How does Shakespeare present love through Romeo? Act 1, 5
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare explores the theme of love through
Romeo as he transforms from a Petrarchan lover to an obsessive courtly
lover. Through his transformation, Shakespeare explores love as a
transcendental force that not only has the power to overwhelm the lovers’
lives, but also the ability to cause irreversible destruction. The concept of
love appears to defy social order as it empowers Romeo to believe he can
control his own destiny, yet it ultimately cannot survive within it. By
identifying love as transcendental, an act of rebellion, isolating and finally
tragic, Shakespeare perhaps is critiquing the values of an Elizabethan
patriarchal society that encourage the love that causes so much chaos
and destruction in Verona.
The Prologue itself is a Shakespearean sonnet, typically used for love
poetry, but the prologue introduces the “ancient grudge” and the violence
that will arise from it. An Elizabethan audience would already be aware of
the story of “Romeo and Juliet” due to the previous poem written by
Arthur Blake, and so by confirming the events in the Prologue it allows
Shakespeare to introduce his own perspective that perhaps serves to
critique the societal expectations of love that arguable cause the lovers’
demise. The Prologue immediately shows love and conflict to be
inextricably linked, which could invite the audience to question the
harmful nature of love.
Romeo initially begins as a symbol of youthful idealism, as he resembles
the archetype of a Petrarchan lover – one who is emotionally invested in
an unrequited love that he is left isolated and emotionally detached from
society. Shakespeare tactically introduces Romeo through his parents, as
Montague shares that he is “adding to clouds more clouds with his deep
sighs”. This is significant to demonstrate the isolating power of love as
Romeo himself is not present to share his story, while the pathetic fallacy
of “clouds” and “tears” could show that love is claustrophobic and forces
lovers to sacrifice everything for their love. This may be a critique of the
expectations of Petrarchan love in Elizabethan society, as Shakespeare
reveals the destructive impacts of love early on, specifically challenging
the constructs that men should be wholly devoted to their love. Romeo
speaks in oxymoronic language about his love for Rosaline, “O brawling
love! O loving hate!”, however his use of an imperfect sonnet of 13 lines
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare explores the theme of love through
Romeo as he transforms from a Petrarchan lover to an obsessive courtly
lover. Through his transformation, Shakespeare explores love as a
transcendental force that not only has the power to overwhelm the lovers’
lives, but also the ability to cause irreversible destruction. The concept of
love appears to defy social order as it empowers Romeo to believe he can
control his own destiny, yet it ultimately cannot survive within it. By
identifying love as transcendental, an act of rebellion, isolating and finally
tragic, Shakespeare perhaps is critiquing the values of an Elizabethan
patriarchal society that encourage the love that causes so much chaos
and destruction in Verona.
The Prologue itself is a Shakespearean sonnet, typically used for love
poetry, but the prologue introduces the “ancient grudge” and the violence
that will arise from it. An Elizabethan audience would already be aware of
the story of “Romeo and Juliet” due to the previous poem written by
Arthur Blake, and so by confirming the events in the Prologue it allows
Shakespeare to introduce his own perspective that perhaps serves to
critique the societal expectations of love that arguable cause the lovers’
demise. The Prologue immediately shows love and conflict to be
inextricably linked, which could invite the audience to question the
harmful nature of love.
Romeo initially begins as a symbol of youthful idealism, as he resembles
the archetype of a Petrarchan lover – one who is emotionally invested in
an unrequited love that he is left isolated and emotionally detached from
society. Shakespeare tactically introduces Romeo through his parents, as
Montague shares that he is “adding to clouds more clouds with his deep
sighs”. This is significant to demonstrate the isolating power of love as
Romeo himself is not present to share his story, while the pathetic fallacy
of “clouds” and “tears” could show that love is claustrophobic and forces
lovers to sacrifice everything for their love. This may be a critique of the
expectations of Petrarchan love in Elizabethan society, as Shakespeare
reveals the destructive impacts of love early on, specifically challenging
the constructs that men should be wholly devoted to their love. Romeo
speaks in oxymoronic language about his love for Rosaline, “O brawling
love! O loving hate!”, however his use of an imperfect sonnet of 13 lines
