Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare in 1610. The story takes place in Verona, Italy. Romeo is a lost young man trying to find true love while Juliet is like a bird locked in its cage waiting to be let out. In this tragic love story, Romeo goes through many different changes in his life and grows as a person as he learns how to deal with them. Romeo, although cheerless and deeply in love with Rosaline at the beginning of the play, matures rapidly by the power of his undying love for Juliet to a honest and gentle young man able of loyalty and commitment. .
For the duration of Act One, Romeo is both fixated with Rosaline and confused about himself. For example, while Romeo is miserable over his lost love with Rosaline he talks with Benvolio and states, " Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here. This is not Romeo, he's some other where" (1.1.193-194). Romeo feels like he has vanished and that he doesn't know who he is anymore. Romeo feels depressed because he doesn't understand himself. In addition, when Romeo has his conversation with Benvolio about Rosaline he says, " Nor bid th"encounter of assailing eyes Nor ope her lap to saint-seducing gold; O she is rich in beauty, only poor that when she dies, with beauty dies her store" (1.1.208-211) Romeo feels like he is in love and that Rosaline is the only thing that matters to him. Romeo is googol-eyed over Rosaline and can't seem to find a way to get over her. Through the course of Act One Romeo shows that he is infatuated with Rosaline and that he cannot decide who he is and which way he wants his life to go.
Throughout Act Two and Three, Romeo changes from a lonely boy to a daring and devoted young man. For example, in the balcony scene when Romeo and Juliet are all alone and Romeo is confessing his dying love for Juliet he states, " call me but love, and I"ll be new baptiz"d, henceforth I never will be Romeo" (2.2. 52-54). Romeo feels that he can throw away his family name so he can be with Juliet.
