The view on Love in Romeo and Juliet

Love is portrayed in various ways in Romeo and Juliet. There are two emphasized views on love, the physical and emotional. Romeo's love is all about the romance and emotional connection he has with both Rosaline and Juliet. An example of his romantic love is when he first talks to Juliet, he suddenly forgets about Rosaline and is smitten by another. 'Dear saint, let lips do what hands do' (Act 1, scene 5, line 100), when Romeo says this to Juliet he is comparing her to a saint in all her beauty and grace. He has begun to say sweet poetry to her to win her over. In contrast both the nurse's and Benvolio's view on love is merely the physical attributes of good look, and that they are good in bed. In scene 4 of Act 2 Benvolio goes on about the way he thinks love is, all the physical actions and what he would do. The nurse, however similar in opinion that love is a physical thing, tells Romeo that she believes Paris is better for Juliet because of his looks, wealth and status; 'I anger her sometimes and tell her that Paris is the properer man' (Act 2, Scene 4, line 108). Shakespeare uses these characters to portray the various kinds of love in a way that is quiet in your face and bluntly clear.