In what ways is the portrayal of love in Romeo and Juliet more complex than we might first suppose? - page 1
Keywords: Shakespeare, Romeo, Juliet, Love, Complexities, Complex
By Vikram on 30/12/2008
Level: GCSE Key Stage 4 (Years 10-11)
Page Number: 1 of 8 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Q. Examine Shakespeare's portrayal of love in Romeo and Juliet. In what ways is this portrayal more complex than we might at first suppose?
Romeo & Juliet was a play written by William Shakespeare. It is believed to have been written around 1595. The Nurse in the play refers to "an earthquake eleven years past (Act II, scene 3, and line 23). London experienced a strong tremor around 1580.The story is about a pair of teenagers who pursue their love for each other despite the fact that their families have been in a deadly feud for decades. There are preconceptions that many people have about its content in that it is just about romantic love where Romeo falls in love with Juliet from the beginning of the play. However there are many different types of love in Romeo and Juliet.
One of the first forms of love that the audience encounters is Shakespeare's representation of courtly love. Courtly love was a Medieval tradition practiced by Knights in the Middle Ages and often romantically represented in literature where the knight had a set of rules that governed a courtship with a lady of the court. He admired her and dedicated his life to her, though she might be married to some one else, or was unavailable due to her higher status. When we first meet Romeo he appears as a troubled complaining youth. Initially the audience would not find him tedious and tiresome, moaning about how awful life is when he comes from a rich family.
There are many ways in which the audience can tell that in this stage of the play Romeo is a courtly lover: Firstly, Romeo's behavior at the start of the play when the audience first meets him characterizes courtly love as he mopes over the unattainable Rosaline who is chaste therefore unavailable. Romeo thinks he is in love with her "Out of her favour where I am in love." Romeo presents Rosaline as having a sense of humour and being strong, as she will not be hit by Cupid's arrow, she lives unharmed and she is rich in beauty. All of these characteristics show a woman out of Romeo's league. He keeps himself “private in chamber” and makes himself an “artificial night”, showing he is unhappy and sees no joy in love.
Next, in his speech, Romeo uses many oxymorons, which contradict themselves
"Feather of lead, bright smoke,
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