Tender, But Rough Love

Has anyone every experienced love at a young age? Sure, Romeo and Juliet have. "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare is a play with a theme of Love, young love. Young love can be fierce, it can be soothing, it can be romantic and it can be cruel according to the main male role, Romeo. Romeo experienced it all. He was in love with Rosaline, a girl that didn't love him back. He was a young boy with a broken heart and heavy shoulders weighing him down to his sadness. On the other hand, 13 year old Juliet is asked to marry Paris by her mother. Juliet contemplates the idea but isn't sure if she is ready.

In act 1 scene 4, Romeo says "I am too sore enpiercèd with his shaft," meaning "His arrow has pierced me too deeply, so I can’t fly." Melancholy Romeo has been hurt with cupids arrow. (Not literally.) With love being cruel in the state Romeo is in now, he isn't enjoying anything. He can't blossom anymore to love, as so he thinks. To me Romeo is trying to ignore the fact that he can move on to find another love but denies it everytime. He wont dance nor will he even try to be happy. He just wants to be left alone in the way he is now. After finding out that his beloved Rosaline is invited to the Capulets party, Romeo finds himself there with Benvolio, his cousin and Mercutio. The Capulets and the Montagues hate each other greatly. They can't stand peace within each others families, so it's very dangerous for Romeo to be in such place.

Also in act 1 scene 4 Romeo says..."Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn." This means "Is love really tender? I think it’s too rough, too rude, too rowdy, and it pricks like a thorn." With this line, Romeo seems more than just heart Broken... he seems as if he can't love again which for a fact isn't true. He thinks love isn't soft, it's rough and unjust and stings like a rose thorn. With the suggestion of Benvolio for Romeo to dance, Romeo doesn't feel comfortable to do anything. I personally think that Romeo is over reacting on such a person who doesn't love him back. OK, so she doesn't love you back? Move on, it may take time but at least try to get your mind off of that idea. This may be harsh but the only way to recover might be to move on and use cupids wings to find someone new.

Shakespeare has included many oxymoron's such as 'Brawling Love,' and 'Loving Hate.' By using oxymorons I am able to understand Romeos point of view of love, since he himself has said these words. Brawling love in my opinion means that love can be harsh at times when you are fighting for the one you care the most about, the one whom you love so much. For Loving Hate, my inference is that love can be triggered towards hating a person because of the actions that happen between the two people. For example in my opinion, Romeo hates Rosaline for not loving him back, but he still loves her and can't focus on anything else. These mixed feelings happen all the time. Love can't always be controlled you know...