Love a Loathed Enemy

Another theme that is quite present in Romeo and Juliet is of course love.  Here are some moments when it demonstrated vividly.

1. Mercutio makes fun of Romeo's sorrow because of his unrequited love for Rosaline.
2. Mercutio talks about Queen Mab who started as the fairy of love, she was loving, kind, heart-filled, and so on.  Later she becomes cruel and evil.
3. Romeo falls in love with Juliet at first sight.  He even asks himself, "Did my hear love till now?  Forswear it, sight! / For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." (I; V; 52-53).
4. When Juliet is on her balcony after the party, she proclaims her love for Romeo.
5. When Romeo goes to ask Friar Laurence to marry him to Juliet, the Friar doesn't understand Romeo's impulsive love for it wasn't too long ago that he was in love with Rosaline.  He feels that Romeo is only loving with his eyes.
6. Romeo and Juliet get married.
7. Juliet refuses to marry Paris, she would rather die.  (her love belongs to Romeo and him alone)
8. While Juliet is waiting for Romeo on their wedding night, she talks (to herself) about her love for Romeo.
9. Juliet's love for Romeo gave her the strength to trust the Friar and drink the potion.
10. Romeo will do ANYTHING for love; he even chooses to follow Juliet to the grave.
11. In the end, they both do the ultimate act of love: they kill themselves for love.

Hey, did you notice how I have less content for the theme of love than the one of fate?  That's because Romeo and Juliet isn't all about love.  In fact Romeo and Juliet is mostly about destiny; their love is but a sacrifice.