Studying Romeo and Juliet: Shakespeare's Tale of Immature Love

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous love stories of all time. Even those who have not read the play are aware that it is a romance, and feel that it is a portrayal of an ultimately true love. However, upon close inspection of the play, there is quite a bit of evidence that suggests Romeo's affection for Juliet is not really a "true love" between a man and a woman, but rather a boyish and immature love. Romeo's immature concept of love is found throughout the play.

In Act I, Scene I, we are first made aware of Romeo's initial "love" for Rosaline, a girl who does not return his affections. Romeo, acting distraught that she will not love him in return, childishly cries to Benvolio that Rosaline "hath forsworn to love; and in that vow/ do I live dead, that live to tell it now" (I.i. [pg 8]). He therefore is stating that he is ready to die for loving Rosaline - which is the exact same attitude he takes at the end of the play with Juliet. He kills himself over Juliet; and yet, in this earlier scene, swears that he would kill himself for Rosaline. This raises serious doubts as to whether his love for Juliet is a true love, or merely the same flighty love he feels for Rosaline.

Indeed, there is another striking similarity between Rosaline and Juliet in Act I, Scene II. When Benvolio tries to persuade Romeo to go to Capulet's party to meet other women and get over Rosaline, Romeo grows highly upset and angrily yells, "Transparent heretics, be burnt for liars!/ One fairer than my love!" (I.ii. [pg 11]). Here, he calls Benvolio and other friends heretics for saying that anyone could be above his Rosaline.