Homework - Love vs. Lust

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

Romeo and Juliet are in love or are in lust is something that has been debate over many times. Obsessed, infatuated, out of control and irrational seem to being characteristics of lust, meaning their physical attractions to each other. The pair know near to nothing about each other, saying they are in love is something very bizarre. "Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear. So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows" Act 1 scene 5 line 45. This quotes shows the effect of Juliets beauty has on Romeo. It is showing that Romeo first fell for her beauty instead of her personality. Upon this Romeo still has not had the time to create a sense of Love between the pair, this being why the seem to share lust and not love.

Homework - Fate and Fortune

How significant is Romeo's belief in fate and fortune when it comes to the audience's understanding of the events leading up to Act III, Scene ii?

Romeos belief in fate places a significant role in the audiences understanding in the events leading up to act 3 scene 2. As the audience we already know the events that happen in the play and what is going to come next. “I fear too early, for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin his fearful date With this night’s revels, and expire the term Of a despisèd life closed in my breast By some vile forfeit of untimely death" Act 1 Scene 4 line 106-110. This quote uses the one of Shakespeares most common themes foreshadowing. As the audience we know what is to come from this and the events that will foreshadow this. For example Mercutios death, and then the death of both Romeo and Juliet.

Homework 1

 In Act 1, we are already made aware that there can be multiple representations of love. Based on what we know of Romeo at this point in the play, how does Shakespeare represent love through the character of Romeo.

Shakespeare represents love through the character of Romeo, as a horrible and depressing thing. Through out the first act of the play, we can see a clear mood that is created by Romeo for his description of love. "tut, I have lost myself, I am not here, This is not Romeo, he's some other where" act 1 scene 1 line 191. This quote from the play shows a clear description of the effects that love has on Romeo. it is saying that love has turned him into someone that he is not, and he has lost himself through the horrible journey of love. He describes love as a hateful thing and something that is nowhere as exciting and enjoying as it is made to be, " in saddness. Cousin, I do love a woman" act 1 scene 1 line 195. This quote helps to add to the saddening representation that Shakespeare has created for the character Romeo. Through these two quotes taken from act 1 scene 1, we can see the clear representation that Shakespeare is trying to create for the character Romeo.