THE PROMPT
This collection explores the many facets of love - joy, pain, passion, and conflict, to name just a few. Look back at the anchor text, Romeo and Juliet, and at the other texts in the collection. Consider the attributes or characteristics of love that are represented in each text. Synthesize your ideas by writing an analytical essay.
PASSIONATE WAYS
Love is a universal term that is a familiar concept in all cultures, yet it used to describe different events and feelings in a plethora of ways. Authors use the many facets of love to portray how characters react to situations and express emotions. Popular literature like “Pyramus and Thisbe” by Ovid, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, and the play that is considered to be the most famous love story of all, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, use similar aspects of love; eros, forbidden love, and philia, to the create emotional and passionate stories. Within these pieces’ events and situations, there are these similar types of love that are used to connect the stories but result in different outcomes
Eros is a significant type of love that contributes to the emotional bonds formed between the lovers in the play Romeo and Juliet and the myth “Pyramus and Thisbe”. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet threatens, “With this knife I'll help it presently. God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo seal'd, shall be the label to another deed, or my true heart with treacherous revolt turn to another, this shall slay them both” (IV.I.55-60). In this scene, Juliet is threatening to kill herself if she does not find a way to get out of the arranged marriage between her and Paris, for “God joined [her] heart to Romeo’s” (IV.I.56) and she is in love with him, not Paris. In other words, Juliet would rather take her life than be with someone other than Romeo. Like Romeo and Juliet, the lovers Pyramus and Thisbe share similar feelings for one another. In “Pyramus and Thisbe”, Pyramus announces, “Now this same night will see two lovers lose their lives: she was the one more worthy of long life: it’s I who bear the guilt for this” (Ovid 78-81). Pyramus states with this line that he will take his life out of the guilt and heartbreak after believing Thisbe is dead, for Thisbe’s life was more valuable than his and deserved better. The two lovers of these stories saw each other’s beloveds as so perfect, that they meant more than their own worlds. In fact, they loved each other so much, the pairs would rather not live at all than in a world without one another. Eros is the type of love that has that kind of affect, for both Romeo and Pyramus were blinded by the devastation of loss they could not bare to live a second longer without their loved ones.
Another type of love that was presented to strengthen the bond between lovers was the use of forbidden love. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet confesses her feelings about Romeo by saying, “So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title” (II.II.45-49). In this quote, Juliet states that even though Romeo is a Montague, he is still the same Romeo that she fell in love with. Juliet even goes on to say that Romeo is “dear perfection”. This short phrase is the spark that brought Romeo from the shadows to confess his undying love for Juliet as well, for when hearing that Juliet would love him no matter what, he had to speak up. Likewise, in “Pyramus and Thisbe”, the text states, “Theirs did—indeed they wanted to be wed, but marriage was forbidden by their parents: yet there’s one thing that parents can’t prevent: the flame of love that burned in both of them” (Ovid 10-13). “The flame of love that burned in both of them” (Ovid 13) demonstrates the firey passion of the lovers and their unbreakable bond formed by their infatuation for each other. Pyramus and Thisbe loved one another so much that they even went against their own blood to be together. Both Romeo and Juliet and Pyramus and Thisbe were able to overlook the feuds in their families and fight to be together. The will and determination to do so shows the deep and true love that the couples share, for only truest and purest of love is fought for.
A significant facet of love that was displayed in Romeo and Juliet and another popular novel was philia. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo declares his last place of rest with the quote, “For fear of that, I still will stay with thee; and never from this palace of dim night depart again: here, here will I remain with worms that are thy chamber maids; O, here will I set up my everlasting rest” (V.III.106-110). With this quote, Romeo makes his final commitment to Juliet by saying he will live on with her forever in their death. Although philia is typically referred to as friendship or goodwill, this text shows a different side of philia. Romeo said he “will stay with thee” (V.III.108) forever in her chamber, and become one with her in death. This shows a connection on a higher level, where the two will be able to express their devotion for one another in death for eternity. Another strong example of philia that relates to Romeo and Juliet is found in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In this book, Harry also makes his final stand, like Romeo, against the notorious Lord Voldemort. Just before his surrender, he meets with his dead loved ones. Harry asks them, “You’ll stay with me?” His father, James, responds with, “Until the very end.” A few moments later, Harry’s uncle, Sirius, adds, “We are part of you” (Rowling 34.590). This part is an iconic scene that truely portrays the love that Harry and his loved ones share. James, Sirius, and others visit Harry moments before his death to show their utmost affection and support in his last stand. Sirius even says that, “We are part of you” (Rowling 34.590) to show Harry that they will never leave his side. This is related to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for both Romeo and Harry’s close ones declare that they will stand with their dearest loves in the face of death. This declaration of intertwined death confirms the unbreakable bonds between Romeo and Juliet and Harry’s loved ones.
