Romeo and Juliet Key Theme: Love (AQA GCSE English Literature) : Revision Note

Love timeline

The theme of love in each act of Romeo and Juliet:

What are the elements of love in Romeo and Juliet?

Shakespeare portrays different types of love: romantic, familial and friendship. The elements of love in the play include:

• Romantic love: Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight and their love is presented as courtly and spiritual, reflecting Elizabethan conventions of romantic love, as well as passionate and sensual: 

  • “Thus from my lips, by yours my sin is purged”

• Familial love: Shakespeare initially presents the relationship between Juliet and her father as loving:

  • As the play progresses, Lord Capulet’s actions in forcing his daughter to marry Paris ultimately contribute to his daughter’s tragic demise 

• Friendship: Benvolio, Mercutio and Friar Lawrence are loyal friends to Romeo and offer support in different ways:

  • Benvolio attempts to keep the peace, Mercutio defends Romeo’s honour and Friar Laurence devises a plan to help him

The impact of love on characters

The theme of love is a powerful force in the play. It strongly motivates both Romeo and Juliet after they meet and fall in love at first sight and drives them to suicide as they would rather die than live apart.

Why does Shakespeare use the theme of love in his play?

1.  Setting and atmosphere 

• Shakespeare establishes love as the central theme of the tragedy and its driving force from the very beginning 

• Creates an element of urgency and secrecy as Romeo and Juliet’s love must be hidden

2. Plot driver 

• Drives the tragic sequence of events as the love between Romeo and Juliet is a catalyst to the dramatic action

3. Audience appeal 

• Appeals to Shakespeare’s audience as romantic love was considered heroic at the time the play is set 

• Reflects a universal theme of love which would resonate with both contemporary and modern audiences

4. Dramatic device  

• Heightens the dramatic tension by contrasting love with violence

Exam-style questions on the theme of love

Try planning a response to the following essay questions as part of your revision of the theme of love: 

• How does Shakespeare portray the intensity of young love in the play? (You could start with Act 2, Scene 2.) 

• “Romeo is never really in love in the play”. How far do you agree with this statement? (You could start with Act 1, Scene 1.)