Is it love?

Romeo and Juliet is probably one of the most famous love stories in the world.  But reading it closely, I’ve realized that I have no idea why Romeo and Juliet love each other.  I’m not even sure that they do!

Romeo first sees Juliet at a party dancing.  Before he even speaks to her, he is in love.  It seems to be that he is only impressed by her beauty.  He compares her to a jewel, more beautiful than the other ladies.  “Did my heart love till now?  Forswear it, sight, For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”(Act 1 Sc. 5 p. 53, l. 59-60).  In Romeo’s first conversation with Juliet, he takes her hand to kiss (p. 57).  The next time he sees her, he compares her to the sun, her eyes to the stars, and to a bright angel (Act 2 Sc. 2 pp. 70-71).  Romeo declares his love for Juliet after hearing Juliet declare her love for him. (p. 73).  Romeo would rather die than be without her love (p. 75).

Likewise, after Juliet’s first conversation with Romeo, she declares her love for him.  “My only love sprung from my only hate . . . that I must love a loathed enemy” (Act 1 Sc. 5 p. 61  l. 152-155).  And the next time Juliet speaks with Romeo, she tells him of her “true love passion” for him (Act 2 Sc. 2 p. 75 l.109).

Much of the rest of that second conversation is just about Romeo and Juliet’s “deep” and “infinite” love for each other based on nothing! That second conversation ends with them planning to marry (pp. 79-83).  But despite all the beautiful words, there is nothing that explains why they love each other.  Romeo and Juliet just met.  They have only spoken twice to each other.  While they talk of love, there seems to be no basis for it.

Maybe Romeo and Juliet love each other because they are not allowed to love each other.  Their families are enemies and they are forbidden to be together.  Maybe it’s just teenage rebellion.  Children doing things that their parents won’t allow.  Maybe they are just both in love with being in love.  The book starts with Romeo being in love with someone else.  Maybe Romeo is on the rebound!  Maybe Juliet, who has just learned that she’s to be married to a rich man chosen by her parents, is looking for her own love.  How will their love develop or will it end before it grows?