Love vs. Lust Practice Essay

The interesting love of Romeo and Juliet a play by William Shakespeare shows that most of its moments of love is actually lust. The couple see each other with true interest in one another for each other’s beauty and falls instantly in love after a small amount of talking. The method sound strange to us nowadays as we fall in love after a long period of time then marry later on if believed we have found the one.  Shakespeare’s play of a young love is sculpted around the time of the Elizabethan era and he has created the characters to feel a sensitive love around each other.

Romeo’s character talks of virginity and how he is thrilled to take Juliet’s,

“Her vestal livery is but sick and green,

And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!

It is my lady. Oh, it is my love.

Oh, that she knew she were here!”
(Act 2, Scene 2, 8-11)

Romeo has referred to Juliet’s virginity quite a few times and within the quotation he believes that only fools hold onto their virginity and her virginity makes her looks sick and green. It shows the lust Romeo has for Juliet, he wants her to know how he truly loves her and he wants to cure her from her virginity. Shakespeare has crafted the play into a work that shows the Elizabethan rules of society such as the use of virginity and how it is to be held until marriage.

Romeo is considered to be both sensitive and immature as he falls for the beauty and talks of the women like they are an angel from the heavens. Juliet talks of Romeo romantically as well which is creating a belief that Juliet is falling in love with her own words. It is strange as to how they fall for each other so soon, many people believe it is sweet yet silly as the couple are only teenaged and have not yet lived to be worrying about love. It is also impractical how the couple believe that they cannot live without one another. This leads them to a terrible death hence the play’s ‘Tragedy’ genre.

 “A thousand times the worse to want thy light.

Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books,

But love from love, toward school with heavy books.”
(Act 2, Scene 2, 159-161)

Romeo is explaining his joy in seeing his love and his anguish in losing her, he cannot live without her. Although the couple within the play talk of how they are serious about their love for one another,

“My loves true passion, therefore pardon me,

And not impute this yielding to light love,

Which the dark night hath so discovered.”
(Act 2, Scene 2, 113-115)

Juliet talks of how she is in love with Romeo already but just because she has been so fast – does not mean she is not serious about it. Shakespeare has given us every reason to believe that they are not serious and that they just have sensitive emotions but he is also telling us otherwise.

William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet shows moments of love but is questioned as being lust instead. The character’s quick to fall for each other and rush to get married has got the audience to consider whether it is love or lust. The talk of virginity, taking into the fact of the Elizabethan society rules at the time and the sensitivity of the characters emotions has efficiently created the feel that Shakespeare wanted to portray within the romantic tragedy.

~By Gabrielle Burey 2012~

Discussion Starters (from Motherboard)

The following topics, as listed below, will be helpful for you as you practise writing extended responses to the text. As you work your way through topics (you do not have to complete them in the order they are listed), you should aim to make direct reference to the play. My expectation is that you complete two per week as we lead into your exam.

 
• Love vs. Lust: Romeo and Juliet are obsessed, infatuated, out of control, and irrational. Sounds like lust to me.

 
• Prejudice: The feuding families create tension and conflict, not unlike feuding cultures in today's society.

 
• The Role of Fate: Shakespeare calls the two lovers "star-crossed." Does fate, however, play a greater role than the numerous stupid choices made by Romeo and Juliet.

 
• Book Smarts vs. Street Smarts: Friar Lawrence knew a lot. Most of it was useless. After all, he had no real world experience. He just walked around all day collecting herbs.

 
• Suicide: It's the gigantic green elephant in the room. You might as well talk about it.

 
• The Role of Women: Verona society did not hold much for women, which makes Juliet's strength stand out even more.

 
• The Role of a Husband: Romeo's weakness dooms the relationship from the start.

 
• Friendship: Romeo's friend, Mercutio, causes his banishment. His other friend, Friar Lawrence, causes his death. Juliet's friend, the Nurse, abandons her in her time of need.

 
• Communication: Juliet and her father need to sit down and have a nice long talk.

Given that the discussion starters are written as statements, it may be useful for you to turn them into questions. Alternatively, you may be comfortable simply adapting them so that they read as clear topic sentences or thesis statements.

