How Romance is Celebrated in Literature
Uploaded by mashbrain on May 20, 2000
The course of time has opened many doors in terms of romance. The present age not only consists many different forms in which love can be expressed, but exhibits the essence of romance that dates back to the dawn of time.
Love has existed in many forms throughout time. There is no better example than in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. In this tale, when love is most apparent, the most crucial events occur to develop this "tragedy."
Firstly, the lustful romance of Mercutio and Benvolio, Romeo’s comrades have never been in true love, their ideas of love is based merely on physical attributes, whereas ‘love is skin deep’.
Mercutio, in contrast with Romeo knows not of true love, as "He jests at scars that never felt a wound." (II.ii.1) His idea of love is when he tries to "conjure" Romeo to respond. His childish, immature attitude towards love is expressed when he describes Rosaline’s features:
"Her high forehead" and "quivering thigh"(II.ii.18-19). This lustful idea of romance is only emphasised when he describes Rosaline as "An open-arse and thou a poperin pear!"
Rosaline, Romeo’s initial unrequited love seemed irrelevant once Romeo had set his eyes upon Juliet. This may portray a side of Romeo, which shows that as easily as he falls ‘in’ love, he can fall ‘out’ of love.
However, Romeo and Juliet’s love was pure and ideal, and because of their forbidden love, it leads them to their graves. Upon seeing Juliet all alone, talking in soliloquy, Romeo proclaims, "It is the east, and Juliet is the Sun," this metaphor enhances Juliet’s beauty as it is exaggerated and pronounced as the beauty of the sun. The forbidden love of Romeo and Juliet is spawned from the feud between the two households; Capulet and Montague and throughout Juliet’s ‘supposed’ soliloquy, she ponders over the prospect of the two families’ names: "What’s in a name?" (II.ii.43)
Upon hearing this, Romeo, who reciprocates the romance, replies belligerently "Had I it written, I would tear the word." (II.ii.57)
Convinced that their love was pure, Juliet has been sold, in an unconventional act for a woman in those times, she takes the initiative and plans their future together;
"If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose of marriage" (II.ii.143-144)
Leading to the departure of Romeo and Juliet from the balcony scene, Shakespeare has made use of juxtaposition when Juliet sullenly states, "Parting is such sweet sorrow" (II.ii.184)
Upon examining this...