Monday, June 2, 2014

What proof is there that Romeo is passionate and obsessed with love?

In Act 1, there is considerable proof that Romeo is obsessive, and therefore, not objective about love.  His mooning over his lost love, Rosalind, is more than his friend Mercutio can bear.  In flowery language, Romeo opines:

She hath, and in that sparing makes huge waste.

For beauty starv'd with her severity

Cuts beauty off from posterity.

She is too fair, too wise, too wisely fair,

To merit bliss by making me despair. 

She hath forsworn love, and in that vow

Do I live dead, that live to tell it now"  (1.1.216-223).

Mercutio will have none of it.  His advice?  "Examine other beauties"  (1.1.226). 

Romeo rejects Mercutio's directive, but then immediately falls in love with Juliet the second he sees her at the Capulet ball.  Despite all the obstacles before them, Romeo continues with his unrealistic love, even dramatically sacrificing his life...and obsession if there ever was one.  In language that makes his obsession with Rosalind sound reasonable, Romeo dramatically drinks from the poison vial, saying: 

"...Eyes, look your last.

Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, O you

The doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss

A dateless bargain to engrossed Death.

Come, bitter conduct, come, unsavoury guide,

...

O true apothecary,

Thy drugs are quick.  Thus with a kiss I die (5.3.112-120).

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