When writing your responses, please keep the following things in mind:

1. You need to plan your response before you start writing

2. You should follow the accepted structure for paragraphs and essays

3. You need to ensure that you are analysing the text, not simply describing what happens

4. When analysing you need to ensure that you are identifying the various positioning techniques that Shakespeare is using and evaluating how these techniques help to position the audience

5. When analysing you should be making reference to what messages are being presented, i.e. what is important, etc.

6. You need to make sure that you integrate your evidence - remember, we want to try and avoid simply throwing quotations into the sentence or introducing every quotation with , "For example..."

7. Make sure you reference your quotations e.g. (Act 3, Scene 5, 22-23)

8. Avoid using large quotations - shorter examples are often more effective

9. Make sure you proof-read and edit very carefully! If you are having trouble proof-reading and editing your own work, ask someone to read it aloud to you (for this to work effectively they need to read exactly what is on the screen - spelling and punctuation too!)

10. Once you have finished a response, make sure you remember to publish it.

Quotations on Act 2 Scene 3 to Act 3 Scene 1 (with certain themes)

Love

Act 2 Scene 3

 

45-46 ROMEO

“With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No.

I have forgot that name and that name’s woe.”

-          With Rosaline father? No I have forgotten that girl and all the sadness she brought me.

 

57-61 ROMEO

“Then plainly now that my heart’s dear love is set

On the fair daughter of rich Capulet.

As mine on hers, so hers I set on mine,

And all combined, save what thou must combine

By holy marriage.”

-          I love rich capulet’s daughter. I love her, and she loves me. Were bound to each other in every possible way, except we need you to marry us.

 

66-68 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“Is Roasline, whom thou didst love so dear,

So soon forsaken? Young men’s love  then lies

Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes.”

-          He is saying that Romeo’s and Juliet’s love isn’t serious, how Romeo is in love with Juliet because of her looks, not because of what she is.

 

90-92 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“In one respect ill thy assistant be,

For this alliance may so happy prove

To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.”

-          Ill help you with your secret wedding. This marriage may be lucky enough to turn the hatred between your families into pure love.

 

Family Feud

Act 2 Scene 3

 

27-31 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“Two much opposed kings ecamp them still,

In man as well as herbs – grace and rude will.

And where the worser is predominant,

Full soon the canker death eats up that plant. “

-          There are two opposite elements in everything, in men as well as in herbs – good and evil. When evil is dominant, death soon kills the body like cancer.

 

90-92 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“In one respect ill thy assistant be,

For this alliance may so happy prove

To turn your households’ rancor to pure love.”

-          Ill help you with your secret wedding. This marriage may be lucky enough to turn the hatred between your families into pure love.

 

Act 3 Scene 1

 

69-72 MERCUTIO

“A plague o’both your

Houses! Zounds, a dog, a rat, a

mouse, a cat to scratch a man to

death!”

-          May a plague strike both your houses. Godammit! I can’t believe that dog, that rat, that mouse, that cat to scratch a man to death!

 

61-62 ROMEO

“This day’s black fate on more days doth depend.

This but begins the woe others must end.”

-          The future will be affected by today’s terrible events. Today is the start of a terror that will end in the days ahead.

 

148-156 PRINCE

“And for that offence

Immediately we do exile him hence.

I have an interest in your hearts proceeding.

My blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding.

But ill amerce you with a strong fine.

That you shall repent the loss of mine.”

-          And for that crime, Romeo is hereby exiled from Verona. I’m involved in your rivalry. Mercutio was my relative, and he lies dead because of your bloody feud. Ill punish you harshly that you’ll regret causing me this loss.

-          Family feud

 

Rushed Love/Irony

Act 2 Scene 3

 

79-80 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“Pronounce this sentence then:

Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.”

-          Then repeat this after me: you cannot expect women to be faithful when men are so unreliable.

94 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.”

-          Go wisely and slowly. Those who rush stumble and fall.

 

Act 2 Scene 6

 

11-15 FRIAR LAWRENCE

“The sweetest honey

Is loathsome in his own deliciousness

And in the taste confounds the appetite.

Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so.

Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow.”

-          Too much honey is delicious, but it makes you sick to your stomach. Therefore, lover each other in moderation. That is the key to long-lasting love. Too fast is as bad as too slow.

-          The friar warning him to not rush into this too much.

 

Violence

Act 3 Scene 1

 

1-3 BEVOLIO

“I pray thee, good Mercutio, lets retire.

The day is hot; the Capulets abroad;

And if we meet we shall not ‘scape a brawl,”

-          I’m begging you, Mercutio, let’s call it a day. It’s hot outside, and the Capulets are wandering around. If we bump into them, well certainly get into a fight.

 

59-61 MERCUTIO

“I am hurt.

A plague o’both your houses! I am sped.

Is he gone and hath nothing?”

-          I’ve been hurt. May a plague curse both your families. I’m finished. Did he get away clean?

 

143 LADY CAPULET

“Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live.”

-          Blame on romeo.

 

Guilt

 

Act 3 Scene 1

 

72-75 ROMEO

“This gentleman, the prince’s near ally,

My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt

In my behalf. My reputation stained

With Tybalt’s slander.”

-          This gentleman Mercutio, a close relative to the prince and my dear friend, was killed while defending me from Tybalt’s slander.

 

 

 

 

 

Quotations in Act 2 about Love, Violence and reflecting on Elizabethan times

Love:

Lines 13-14, Act 2, Prologue (CHORUS)

“But passion lends them power, time means, to meet,

Tempering extremities with extreme sweet.”

-          Love gives them power to be together, to keep going through the hard love.

Lines 10-11, Act 2, Scene 2 (ROMEO)

“It is my lady. Oh, it is my love.

Oh, that she knew she were here!”

-          Oh, there’s my lady! Oh, it is my love. Oh, I wish she knew how much I love her.

 

23-25 (ROMEO)

“See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.

Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand

That I might touch that cheek!”

-           Longing for Juliet.

33-36 (JULIET)

“O, Romeo, Romeo! Where fore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name.

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And ill no longer be a Capulet.”

-          Juliet is willing to give up her name, life, reputation and family for Romeo.

38-42 (JULIET)

“’Tis but thy name that is my enemy.

Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.

Whats Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot,

Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part

Belonging to a man.”

-          Its only your name that’s my enemy, you’d still be yourself even if you stopped being a Montague. What’s a Montague anyway? It isn’t a hand, a foot, an arm, a face, or any other part belonging to a man.

49-51 (ROMEO)

“I take thee thy word.

Call me but love, and ill be new baptized.

Henceforth I never be Romeo”.

-          Willing to give up anything for her.

78-79 (ROMEO)

“My life were better ended by their hate

Than death be prorogued, wanting of thy love.”

-          I’d rather they (the Capulet’s) killed me than have to live without your love.

82-84 (ROMEO)

“I am no pilot. Yet, wert thou as far
As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,

I would adventure for such merchandise”

-          im not a sailor but if you were across the farthest sea, I would risk anything to gain you.

113-115 (JULIET)

“My loves true passion, therefore pardon me,

And not impute this yielding to light love,

Which the dark night hath so discovered.”

-          So excuse me, and do not assume that because you made me love you so easily my love isn’t serious.

 

120 (JULIET)

“It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden.”

-          It is too sudden. We haven’t done much thinking. It is too crazy.

 

159-161 (ROMEO)

“A thousand times the worse to want thy light.

Love goes toward love as schoolboys from their books,

But love from love, toward school with heavy books.”

-          Leaving you is thousand times worse than being near you. A lover goes toward his beloved as enthusiastically as school boys leaving their books. But when he leaves his girlfriend, he feels as miserable as the school boy on his way to school.

Violence:

Line 70, act 2 scene 2 (JULIET)

“If they (the Capulet’s) do see thee (Romeo) they will murder you”

 

Elizabethan times/setting:

Lines 8-11, Act 2, Scene 2 (ROMEO)

“Her vestal livery is but sick and green,

And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!

It is my lady. Oh, it is my love.

Oh, that she knew she were here!”

