the rose. Not only are they alike in their beauty, but their hidden dangers as well. As can be seen from different characters, love has many sides; it is deep and entrancing for Romeo, wild and free for Mercutio, and perhaps light and innocent for young Juliet. All these views reflect the attractive area of love but as the name of the play suggests, this story won't dwell long on love's petals. My blog post today will be about the many sides of love and its many, many, thorns.
Like the rose, love is very captivating and to many, may be the most beautiful thing in the world, but is it really? Of course, one side of love is very beautiful. With books, songs, poems, and even entire landmarks (ex. The Eiffel Tower) dedicated and centering around love, there is no doubt that this emotion has quite an impact on the world. And perhaps, when something becomes so powerful, it can become dangerous. It isn't a secret to readers that both Romeo and Juliet die in the story, and neither is the fact that love drove them to their graves, but unfortunately, to these two star-crossed lovers, it was. Indeed there are many sides of love in the story and they all show up and make a difference in the story line. Mercutio's wild freedom perspective is shown in the impulsive actions of Romeo and Juliet; Juliet's innocent view of love takes part to draw these two teenagers together, and finally, the depth of Romeo's opinion reveals itself in the desperate misery that took their lives.
In a way, like the petals of a rose, this choice of death over being separated is beautiful. On the other hand though, like the small pricks of thorns when being too close to the beauty of the rose, being too close to the enticing flower of love has made it so that it wasn't just the petals that were red, but the dagger of Romeo as well. Perhaps it was blind love that drove them together, charm and good looks, but would a pretty visage lead to suicide? Living a life with the direct of Cupid seems fun, until one realizes that the Cupid's arrow, is still an arrow.
It is sad to read the story of Romeo and Juliet and not feel helpless as their lives tick away without their knowledge. It is like watching a horror movie and seeing the monster behind the protagonist and not being able to warn him. Ironically, the silent killer in the story of Romeo and Juliet, is not a monster at all, but technically, an angel. Knowing that what these lovers cherished most, is what will lead them to their deaths is indeed, like the title, a tragedy.
Though the smell of roses is mesmerizing, if one leans in too far, they will indeed find its thorns and then, if still captured by the beauty of the flower and missing the proximity of the danger, one will most certainly get pricked.
Please feel free to comment.
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