Teenage Love In Romeo And Juliet

The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet will forever be known as one of the greatest love stories in history. However, the passion between the two star-crossed lovers is not the only example of love throughout this piece of writing; in fact, it is only one out of many types of love. Whether Shakespeare writes Romeo and Juliet as commentary about the passion or hastiness or any other aspect of teenage love is not the point of the play. Shakespeare writes about the love between two young people, the paternal and protective love from a parental figure or a leader, and the kind of empty and selfish love that one uses for personal motive. Romeo and Juliet is much less shallow and simple than young love, it is a complex statement about many types of relationships

Before the marriage of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence gives words of advice to Romeo. “These violent delights have violent ends / And, in their triumph die, like fire and powder, / Which, as they kiss, consume. The sweetest honey / Is loathsome in his own deliciousness / And in the taste confounds the appetite. / Therefore love moderately: long love doth so; / Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow,” (II.v.6.9). The friar gives this guidance as he knows Romeo and how he has been impulsive in the past. He understands the fast tempo and passion with which Romeo’s relationship with Juliet moves. This quote foreshadows the fates of the two lovers, a fate resulting from the nature of their love. The impetuous, young Juliet speaks aloud her feelings after meeting Romeo for the first time. “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,” (II.v.2.34). Juliet has been shown as a meek and compliant character up until this point in the plot. Her willingness to leave behind everything she has known for Romeo’s love shows how passionately she cares for him, whether her feelings are irrational or otherwise. Juliet is so upset with the thought of marrying Paris, she runs to the friar for help. “Tell me not, friar, that thou hearest of this, / Unless thou tell me how I may prevent it. / If in thy wisdom thou canst

This love can be identified in the relationships between the Capulets and Juliet, or Prince Escalus and Verona. It is obvious that the attitude Lady Capulet has towards Juliet is not tender love from a mother. “Nurse, give leave awhile; / We must talk in secret. Nurse, come back again. / I have rememb’red me; thou’s hear our counsel.” (I.v.3.7) Lady Capulet is so uncomfortable in her relationship with Juliet that she can’t speak to her daughter alone. She is the mother of Juliet so she ‘loves’ her, but has no emotional connection to Juliet whatsoever. Lord Capulet is furious when Juliet refuses to marry Paris. “To answer 'I 'll not wed. I cannot love, I am too young. I pray you, pardon me’ But, an you will not wed, I 'll pardon you! Graze where you will, you shall not house with me,” (III.v.5.187). Although he cares for his daughter, he is more focused on his own pride rather than Juliet’s wellbeing. This selfish kind of love is only resolved after the tragic essay of Romeo and Juliet’s