This essay argues that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is not a story of deep, mature love but rather one of adolescent infatuation. Drawing directly on key passages from the play, the paper examines Juliet's young age, Romeo's rapid transfer of affections from Rosaline to Juliet, and the impulsive declarations made in the famous balcony scene. The essay contends that what the young couple experiences is better described as chemical attraction or lust rather than genuine bonded love, and that Romeo's behavior in particular reflects emotional immaturity rather than sincere devotion.
William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet contains some of the most quoted lines in all of literature. It is widely regarded as the ultimate love story — the very epitome of romance. However, this is not a story of deep, bonded love, but rather one of intense infatuation. It is, in essence, a story of puppy love carried to the extreme. One gets the impression that had Romeo and Juliet lived another week, or even another day, they would have become infatuated with someone else — particularly Romeo — and been expressing undying devotion to a new face by the next phase of the moon.
Juliet has "not seen the change of fourteen years," and thus her suitor, Paris, is advised to "let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her ripe to be a bride."[i] Juliet, therefore, cannot be any older than thirteen years. She is essentially still a child. It makes one shudder to think of a thirteen-year-old being courted, much less married.
Thirteen-year-old girls are impressionable, to say the least. They cherish teen idols, which is precisely what Romeo represents. He is just enough older than Juliet for her to be drawn to him, in the same way any young girl is drawn to or infatuated with an older boy. For example, a middle-school girl would be on cloud nine if a high-school boy paid attention to her, and if he made advances toward her, she would believe she was in love and that he loved her in return.
It is easy to understand why the name "Romeo" is used today as a label for males who are skilled at wooing. In Shakespeare's play, Romeo professes his love for two different women on the same day. He apparently falls in love at the drop of a hat. He essentially crashes the Capulet party in order to see Rosaline, after spotting her name on the invitation list. Of Rosaline, Romeo declares, "One fairer than my love! the all-seeing sun, ne'er saw her match since first the world begun."[ii] From this statement, one assumes that Rosaline has hung the moon as far as Romeo is concerned. She occupies his mind entirely — she is all he can talk about. That is, until he sees Juliet.
Then it is goodbye, Rosaline. One can only wonder whom Romeo abandoned before Rosaline became the apple of his eye. When Romeo spots Juliet, he says, "It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; … Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night."[iii] In a matter of a split second, Romeo's deep undying affections are transferred to another woman. There is no hesitation, no regret, no inner conflict whatsoever. He falls as deeply for Juliet as he had for Rosaline. This is not the behavior of a mature person, and one could argue it is not even the behavior of a sincere person, regardless of his age.
"Famous balcony quotes reveal impulsive, immature devotion"
"Couple's feelings defined as attraction and lust, not love"
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