Romeo & Juliet: Romeo
By J. Cooney
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ROMEO PINES FOR ROSALINE
ROMEO PURSUES JULIET
ROMEO AND JULIET'S RELATIONSHIP BECOMES MORE COMPLEX
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most celebrated
romantic stories of all time, with Romeo considered to be the quintessential
romantic hero. Upon closer analysis, Romeo can be characterized as
a young man transformed by love. This can be seen in Romeo's initial
interest in Rosaline, which is superficial and passive in comparison to
the more complex and active relationship he develops with Juliet.
Romeo Pines for Rosaline
Romeo is a free spirited youth of 16 living in 17th
century Verona, Italy. In the beginning of the play, Romeo
is pining for Rosaline, the object of his unrequited love. He spends
most of his time sighing over his depressing and virtually nonexistent
love life. Romeo is first mentioned as an aimless wanderer, preoccupied
with thoughts of Rosaline. His father, Montague, describes his doleful
manner: "Many a morning hath he been there seen/ With tears augmenting
the fresh morning's dew/ Adding clouds to more clouds with his deep sighs"
(I, i, 157-9). His family goes on to discuss what could be wrong
with the young man, noting that he is so forlorn that he often sequesters
himself in his darkened room. Such passivity in his approach to love
with Rosaline is a theme that recurs until he meets Juliet.
Rosaline is Romeo's obsession, yet it is in his
description of her that his superficial approach to love is revealed.
When describing her to the cynical Benvolio, Romeo's descriptions are vague
and generalized, referencing Rosaline's physical beauty and attractiveness.
Rather than articulating why he loves her or offering specifics examples
of her uniqueness, he curses the unfairness of unrequited love and alluring
beauty: "Show me a mistress that is passing fair, what doth her beauty
serve, but as a note/ Where I may read who passed that passing fair" (I,
i, 234-6). Romeo goes on to lament his spurned advances: "She
is rich in beauty, only poor/ That, when she dies, with beauty dies her
store" (I, i, 215-6). Unlike the personal connection he later
expresses for Juliet, this utterance simply reflects regret for Rosaline's
vow of chastity.
Throughout this play, Romeo's relationship with
Rosaline is passive. He never speaks to her or takes any decisive
action to woo his lady love. He spends his time in anguish, wavering
between simplistic adulation and utter despair. Furthermore, Romeo
spends a great deal of time in limbo, mooning over a woman who does not
reciprocate his feelings. Despite Benvolio's urging, the lovesick
teen will not move on or consider the merits of other women.
Romeo follows Rosaline to a party hosted by the
Capulet family, sworn enemies to his own. However, while there, he
sulks moodily and refuses to partake in the festivities. He isolates
himself from the merrymaking both socially and physically in his refusal
to dance and banter with Mercutio.
Romeo spends his time, not pursuing Rosaline, but despairing: "Under
Love's heavy burden I do sink" (I, iv, 22).
Romeo Pursues Juliet
Despite Romeo's great declarations of love for Rosaline, his feelings are
actually fleeting, as shown by his behavior when he spies young Juliet.
He is smitten at first sight, describing her as "Beauty too rich for
use, for earth too dear!" (I, v, 49). This language is in direct
contrast to how he speaks of Rosaline. Rather than objectifying Juliet
as he does with Rosaline, he holds Juliet in reverent awe, "Did my heart
love till now? For swear it, sight!/ For I ne'er saw true beauty
till this night (I, v54-5). With this, Rosaline is forgotten
and Juliet becomes Romeo's focal point.
Unlike how he relates to Rosaline, Romeo actively
pursues Juliet from the beginning. Upon meeting, he tries to woo
her and win a kiss. Despite learning Juliet's identity as a Capulet
Romeo ignores the feud and commits himself to Juliet. When Juliet
asks "Art thou not Romeo and Montague?" (II, ii 60), Romeo pledges
to deny his lineage to be with his new love and says, "My name, dear
saint, is hateful to myself/ Because it is an enemy to thee" (II, ii,
Realizing that their interest in each other is both
reciprocal and sincere, Romeo presses Juliet for vows of love. After
they agree to get married, Romeo rushes to Friar
Lawrence to ask him to marry the young couple. To a surprised
Lawrence, Romeo says that he has forgotten Rosaline, and "That name's
woe" (II, iii 46). At this point in the play, Romeo and Juliet
have only just met and Romeo is already taking steps to ensure their union.
No such intentions for Rosaline are expressed or pursued.
Romeo and Juliet's Relationship Becomes More Complex
After marrying, Romeo's relationship with Juliet becomes even complex and
involves many factors other than themselves. An important moment
occurs when Romeo encounters his old enemy Tybalt,
who he is now related to by marriage. The impulsive Romeo attempts
to restrain himself in the face of Tybalt's taunting, because he considers
the new connection that they share. Unfortunately, Romeo eventually
responds to Tybalt's challenge and kills him in a fight.
For this murder, Romeo is banished to Mantua and
separated from his new bride. When he receives word, mistakenly,
that Juliet is dead, Romeo is devastated and immediately decides to join
her. Romeo finds Juliet's seemingly lifeless body in the tomb and
says, "I will stay with thee and never from this palace of dim night/
Depart again" (V, iii 106-7). With that, Romeo kills himself
by ingesting poison. Committing suicide is Romeo's final and most
profound act in his pursuit of Juliet.
Romeo truly is a tragic and romantic figure.
However, he begins as a young man entangled in his own superficial notions
of love. His interest in Rosaline is fleeting, passive, and non reciprocal.
It is through his relationship with Juliet that Romeo becomes a more active
character who is capable of being involved in a complex romantic relationship.
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