Love has both positive and negative effects. It can help people overcome differences, but it is so powerful it can also diminish a person's judgment skills. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, an important theme is that love affects people's actions. As soon as Romeo falls in love with Juliet, she has an impact of everything he does. Juliet's love for Romeo leads her to deceive her parents and Nurse. The love between Romeo and Juliet and their friends impacts their actions and decisions. Love is a powerful force, both in life and literature.
From the moment he meets her, Romeo takes risks because of his love for Juliet. After the Capulet party, Romeo decides to stay back, rather than leave with his friends. He visits Juliet at her room and risks the chance of getting caught, "The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death, considering who thou art, if any of my kinsmen find thee here." (Act II, Scene 2, L. 63-65) Romeo is so dazed with love that he loses common sense. "I have nights cloak to hide me from their eyes; and but thou love me, let them find me here. My life were better ended by their hate than death prorogued, wanting of thy love." (Act II, Scene 2, L. 75-78) Romeo's love for Juliet leads them to hastily get married, just one day after they first meet. When Romeo receives word of Juliet's death, he instantly decides to kill himself so that he can be "with" her. "Will I set up my everlasting rest and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars from this world-wearied flesh. 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 engrossing death! Come, bitter conduct; come, unsavory guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing rocks that seasick weary bark! Here's to my love! (Drinks) O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. This with a kiss I die.