All in all, Romeo and Juliet, along with other popular literature, portray the passionate and affectionate love between characters with the uses of eros, forbidden love, and philia. Although the plots and outcomes of situations differed, it is now clear that these facets of love correlate to the emotional bonds that are formed in stories and help present their different ideas of love. The importance of these contrasting results and endings prove the value of author’s uses of love and the effects on their stories.
Eros is a significant type of love that contributes to the emotional bonds formed between the lovers in the play Romeo and Juliet and the myth “Pyramus and Thisbe”. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet threatens, “With this knife I'll help it presently. God join'd my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands; And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo seal'd, shall be the label to another deed, or my true heart with treacherous revolt turn to another, this shall slay them both” (IV.I.55-60). In this scene, Juliet is threatening to kill herself if she does not find a way to get out of the arranged marriage between her and Paris, for “God joined [her] heart to Romeo’s” (IV.I.56) and she is in love with him, not Paris. In other words, Juliet would rather take her life than be with someone other than Romeo. Like Romeo and Juliet, the lovers Pyramus and Thisbe share similar feelings for one another. In “Pyramus and Thisbe”, Pyramus announces, “Now this same night will see two lovers lose their lives: she was the one more worthy of long life: it’s I who bear the guilt for this” (Ovid 78-81). Pyramus states with this line that he will take his life out of the guilt and heartbreak after believing Thisbe is dead, for Thisbe’s life was more valuable than his and deserved better. The two lovers of these stories saw each other’s beloveds as so perfect, that they meant more than their own worlds. In fact, they loved each other so much, the pairs would rather not live at all than in a world without one another. Eros is the type of love that has that kind of affect, for both Romeo and Pyramus were blinded by the devastation of loss they could not bare to live a second longer without their loved ones.
Another type of love that was presented to strengthen the bond between lovers was the use of forbidden love. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet confesses her feelings about Romeo by saying, “So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title” (II.II.45-49). In this quote, Juliet states that even though Romeo is a Montague, he is still the same Romeo that she fell in love with. Juliet even goes on to say that Romeo is “dear perfection”. This short phrase is the spark that brought Romeo from the shadows to confess his undying love for Juliet as well, for when hearing that Juliet would love him no matter what, he had to speak up. Likewise, in “Pyramus and Thisbe”, the text states, “Theirs did—indeed they wanted to be wed, but marriage was forbidden by their parents: yet there’s one thing that parents can’t prevent: the flame of love that burned in both of them” (Ovid 10-13). “The flame of love that burned in both of them” (Ovid 13) demonstrates the firey passion of the lovers and their unbreakable bond formed by their infatuation for each other. Pyramus and Thisbe loved one another so much that they even went against their own blood to be together. Both Romeo and Juliet and Pyramus and Thisbe were able to overlook the feuds in their families and fight to be together. The will and determination to do so shows the deep and true love that the couples share, for only truest and purest of love is fought for.
A significant facet of love that was displayed in Romeo and Juliet and another popular novel was philia. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo declares his last place of rest with the quote, “For fear of that, I still will stay with thee; and never from this palace of dim night depart again: here, here will I remain with worms that are thy chamber maids; O, here will I set up my everlasting rest” (V.III.106-110). With this quote, Romeo makes his final commitment to Juliet by saying he will live on with her forever in their death. Although philia is typically referred to as friendship or goodwill, this text shows a different side of philia. Romeo said he “will stay with thee” (V.III.108) forever in her chamber, and become one with her in death. This shows a connection on a higher level, where the two will be able to express their devotion for one another in death for eternity. Another strong example of philia that relates to Romeo and Juliet is found in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. In this book, Harry also makes his final stand, like Romeo, against the notorious Lord Voldemort. Just before his surrender, he meets with his dead loved ones. Harry asks them, “You’ll stay with me?” His father, James, responds with, “Until the very end.” A few moments later, Harry’s uncle, Sirius, adds, “We are part of you” (Rowling 34.590). This part is an iconic scene that truely portrays the love that Harry and his loved ones share. James, Sirius, and others visit Harry moments before his death to show their utmost affection and support in his last stand. Sirius even says that, “We are part of you” (Rowling 34.590) to show Harry that they will never leave his side. This is related to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, for both Romeo and Harry’s close ones declare that they will stand with their dearest loves in the face of death. This declaration of intertwined death confirms the unbreakable bonds between Romeo and Juliet and Harry’s loved ones.
All in all, Romeo and Juliet, along with other popular literature, portray the passionate and affectionate love between characters with the uses of eros, forbidden love, and philia. Although the plots and outcomes of situations differed, it is now clear that these facets of love correlate to the emotional bonds that are formed in stories and help present their different ideas of love. The importance of these contrasting results and endings prove the value of author’s uses of love and the effects on their stories.
SELF REFLECTION
Looking back on this essay, I found areas where I could improve. Some of my sentences were choppy and my says, means, matters were not clear. However, I did include textual evidence for all body paragraphs that explained why I made the claims I made.