From When They Met

In the book Romeo and Juliet by Shakespeare, there is something that I think most people find confusing. That being, the fact that Romeo has only seen Juliet, and has never spoken to her and he is in love. Also with Paris, who may not be 'in love' exactly, but is drawn to Juliet and plans on marrying her even though they don't have any sort of connection. The love in this book, is one that seems very shallow and bland, but still manages to be very strong and permanent.

The way we live today, we don't necessarily believe in love at first sight, and in this period they do. Romeo, who fell in love with Juliet the night they met without even talking to her, is a strong believer in love. He swears his love for her, except he does so only a couple of days, I believe, after crying for Rosaline who he 'loved so deeply'. Juliet also falls in love with Romeo, from only seeing him, after saying how she doesn't want to marry. All of these things makes the love in this book appear untrue, and almost silly.

Although those things happen, and although they happen very quickly, there is still this deep sense of true love that happens in the book. I think that even though 'love at first sight' is unrealistic, in the book it helps show how strong their relationship is. They have an immediate attraction towards each other and it seems that from the start they are inseparable. Even when they find out just seconds after meeting that they are enemies they know the love they hold for each other is not something they can just forget, or get rid of.