-          Virginity makes her look sick and green. Only fools hold on to their virginity. Let it go. Oh, there’s my lady! Oh, it is my love. Oh, I wish she knew how much I love her.

-          Talking about a lady’s virginity and how he would want her in that way and he loves her, it reflects on the times the play is set as it was socially unacceptable to lose your virginity.

Homework Task Response - What is love?

William Shakespeare has created Romeo and Juliet to show many various representations of love such as friendship and love between a woman and a man. Love coexists within the friendship of Mercutio and Romeo within the fight scene between the Capulets, mainly represented by Tybalt and the Montagues, mainly represented by Romeo and Mercutio. Tybalt, angry and annoyed at the fasmily of the montagues, finds out Romeo has trespassed at the capulets party in which romeo met juliet. Full  of so much hatred he starts a fight with Mercutio and Romeo tries to stop them and protect Mervutio which ended with Mercutio being stabbed by Tybalt. 

	"I am hurt.
	A plague o' both your houses! I am sped.
	Is he gone, and hath nothing?" Act III, Scene I, 87-89

Romeo in repsonse felt guilty and upset to the new of which Mercutio dies for Romeo in the worst way. he is angry to the fact that Tybalt is able to get away with such maddness.

	"Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again,
	That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul
	Is but a little way above our heads,
	Staying for thine to keep him company:
	Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him." Act III, Scene I, 121-124

 

Either one must die Romeo says, who was angered by Mercutio's death and unfrotunately was not thinking clearly. Despite from the respresentation of love between friendship including Romeo's and Mercutio's there is also a romance between Romeo and Juliet represented in the play. Romeo and Juliet are bounded together by love at first sight, and although their love may seem rushed, they are serious about it especially Juliet,

"My loves true passion, therefore pardon me,
And not impute this yielding to light love,

Which the dark night hath so discovered.”Act II, Scene II, 113-115

 Juliet believes that Romeo may be just trying to use her or to fall in love with him so easily but will dump her later, but infact Romeo cannot live without her either that we would give up his name, family, reputation and even life to be with her,

“I am no pilot,Yet, wert thou as far

As that vast shore washed with the farthest sea,

I would adventure for such merchandise”

Act II, Scene II, 82-84

Anybody can say that their love is a teenaged love that is not always constant but in their hearts, as most teenagers do, they fall deeply and cannot live without them despite the fact that they have a family with open arms. Romeo and Juliet is a play written by Shakespeare which delivers various representaions of love between friendships and true love.

 

 



 

What is Love? - Homework Task

What is love?

So far in Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, we have been exposed to various representations of love. Write an extended response that explores these representations.

In your response you must demonstrate your ability to do the following things:

1. Use direct evidence
2. Reference your evidence (Act 3, Scene 1, 45-67)
3. Refer to the various positioning techniques in your discussion. E.g. Foreshadowing, language choices, use of Shakespearean sonnet, imagery, metaphor, simile, symbolism, motifs,etc.
4. Synthesise your evidence - the discussion of positioning techniques should help you here.
5. Can you suggest what is valued by certain characters with regards to love?

Make sure you proof-read and edit carefully.

Womens Expectations

What I found within the sheets was many horrifying things such as:

·         If were everything but a maid, she be called a whore, but if she was nothing but a maid, she is worth marrying.

·         At the age of seven or so, she may be married, nine she has a share of her husbands estate if widowed, etc.

·         When the maid is in the conversation of her two parents of which she has to marry someone, she isn’t to talk. At all.

·         Once married, they cannot be separated by law but can re marry if widowed.

·         A woman’s virginity is the main thing about her – otherwise no man would bother marrying her.

·         “Hippomenes, a great man of Athens, when he knew his daughter desoiled of one, he shut her up in a stable with a wild horse, kept meatless. For the horse, when he had suffered great hunger long and because he was of nature fierce, we waxed mad and all to-tare the young woman to feed himself with…” (Vives VII)

·         There was also a story about a woman whom was pregnant but not married and once she gave birth the father and brothers stabbed her and the mid wife still looked on.

As you can already see those times were terrible for women.