Love in Romeo and Juliete

William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet is one of the greatest love stories ever written. Shakespeare uses many different types of love in his play, and many characters die from it. In the play love is mainly expressed through words exchanged between characters, but when love is expressed through emotions and actions is when the story turns from a romantic play to a very tragic and emotional play. When the genres of love are juxtaposed it is easy to see how the mood of the play of the play can change so drastically.

Without romantic love Romeo and Juliet would not be the great story it is. Romantic love makes the story more passionate, and powerful story. Romeo and Juliet both suffer from romance because they are in such deep love with each other that they will do anything just to see each other again. A great example of this is when Romeo says, "Here's to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die." (Shakespeare Act V, Scene III, Lines 119-120, pg. 356). Romeo says this when he thinks that Juliet is dead, so he drinks a poison to kill himself so that he could be with her in the after life. When Juliet wakes up she sees Romeo, and she kills herself and sacrifices her life to be with Romeo. The romantic relationship between Romeo and Juliet cause them to die and suffer. These two lovers have to suffer from the legacy of hatred that their families pass down from generation to generation.

Familial love is the cause of the most death in Shakespeare's play. Every single Montague and every single Capulet has an immense amount of pride in there family. It is because of this that characters die. There is one scene where Tybalt and Mercutio are quarrelling because of the ancient grudge between the two families. They start to fight and Tybalt stabs Mercutio. He blames the hatred between the families for his suffering, and before he dies he says, "A plague o' both your houses! I am sped!" (Shakespeare Act III, Scene I, Line 79, pg. 322). When Mercutio dies Romeo feels enraged, and chases Tybalt down. Romeo confronts Tybalt and says, "This days black fate on moe days doth depend; This but begins the woe others must end." (Shakespeare Act III, Scene I, Lines 107-108, pg. 323). Romeo says this because he is so angry at what Tybalt just did to his family. Romeo fights Tybalt and he dies. Another character that dies from familial love is Lady Montague.