Wednesday, April 5, 2017

In Romeo and Juliet, what is an example of love between characters besides Romeo and Juliet? Do characters fight for the love of their beliefs?

Other than the obvious, there are several examples of characters showing love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.


Benvolio loves his cousin Romeo and tries to bring him out of his depression regarding Rosaline. The Nurse shows motherly love toward Juliet and wants what is best for the girl. An argument could also be made that Lord Capulet really adores his daughter despite his chastising of her over marrying Count Paris at the close of...

Other than the obvious, there are several examples of characters showing love in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.


Benvolio loves his cousin Romeo and tries to bring him out of his depression regarding Rosaline. The Nurse shows motherly love toward Juliet and wants what is best for the girl. An argument could also be made that Lord Capulet really adores his daughter despite his chastising of her over marrying Count Paris at the close of Act III. 


We may also believe that Paris is quite sincere in his love for Juliet. Even though it seems like an arranged marriage which will benefit both Paris and Capulet, we learn in Act V that Paris has very deep feelings for the girl as he goes to her tomb to pay his respects and spread flowers and sweet water. Paris says,



Sweet flower, with flowers thy bridal bed I strew
(O woe, thy canopy is dust and stones!)
Which with sweet water nightly I will dew,
Or, wanting that, with tears distilled by moans.
The obsequies that I for thee will keep
Nightly shall be to strew thy grave and weep



The love of fighting is also prevalent in the play. Romeo remarks in Act I that the two families are simply in love with the idea of the feud:




O me! What fray was here?
Yet tell me not, for I have heard it all.
Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love.





Tybalt and Mercutio are total fanatics when it comes to the rivalry. Tybalt threatens to kill Benvolio in Act I, Scene 1, and he is also ready fight Romeo in Act I, Scene 5, when he overhears Romeo. Tybalt says,




This, by his voice, should be a Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy.
What, dares the slave
Come hither covered with an antic face
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?





Mercutio too loves to fight and is quite willing to defend Romeo's honor in Act III, Scene 1 because Romeo, who has just been married to Tybalt's cousin, backs down. In a rage, Mercutio goes after Tybalt saying,




O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!
Alla stoccato carries it away. He draws.
Tybalt, you ratcatcher, will you walk?





It is safe to say that Tybalt and Mercutio are dedicated to the feud and will defend the honor of their particular side for virtually any reason.




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