Romeo and Juliet Key Theme: Love (AQA GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Written by: Nick Redgrove
Reviewed by: Kate Lee
Love mind map
The theme of love in each act of Romeo and Juliet:
Act | Quote | Summary |
|---|---|---|
1 | “Did my heart love till now?” – Romeo | Romeo falls instantly in love with Juliet at the Capulet ball, which Shakespeare juxtaposes with his earlier infatuation with Rosaline |
2 | “My only love sprung from my only hate!” – Juliet | During the balcony scene, Juliet laments her discovery that Romeo is a Montague, which demonstrates the conflict between romantic love and familial love |
3 | “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee / Doth much excuse the appertaining rage” – Romeo | As Romeo has secretly wed Juliet, he refuses to fight Tybalt and expresses his love for him due to his new connection with the Capulet family |
4 | “Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford” – Juliet | Juliet seeks courage through her love for Romeo as she prepares to take the sleeping potion |
5 | “Here’s to my love!” – Romeo | Believing Juliet to be dead, Romeo drinks the poison and dies at Juliet’s side, thinking he will join her in death |
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.
Character | Impact |
|---|---|
Romeo and Juliet |
|
The Nurse |
|
Mercutio |
|
Benvolio |
|
Friar Laurence |
|
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.)
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