What views of love are expressed in Act 2, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

Tamara K. H.

One view of love that we see expressed in the balcony
scene of Act II, Scene II is that it is a feeling of passion, even
lust. We see bothexpressing their lust in this
scene.

expresses lust when he first seesappear
in the balcony window. In particular, he refers to her beauty by
comparing her to the moon, saying that she is "far more fair," or far more beautiful
than the moon (II.ii.4). Focusing on her beauty is a way of focusing on his
physical attraction for her, or his lust. We further see Romeo illustrate his
lust for her when he metaphorically tells her in his mind to cast of her clothing or her
virginity. We see him say this in his extendedabout the moon:

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with
grief
That thou her maid art far more fair than she.
Be not her maid, since
she is envious.
Her vestal livery is but sick and green,

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