Make a list of the ways in which
Shakespeare explores the
different types of love in Romeo
and Juliet
Love
Romantic
Love
Love for a sports
team
‘Puppy
Love’
Lust
Infatuation
Types of
Love
Parent/
Child Love
Love of
material
goods
Love of
friends
Unconditional
love
Narcissistic
Love
Love for
family/
siblings
Love in Romeo and Juliet
Fickle love/ infatuation/
puppy love
Romeo is in love with Rosaline at the
Play, which is presented as an
Immature infatuation. Today, we
might use the term ‘puppy love’ to
describe this.
Romeo’s love for Rosaline is shallow
and nobody believes that it will last,
including Friar Laurence:
Romeo:
Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline.
Friar Laurence:
For doting, not for loving, pupil mine.
Act 2, Scene 2: The Friar chastises Romeo for
being fickle.
Paris’ love for Juliet
Paris’ love for Juliet is borne out of tradition,
not passion. He has identified her as a good
candidate for a wife and approaches her fathe
r to arrange the marriage. Although this was
the tradition at the time, it also says something
about Paris’ staid attitude towards love. He
even admits to Friar Laurence that in his haste
to rush the wedding through he hasn’t
discussed it with his bride-to-be:
Friar Laurence.
On Thursday, sir? the time is very short.
Paris.
My father Capulet will have it so;
And I am nothing slow to slack his haste.
Friar Laurence.
You say you do not know the lady's mind:
Uneven is the course, I like it not.
Paris.
Immoderately she weeps for Tybalt's death,
And therefore have I little talked of love;
Act 1, Scene 3: Juliet’s mother explains the
marriage proposal to Juliet.
Act 3, Scene 5: The Nurse encourages Juliet
to marry Paris.
Act 4, Scene 1: Juliet and Paris discuss the
marriage; Juliet makes her feelings clear.
Romantic Love
Shakespeare presents this as a force of nature,
so strong that it transcends societal conventions.
This idea is established in the play’s
prologue with the line
“a pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life.”
Perhaps Romeo and Juliet's love is fate.
Their love is disallowed by the Capulet and
Montague households, and Juliet is to marry
Paris – Yet, they inevitably find themselves
drawn together.
Platonic Love
Many of the friendships in the play are as
sincere as Romeo and Juliet’s love for
one another. The close relationships between
Juliet and her Nurse, and between Romeo,
Mercutio and Benvolio are meaningful and
heartfelt. They care deeply for another and
protect each others’ honour – this ultimately
costs Mercutio his life.
Act 2, Scene 1: Balcony scene
Act 3, Scene 5: Romeo bids Juliet an
emotional farewell before leaving Verona.
Act 5, Scene 1: Romeo learns of Juliet’s death.
Act 5, Scene 3: The Capulet tomb.
"Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."
Romeo and Juliet, 1.5
"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I'll no longer be a Capulet."
Romeo and Juliet, 2.2
Act 3, Scene 1: Mercutio defends Romeo
against Tybalt and gets killed.
Act 4, Scene 4: Juliet’s lifeless body is found.
Love: Romeo and Juliet