Romeo and Juliet
...28). Romeo states, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!/ For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” (I.v.ll.51-52). This statement expresses how he fell in love with Juliet based on her exquisite beauty. Juliet’s view of love is also tainted because Juliet believes that she is able to control whom she loves and whom she does not love. Young Juliet has not experienced love, and says that marriage to her “…is an honour that [she has] dream[t] not of” (I.iii.l.67). Juliet’s mother requests her to consider Paris as a potential husband. Juliet, docile and innocent, believes she can love Paris automatically, but she says she will only love him as much as her mother desires her to. Juliet tells her mother that she will “…look to like, if looking liking move;/ But no more deep will [she] endart [her] eye/ Than [Lady Capulet’s] consent gives strength to make it fly” (I.iii.ll.98-100). Romeo and Juliet are both inexperienced in romantic situations and have distorted perspectives on the subject of love. In addition, Romeo and Juliet are both impulsive in their actions. Shortly after Romeo sets his eyes on Juliet he desires her. Romeo immediately shows open affection toward Juliet: “[his] lips…ready stand/ To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” from Juliet (I.v.ll.94-95). Also, on the night Romeo meets Juliet, he is ready and willing to risk his life in order to be with her. “With love’s light wings did [Romeo] o’erperch these walls” in order to enter into the Capulet orchard to be with his love Juliet (II.ii.l.66). Romeo is not concerned about being caught in his enemy’s garden for “…[the Capulet’s] kinsmen are no stop to [him]” (II.ii.l.69). Juliet is also willing to take great risks for the one she loves. Even though Juliet barely knows Romeo, she wants him to “Deny [his] father and refuse [his] name;/ Or if [Romeo] wilt not...[she’ll] no longer be a Capulet” (II.ii.ll.34-36). Because of Juliet’s profound love for Romeo she is willing to break the mores of society. She proposes the idea of marriage to Romeo and plans how it will come about: “If that they bent of love be honourable,/ Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow…I’ll procure to come to thee” (II.ii.ll.143-145). The haste of the two lovers helps to illustrate their infantile decisions. However, Romeo and Juliet’s levels of practicality differ. When Friar Lawrence informs Romeo of his “…body’s banishment” (III.iii.l.11) Romeo reacts in an immature manner, saying, “Ha, banishment? be merciful, say ‘death’:/ For exile hath more terror in his look,/ Much more than death. Do not say ‘banishment’!” (III.iii.ll.12-14). Romeo becomes unreasonable when the Friar tries to explain to him that it is “Here from Verona art [he is] banished./ Be patient, for the world is broad and wide” (III.iii.ll.15-16). Romeo refuses to listen to the Friar’s wise words, and as a res...