One of the main themes in Romeo and Juliet is the youthful haste and the romantic nature of love, and perhaps the best example of this concerns Romeo. We first meet him when he is love sick, "is the day so young?" This suggests Romeo is surprised by the day and has lost track of time because he is constantly thinking about Rosaline, this shows Romeos romantic nature. Throughout the play Shakespeare continues to show Romeo and Julie's romantic nature and youthful haste - resulting in their love for each other killing them both.Shakespeare shows us that Romeo wears his heart on his sleeve, in the start of the play Romeo has fallen in love with someone who doesn't love him (Rosaline).
He always thinks about her, "sad hours seem long," he can't get her out of his head and tells us that the love from Rosaline hasn't returned, he is not in real love he is in unrequited love. Even though Rosaline has no interest in Romeo, his romantic nature takes control over him and he can't help feeling miserable, “deep sighs." However this all fades at the first sight of Juliet, even though Romeo said to Benvolio, "thou canst not teach me to forget," which shows the dramatic irony when he meets Juliet.Immediately in act 1 scene 5 Romeo speaks in love poetry, "she doth teach the torches to burn bright!" This show Romeos romantic nature and youthful haste and just seconds before he was in love with Rosaline now he expresses his love for Juliet, when he doesn't even know her name. The language Romeo uses to talk about Juliet contrasts from the way he talks about Rosaline.
When he talks about Rosaline he relates to battles, "Cupid's arrow," and talks about sadness, “sad hours seem long."However when he talk about Juliet he uses romantic words such as, “beauty too rich," this shows Romeos romantic nature and proves he was never in love with Rosaline. Romeo uses a simile to describe Juliet further, "like a rich jewel," this suggest that Romeo has a very romantic nature and thinks Juliet is beautiful and stands out from everyone else. Shakespeare reminds us of how young Romeo is, "did my heart love till now?" This shows Romeos youthful haste and his immaturity and suggests he never loved Rosaline, she was just a childish lust. When Romeo and Juliet speak for the first time, it suggests the feeling is mutual.Shakespeare presents the romantic nature of love through Romeo, " two blushing pilgrims," Romeo talks as if he has gone to see a saint and she is too perfect to touch, he shows his love by comparing her to the most good and kind person.
Juliet responded in the same way," good pilgrim," they both mirror catheters language which suggests they're in love and they are well suited. This also shows Juliet's romantic nature by the way she matches Romeos language. Juliet continues with her romantic nature by encouraging Romeo.Juliet shows her youthful haste by urging Romeo to kiss her, " palm to palm is holy palmers' kiss," this shows Juliet’s romantic side and her youthful haste by her only just meeting Romeo and after few minutes is already wanting a kiss before she even gets to know him properly. Romeo is constant with his romantic nature and asks for another kiss.
" give me my sin again," this proves that both of them are very romantic and their love is love at first sight and they can't keep their hand off each other. Juliet compliments Romeo, " you kiss by the book," this suggests she thinks his kissing is perfect and shows Romeo is romantic and knows how to treat a women. They are interrupted by the nurse and they both realize they are enemies.Even though Romeo and Juliet's families are rivals they still can't live without each other, Romeo says, "my life is my foe's debt," this suggests his life belongs to his enemy and he can't live without her, this proves Romeo would do anything for Juliet because he loves her. Also Juliet relates to Romeo, " I must love a loathed enemy, " she can't help herself like Romeo and shows her romantic nature by matching Romeo language.
Shakespeare shows us that youthful haste and the romantic nature of love is a constant theme throughout the play and that the haste and the romance will only lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet.
