An Act Of True Love Or Rash Behavior?

In the play Romeo And Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there has been a lot of controversy about Romeo and Juliet's love for each other. Romeo first meets Juliet at a party and instantly falls in love with her beauty. After a few short moments of knowing each other, they are already confessing their love and arranging to get married. I believe this shows that Romeo, who was trying to get over an old love, was only acting on youthful rashness. I don't think he really loved Juliet, but only fell for her looks.

In this beginning of the play, Romeo is devastated about his unrequited love with Rosaline. He is heartbroken and claims that Rosaline is his only true love and that he shall never love another women. "One fairer than my love? The all-seeing sun Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun" (1.3.99-100). Romeo believes that he will love another women again, but that quickly changes when he see's Juliet. Taken by her beauty, he already forgets about Rosaline. "With Rosaline, my ghostly Father? No. I have forgot that name and that name's woe." (2.3.48-49). Romeo was able to move from declaring his love from one person to another.

In addition, when Romeo speaks about the wedding he says, "O let us hence. I stand on sudden haste" (2.3.100). This shows that he is not thinking about the consequences of his marriage, or what it may mean. He is being rash, and making decisions based on what he thinks is his love for Juliet. He says, "Plainly know my heart is set on the fair daughter of rich Capulet," (2.3.61-62). Although, he really doesn't even know her very well. He is quite sure of himself, and believes that he truly is in love with Juliet. Friar Lawrence, a Priest in Verona states, "Young men's love then lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes." (2.3.71-72). This suggests that even Friar Lawrence is skeptical about Romeo's love towards Juliet, and believes that it is a youthful rash behavior.

In conclusion, I believe that Romeo is not truly in love with Juliet and is acting out of a youthful rash behavior. He is not in love with Juliet herself, but more with her looks. Although, Romeo believes his love for her is true. "Her I love now doth grace for grace and love for love allow. The other did not so." (2.3.93). I believe that Romeo was still heartbroken by Rosaline and only used Juliet as a rebound, without even knowing it. He fell for her looks, and let himself believe it was love, and was very happy to know that Juliet loved him too. I think this made him love her even more because he was devastated about the unrequited love with Rosaline. In summary, I believe that Romeo's love for Juliet is an act of youthful rash behavior and not true love.