“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired”. It suggests that love involves not only feeling attracted to someone but also desiring to be desired by them in return. In this timeless tale, Shakespeare utilizes motifs of fate and love to develop the relationship between the two star-crossed lovers. From the surface, Romeo and Juliet seem nothing more than a tragedy between the two lovers, destined to never be together. But the more one reads about Romeo and Juliet, one realizes that it is also a story of teenagers growing into adults, dealing with the naiveness and impulsivity of young love. Through a variety of figurative language techniques, Shakespeare helps the reader discover how young love and infatuation can lead to rash and irrational decisions. Shakespeare shows …show more content…
/ Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” (Act 1, Scene 5) (Paradox) Juliet’s paradoxical expression of love for Romeo despite being from her rival’s family, highlights the impulsive nature of their attraction. It shows us that although love may defy rationality, it could also lead to tragic consequences, such as being in love with a family rivalry that has lasted generations. In Act 2, Scene 2, Juliet further expresses her love for Romeo with a simile. "My bounty is as boundless as the sea, / My love as deep; the more I give to thee, / The more I have, for both are infinite.” (Simile) (Act 2, Scene 2) Juliet’s simile comparing her love to the boundless sea highlights the irrationality of her pledge and devotion to Romeo. Showing how infatuation can lead to people making hasty commitments they might not be ready for. Not only does Shakespeare use the two lovers to explore the theme of infatuation, but also through the character of Paris. Paris, a suitor to Juliet who was chosen by her parents, serves as a contrasting figure of Romeo. One instance of Paris’s infatuation is evident when he speaks to Friar Lawrence about Juliet’s supposed