Essay: Romeo and Juliet: True Love or Infatuation? A Classic Love Story Explored

Romeo and Juliet: the renown, star-crossed lovers who exemplify what it means to find one’s true love. But does their story of feuding families, secret meetings, and apothecary poisonings really show what true love is like? Starting at a supposedly-Montague-free party, Romeo, a teenager that was, moments ago, pining over Rosaline, fell into a deep love with Juliet, who firmly stated that she found no interest in love earlier. Nonetheless, Juliet threw it to the wind and fell into a romantic love with Romeo. As time passes, certain events put their relationship to the test; Juliet chooses to further mature her true love for him, but Romeo consistently shows how his melodramatic-teenager demeanor leans more toward infatuation. Shakespeare’s tragedy of Romeo and Juliet displays a model of infatuation with Romeo’s suddenness and intensity when switching lovers, while Juliet models real love through her mature decision-making during the inconvenient timing of various events.
To begin with, the love between Romeo and Juliet is considered to be infatuation due to Romeo’s suddenness in finding and initiating his love with Juliet. At first sight, Romeo studies Juliet from afar, observing her physical attributes “as a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear,” as her beauty is “too rich to use, for Earth too dear” (Shakespeare 1.5.53-54). Based on this evidence, one understands how Romeo focuses on her appearances on the outside, idealizing and conceptualizing what her demeanor is in accordance to all the beauty he sees, thus driving the overall idea that infatuation is represented through their relationship. In addition, his intentions and instant intensity to seek out a connection is proof that their relationship is simply infatuation. At the end of a dance, Romeo imagines “touching hers, make blessèd [Romeo’s] rude hand” as he “ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (Shakespeare 1.5.58-60). Romeo’s choice of focal point in Juliet’s beauty displays his lust for Juliet, as he fantasizes over her physical appearance, an attribute the he clearly looks for in his person of interest. The connection that Romeo develops with Juliet is an infatuation due to his suddenness and intensity in his feelings for her.
Moreover, Juliet’s choices to stay true to Romeo represent how real love is exemplified through these two lovers. Even in the worst of conditions, Juliet sustained her loyalty and faith in Romeo by choosing to believe that he was not at fault. For instance, Juliet feels a mix of disappointment, rage, and confusion during the time at which Romeo was banished from Verona. With all of her house against the murdering of Tybalt by Romeo, she says that his only place to sit is “a throne where honor may be crowned sole monarch of the universal Earth” (Shakespeare 3.2.102-103). Her choice to stand by the side of her husband shows her dedication and effort to seeing a positive outcome for their love, proving that an aspect of true love is portrayed by the two lovers. In regards to Romeo’s banishment from Verona, Juliet finds herself choosing to protect Romeo from further exposure, although her heart yearns to be with Romeo. During their last conversation before he departs, Juliet decides to keep the session subject-oriented and brief, further telling him “hie hence, be gone, away!” (Shakespeare 3.5.26). Juliet’s choice to make him priority, thus telling him to leave before sunrise, shows how she will put her own desires aside to focus on the success of her partner and their love, in general. Through her acts of loyalty and care, Juliet proves that the connection between these lovers is indeed true love.
In addition, Shakespeare’s inconvenient timing of events is able to portray these ideas of love and infatuation to the audience. Romeo’s sulking, due to Rosaline’s vow of chastity, coupled with Benvolio’s advice to “examine other beauties” induces his acceptance to attend Capulet’s party (Shakespeare 1.1.236). Ironically, Romeo encounters and falls for Juliet’s beauty after initially declaring that there would be “no such sight to be shown” (Shakespeare 1.3.107) that is “fairer than [his] love” (Shakespeare 1.3.99). Shakespeare’s lack of suitable timing in correspondence to Capulet’s event shows Romeo’s contribution of infatuation to the dynamics of their relationship. In regards to Juliet, Shakespeare’s choice for her to decline a sudden declaration of love from Romeo supports the idea that true love is conveyed through these lovers. Juliet decrees that she finds “no joy of this contract tonight” for this love is “too rash, too unadvised, too sudden” (Shakespeare 2.2.124-125). This opportunity and her respective choice shows deep commitment to seeing out the entirety of their relationship and the maturity to hold herself back from a unexpected agreement. The use of inconveniently timed scenarios further develop the concept that both true love and infatuation are displayed in Romeo and Juliet’s love.
The tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare depicts both love and infatuation through Romeo and Juliet’s different behaviors and decision-making skills through the poor timing of various situations. Romeo’s eagerness to be in love (and have the love reciprocated) demonstrates his lack of maturity and empathy. Through the choices she makes throughout the play, Juliet demonstrates her composure and self-awareness when dealing with difficult circumstances. The ill-timed events allow the audience to see a case of either infatuation or true love through the reactions of the main characters. Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossed lovers that touched the hearts of many, represent both the success and sacrifice found in love. In conclusion, both the real and fantasy worlds understand that love takes many forms, expresses different emotions, and changes lives.