Examples Of Unrequited Love In Romeo And Juliet

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The Shapes of Love Love is the leading theme in William Shakespeare’s historical play, Romeo and Juliet; however, numerous types of love are shown. Unrequited love, the love for someone that does not love back, is displayed in the play as well as romantic love, the love between two people. Shakespeare uses contrasting types of love to present different relationships between people such as friendships, parent relationships, or defense of family honor as well as unrequited and romantic relationships. Unrequited love is not the usual “happy ending” people anticipate from love. This love ends with one person, not sharing love back or not being able to love back. Shakespeare uses unrequited love through Rosaline toward Romeo. Romeo is in love …show more content…
This is love both people in the relationship share for each other, and is expressed through Romeo and Juliet. Douglas Dupler describes it as “invigorating, destructive, transformative, and redemptive,” (Dupler 1). This meaning that romantic love is energetic yet damaging, transforming, and saving. When Romeo speaks to Juliet under the balcony, he says to her “Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books; / but love from love, toward school with heavy looks” (II.ii.156-57). This metaphor uses opposites by saying that love has the excitement that schoolboys have when they leave school, and love causes the sadness when parting that schoolboys have when going to school. Romeo shows his love by explaining excitement to see her, and the sadness to leave her. Juliet explains to herself “My only love, sprung from my only hate!” (I.v.136). She is in love with Romeo, but she is mad that he is a Montague, her family’s enemy. She cares about her family and their long lasting feud, so it disappoints her when she finds love within the enemy. When Juliet first sees Romeo in the courtyard, she is frightened because she knows he will be in trouble if he becomes found. She tries to warn him and he only replies with “I have night’s cloak to hide me from their sight; / and but thou love me, let them find me here. / My life were better ended by their hate / than death prorogued wanting of thy love” (II.ii.75-8). In this text, prorogued means postponing. Romeo tells Juliet he would rather die in love than wait not together. He sacrifices himself because of how much he loves her and is content with him being
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