Introduction
As an immortal tragedy, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet play represents a source of learning about love and the peculiar forms it may take. In the play, Romeo and Juliet, two young protagonists from Verona develop feelings for each other but face obstacles due to an ongoing feud between their families. There are other examples of relationships in the story, including Romeo’s feelings for the women he meets before Juliet. This essay explores the manifestations of the three types of relationships, including obsessive, romantic, and forbidden love, in the play.
Obsessive Love
Obsessive love is represented in the play and directs some characters’ decisions. In Scene 1 of Act 2, Romeo is so obsessed with Rosaline that he sneaks into the Capulets’ house just to be able to see the girl (Shakespeare, 1595). This example illustrates the chosen type of love, as attending the rival family’s ball is a risky, irrational choice that reveals an obsession with a specific person.
At the same time, no signs of warm, romantic feelings are present. Furthermore, in Scene 5 of Act 1, Juliet tells her nurse that she will die a virgin if Romeo is married to anyone else (Shakespeare, 1595). This example reveals obsession, as Juliet places excessive emphasis on winning Romeo’s love, even rejecting all other options except being with him or remaining single for the rest of her life. Obsession permeates the protagonists’ choices and differs from deeper romantic feelings.
Romantic Love
Romantic love is the second type of feelings present in the play. In Scene 2 of Act 2, Juliet asserts that the more she gives to Romeo, the more she acquires (Shakespeare, 1595). These words reveal romantic love by indicating that Juliet is willing to commit to this relationship and is happy to make Romeo feel loved.
In Act 2, Scene 2, Romeo tells Juliet that the wings of love gave him the power to climb the orchard walls to meet her (Shakespeare, 1595). Romeo’s perspective reveals that his feelings for Juliet make him stronger and better, a common experience in romantic love. True romantic feelings emerge as the protagonists’ relationship develops, making their forbidden love all the more compelling.
Forbidden Love
Forbidden love represents the third type of human relationship seen in the play. In Scene 4 of Act 2, Juliet tells her nurse that she loves her enemy’s son (Shakespeare, 1595). Juliet’s phrasing of her feelings marks her situation as one of forbidden love. She feels something other than hate for the offspring of her family’s greatest enemy, which would clearly never be tolerated by her own people.
In Scene 3 of Act 5, the male protagonist drinks poison, and Juliet takes her life after waking up to join him, at least in another life (Shakespeare, 1595). These events clearly represent forbidden love, as the lovers have no other choice, indicating that they cannot escape the consequences of this connection. The couple’s love is also strong, as evidenced by their unwavering commitment when faced with the choice between death and living without their loved one. Overall, forbidden love is central to the protagonists’ relationships and co-exists with other types of affection.
Conclusion
To sum up, the essay has demonstrated a range of love types depicted by Shakespeare, including obsessive feelings, romantic love, and forbidden love. On a final note, given Shakespeare’s attempts to reveal an entire palette of feelings, he likely wants readers to understand love as one of the strongest forces that shapes lives, choices, and history. Furthermore, the play demonstrates that interpersonal affection exists in various forms with different degrees of altruism.
Reference
Shakespeare, W. (1595). Romeo and Juliet. Folger Shakespeare Library.