Comparing Different Types of Love in William Shakespeares Romeo and Ju

Comparing Different Types of Love in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet The three different examples of love between Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Rosaline and Paris and Juliet do share some similar aspects, but they also have their own differences. These three different types of love show us the variations of love and how it can mask itself into different forms. Romeo's 'love' for Rosaline. He was portrayed as a Petrarchan lover and his 'love' was simply an infatuation. He did not take time to know Rosaline or understand her, but thought that he truly loved her. In actual fact, he was only attracted to her because of her beauty; "The all-seeing sun/Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun." Romeo knows that Rosaline does not love him, that the relationship is not mutual. Romeo became depressed when he realised that Rosaline did not love him. He was moody and withdrawn. His use of oxymorons such as "bright smoke, cold fire, sick health" shows his uncertainty and confusion of this 'love' he has for Rosaline. Romeo's love for Rosaline is clearly infatuation, which really is not true love. Similarly, we question Paris' 'love' for Juliet. Did he really love her? His love for Juliet was not as straightforward. He did not even know Juliet, probably falling for her beauty rather that loving her for who she really was. It was probably superficial, but we cannot completely ignore his attempts to show 'love'. He risks his reputation as a noble by visiting Juliet's grave in the dead of the night so secretly and suspiciously. Also, when Romeo kills him he asks to be put in her tomb, "If thou be merciful, Open the tomb, lay me with .. ...d be one that was approved and acknowledged. Not like the one between Romeo and Juliet, where the choice to get wedded was based purely on their own decision and not one that was consulted with their own parents. Compared with Romeo's love for Rosaline, his best friends knew about it, Benvolio having found out when he spoke to Romeo, and probably telling Mercutio. It wasn't a total secret but was kept hidden from his parents. It is obvious that the love Romeo has for Juliet is true and deep, it is also reciprocated, unlike the one between Romeo and Rosaline, and Paris and Juliet. Also, the three relationships showed signs of hastiness and rashness, which resulted in a short-lived and rather brief relationship. However, the love did affect the characters in some way or other and had changed Romeo into a better person.