Question

Write an analytical paragraph describing two of Romeo’s motivations in act 1 scene 1

Answer 1

Romeo's motivations in Act 1 Scene 1 of 'Romeo and Juliet' include his unrequited love for Rosaline, which leaves him despondent and consumed by poetic expression, and his aversion to the violent feud between his family, the Montagues, and their rivals, the Capulets.

Step-by-step explanation:

In Act 1 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, two primary motivations drive Romeo's actions. One such motivation is his melancholic infatuation with Rosaline. Romeo is deeply in love with her, yet she does not return his affections, choosing instead to live a life of chastity. This unrequited love fuels Romeo's brooding and poetic lamentations about the pains of love. His lines are filled with oxymorons, such as 'O brawling love, O loving hate,' which convey his confused emotions and a sense of the dramatic that characterizes young love.

The second motivation for Romeo in this scene is his desire to avoid the conflict between the Montagues and Capulets. As a brawl unfolds between the two feuding families, Romeo's cousin Benvolio discovers him in a sullen state, removed from the fray. Though he despairs over his love for Rosaline, he is not eager to be drawn into the family's bloodshed. This illustrates Romeo's more peaceable nature and foreshadows his later actions in the play that aim to bridge the divide between the Montagues and the Capulets, ultimately through his secret marriage to Juliet.

Answer 2

I'm not sure which part you're referring to because there is a planning part A and a writing part B. I will include both sample answers.

Hope this help!

Step-by-step explanation:

Part A:

Claim : What claim will you make about two of Romeo's motivations?

In Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s two main motivations are his desire to love and his feelings of self-pity.

Textual evidence : What evidence from the play will you include to support and develop your claim?

"Aye me, sad hours seem long."(line 155); Why such is love's transgression./Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast" (lines 182–183); “Tis the way/To call her, exquisite, in question more…" (lines 229–230); Farewell, thou canst not teach me to forget.” (line 237)

Commentary : How will you explain your textual evidence? What original conclusion will you draw about this evidence to prove your claim?

Romeo begins his conversation with Benvolio by explaining that he is sad because Rosaline does not love him. As the scene goes on, it seems clear that Romeo likes being dramatic about his feelings. No matter what Benvolio says, Romeo clings to his misery and self-pity. Romeo’s motivation to find love and to feel self-pity are connected.

Part B :

In Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo's two main motivations are self-pity and love. From the moment Romeo enters the story, he is clearly lovesick. He soon describes the cause of his misery: the girl he loves (Rosaline) does not love him and he is "out of her favor." Benvolio tries unsuccessfully to help Romeo, first by showing sympathy. Romeo rejects this, saying that sympathy only makes him feel worse, "Griefs of my own lie heavy in my breast,/Which thou wilt propagate to have it pressed." When Benvolio tells him to forget about the girl, Romeo responds with more self-pity, "O teach me how I should forget to think.” Finally, Benvolio suggests Romeo find another girl to love, but Romeo says it would only make him appreciate Rosaline's beauty more. Romeo’s interactions with Benvolio reveal that he is not motivated to move on from his sadness and self-pity. Instead, he is motivated to cling to it stubbornly. Romeo reveals that his devotion to Rosaline is one-sided. He explains that Rosaline has vowed never to marry and “she’ll not be hit by Cupid's arrow." Thus, Romeo is sad, not because of a great love that ended, but rather because of a love that never existed. Romeo is desperately motivated to find love, so he carries on as if his heart is broken. Romeo's motivation to find love and to feel self-pity are connected. Shakespeare develops Romeo's character through these motivations by showing that Romeo is naïve, romantic, and open-hearted.