This proves that Romeo, although it seems like love, only “loved” Juliet for her looks. Remember that at this point Romeo doesn’t even know who Juliet is at all, they have never met. You can see this in modern times when people claim to love someone but really just have those emotions because of their beauty. Secondly, Romeo and Juliet were in a weak state of mind when they met. Romeo was still heartbroken by Rosaline and Juliet thought she would marry no one she liked in the least bit at all.
Prodigious birth of love it is to me that I must love a loathed enemy” (1.5.136). Juliet says these words as she finds out who Romeo is. Earlier, Juliet states that she would rather die than marry any other man. She says this without knowing Romeo’s name. In this quote Juliet is regretting the fact that she has fallen in love with an enemy, a Montague.
Benvolio then suggests Romeo to attend a Capulet gathering where Rosaline will be outmatched by other beautiful girls but Romeo says that his affection for Rosaline will not change. The moment Romeo meets Juliet, his previous lovesick and depression are gone instantly as he quickly falls for Juliet. Romeo thinks of Juliet’s beauty as “I ne’er saw true beauty ‘til this night”, and swiftly makes plans to approach her regardless to the hatred between the two families. On the other hand Juliet is much more consistent throughout the play. At the beginning, Juliet remains not interested in love before and after meeting Paris, an eligible bachelor worthy for her.
In Romeo's line, "Did my heart love till now" (1.5.52). Basically states how Romeo did not notice love until he looked at the figure of Juliet standing across the room, he is already jumping to the fact that he is inlove with her, meanwhile he did not even speak a word to her. Romeo and Juliet fail to see the fact that they truly do not know the meaning of love. Romeo and Juliet's immaturity seems to increase as you go further into the play. Not only do they think that they find their soul mate in each other, they also decide to get married right after they meet.
He pushes them into a hasty secret marriage, without the knowledge or permission of their warring parents. This sets the stage for the secrets that create the tragedy to come. Unable to face the banishment for killing Tybalt, Romeo seeks the advice of Friar Lawrence who scolds him for his despair, “Hast thou slain Tybalt? Wilt thou slay thyself, and slay thy lady that in thy life lives by doing damned hate upon thyself?” (3, 3, 116,) then when Romeo is at his lowest, Friar Lawrence cheers him up, suggesting a comforting visit to his Juliet and then his escape. “Go, get thee to thy love, as was decreed.
“Romeo and Juliet” is considered by many one of the greatest love stories to have ever been written. However, the tale is not one of love but a story of a young girl whose whims led her to be manipulated by a boy who was seeking out sex. The scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet demonstrates how fickle their infatuation is. The story begins with Romeo wailing over his lost love Rosaline, saying “And, in strong proof of chastity well-armed, from love’s weak childish bow, she lives uncharmed.” He continues his outburst by saying how useless Rosaline is if she is not willing to sleep with him. Benvoilo feels sympathy for the young brokenhearted man and encourages him to go to the Capulet’s party so he will forget the girl.
Romeo gets over his shallow infatuation as soon as he lays eyes on Juliet. In a blink of an eye that “love” for Rosaline vanishes. This is evident in the quote by Romeo, “With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No; I have forgot that name, and that name’s woe”. This love between Romeo and Juliet is unlikely as they are too young to grasp the concept of love.
He enjoys Mercutio’s company. “This day's black fate on moe days doth depend, This but begins the woe others must end.” Romeo says this when he decides he loves Mercutio more than Juliet. He does this by ignoring he is related to Tybalt. Romeo loves Mercutio to a point where he feels he must avenge his death, resulting in his exile. He puts his feelings for Mercutio over his love for Juliet and risks exile.
In the prologue Shakespeare makes reference to Romeo and Juliet as "A pair of star-cross’d lovers" in line 6. In other words, the two lovers are thwarted by destiny from the very beginning. The imagery of “star-cross’d”; the stars not being in favour of the lovers for Elizabethan audiences would be recognized as love destined for something else which they know leads to tragedy as the rest of the prologue insinuates. Although not meant to be together; as “star-cross’d lovers” with “death-mark’d love”, this ill fated and forbidden love is emphasized by Shakespeare in the prologue so that the audience sympathize with Romeo and
He later, then sneaks onto Juliet’s balcony where he openly tells her that he is in love with her. Juliet warns him saying that if anyone were to find him there, he would be killed. But, Romeo being the stubborn boy he is, replies with “And but thou love me, let them find me here.” and decides to risk his life for a girl he barely knows. He then impulsively asks for her hand in marriage “Thy exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.” (Act II, ii, 124) based on the romantic emotions he was feeling at the moment. This was careless and senseless of Romeo to do, as a couple of hours ago he was “in love” with Juliet’s cousin Rosaline.