What are the different types of love in Romeo and Juliet?

Answer 1

Romeo's love for Rosaline is a conventional expression of affection, governed by rules and manners. Romeo's love for Juliet is genuine love, although romanticised. Juliet's love for Romeo is more practical and down to earth. When she tries to be the poetical one (when they have the debate over the lark and the nightingale), Romeo starts off trying to be practical, but ends up being impractically romantic and Juliet has to bring him down to earth. Capulet shows concern for Juliet's well-being when he and Paris first discuss the marriage but he sees his love as being protective and thus that of a master over a servant. He cannot brook opposition from Juliet when "father knows best".

Juliet's love for the nurse is a child's love for her mother, which abates when the mother proves to have feet of clay. The nurse has genuine maternal affection for Juliet. Lady Capulet does not, but she has a strong feeling about her nephew Tybalt which is, one suspects, one part affection to five parts pride. Tybalt's death is an offence to her more than a cause for sorrow. Benvolio, Mercutio and Romeo share the affection of buddies, of being "one of the boys".

Answer 2

In Romeo and Juliet, different types of love are explored, including romantic love between Romeo and Juliet, familial love between Juliet and her nurse, and platonic love between Romeo and Mercutio. These various forms of love serve to highlight the complexities and nuances of human relationships in the play.