Essay Sample: Love Is Like War Easy to Begin but Very Hard to Stop

English essayist author H. L. Mencken reported, "Love is like war: easy to begin but very hard to stop" Unconditional love can take form in this quote and very firmly as well; the love of Romeo and Juliet had burned throughout both the families quarrel and supporters from either side of the fence. Romeo sustained the brunt of dynamic changes and characterizations throughout the play.  

This change in Romeo can be specified to a degree, and that would be his immaturity and quick-to-love nature. "Is Rosaline, that you did love so dearly, so soon forsaken?" (Shakespeare 89). Friar Lawrence's honesty is a sudden realization to everyone; he is right; Romeo did have Rosaline immediately leave his thoughts because of a party. Romeo later states solemnity, "With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No. I have forgotten that name and that name's suffering." (Shakespeare 87). Romeo quickly changes his feelings and shows that his love can be swayed quickly by seeing a beautiful girl while having an inkling of love hinted at. When Romeo's immaturity intertwined with the lack of love he was given, Juliet was shown immediate affection and desire, no thoughts of his previous lover just a day ago when he pondered about Rosaline.

The immaturity he obviously held meshed together with more, Romeo's impulsiveness during these chaotic days. "Oh, I am fortune's fool!" (Shakespeare 125). Romeo shouted after killing his adversary, Tybalt, in an action that would result in the banishment of Romeo. "Eyes, look your last!" (Shakespeare 217). Romeo says this when coming to the realization that Juliet has passed, and unbeknownst to him, he did not have any sense of ambiguity. In his last moments, Romeo still shows his unwavering love for Juliet; immaturity is a factor in this, and his impulsive actions can be shown, but he is showing perseverance and resilience to the people around him. He would prefer to die than be without Juliet.

His impulsiveness and immaturity persisted throughout the play, but towards the end of the story, he did mature. "Come, come with me, and we will make short work of this, for you shall not stay alone until the holy church incorporate two in one." (Shakespeare 113). The heretic Friar said this at Romeo's and Juliet's wedding, binding the two souls together to be forever together. Romeo grasped his accountability for this marriage and promised to do it. "A plague on both your houses!" (Shakespeare 121). was bestowed upon Romeo when he was banished from the families. Romeo responded to this peril in a very mature way; he planned on leaving with no trail of doom behind him, while the plan of Juliet accompanying him was not his plan in the beginning. Romeo's maturity shined in moments through the play, and during times with little thought or things he cannot know, he did act prematurely, but all in all, he was very mature for a majority of the play.

Romeo had the most augmenting exposure to dynamic changes and characterization throughout the play. Predominantly, he suffered from immaturity, with feelings going different ways per day while maintaining a relationship in a rivalry. The impulsiveness of his actions, killing his lover's cousin or switching lovers so quickly throughout such a short time. Despite all of these jeopardizing claims, he shined through and made most of the level-headed choices with maturity and responsibility for his actions, with proper thought. Romeo's dynamic changes have led to one of the most successful plays of all time, which is why William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a masterpiece.