Why Rosaline?

by Gwen HERAT

The play opens in a public place where the young and the old Capulets and Montagues gather to while away the time and often get involved in controversies when the Prince commands them apart. Romeo and his cousin, Mercutio and their friend, Benvolio too idle away in the market place. It was here that Romeo had time to flirt with amorous women before he met Juliet. And it is here that Romeo met Rosaline, Juliet's cousin who along with a multitude of guests, have been invited to the Capulet's Ball.

Romeo along with Mercutio and Benvolio 'gate crash' to the Ball, disguised in masks and proceed to enjoy themselves.

Romeo who has come chiefly to persue the beautiful Rosaline, with whom he imagined to be in love, catches sight of Juliet. For a moment the world stood still when he danced with Juliet and they both knew they had fallen deeply in love with each other. Romeo leaves Capulets garden early in the morning.

Rosaline teases Romeo (Rudolf Nureyev) in the ballet 'Romeo and Juliet' produced by the Royal Ballet.

In a daze, he runs to Friar Lawrence;

Romeo Good morrow, father;

Friar Lawrence - Benedicte. What early tongues so sweet salute me?

Young son, it argues a distempered head....

.....Or if not so, then here I hit it right...

Our Romeo hath not been in bed tonight

That last is true: the sweeter rest was mine.

Fri Law God pardon sin: Wat thou with Rosaline?

Romeo With Rosaline? my ghostly father...No.

I have forgotten that name, and that name's woe

Fri Law That's my good son, but where hast thou been then?

Romeo I'll tell thee ere thou ask it me again....

Act II Sc III

Romeo hesitates but decides to confess to the holy father that he had fallen in love with Capulet's daughter, Juliet. He asks the holy man whether he would consent to marry them?

Fri Law Holy Saint Francis, What a change is here

Is Rosaline, that thou dist love so dear

So soon forsaken? Young men's love, then lies

Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes

Jesu Maria, what deal of brine

Hath wash'd thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline?

Act II Scene III

He reprimands Romeo for 'dumping' Rosaline so lightly and roaming with her and suddenly letting her down but Romeo is beyond reasoning.

Fri Law Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline

And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence, then

Women may fall, where there's no strength in men?

Romeo Thou chid'st me oft for loving Rosaline

ACT II Scene II

While Romeo has separated himself from Mercitio and Benvolio from the moment he met Juliet at the Ball, they search for him. They are unaware that Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet and confessed to Friar Lawrence.

In the meantime, representatives of the houses of Capulets and Montagues break into a fight in the streets where the lusty Mercutio and the fiery Tybalt, Juliet's cousin draws swords at each other where Mercutio is mortally wounded and dies in the arms of Romeo who rushes to the scene too late. Romeo snatches the sword and turns on Tybalt to avenge the death of his beloved friend. He kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona as a punishment. Romeo sighs....

"This day's black fate on more days doth depend

This but begins the woe others must end"

Romeo (Rudolf Nureyev) vows to avenge Mercutio's death. Rosaline is seen on left from this street scene.

Though presently married to Juliet, Romeo anguishes for Mercutio who was his inseparable cousin and who all the time teased him over Rosaline.

Mercutio - Where the devil should this Romeo be?

Come he not home tonight

Benvolio - Not to his father's. I spoke with his man

Merc - Why that same pale hard-hearted wench, that Rosaline

Torments him so that he will sure run mad..."

ACT II Scene III

The world's greatest love story; a story of young love and sacrifice. It is not a true story but a fiction that William Shakespeare wrote and the world grasped it as the immortal legend of love never heard or seen before, and not found in history. The play's popularity kept growing so fast that many thought it to be real adaptation. The play is so spellbinding and it resulted as the Bard's best loved tragedy. The two young characters, two teenagers passionately in love at first sight and who made their agonising way to the vault.

But how many of us pause to pay attention to Romeo's first love? The young Romeo was care-free, seeking adventure and finding for himself a wench, Juliet's cousin as against Juliet's pure love as white as a lily.

So, this Romeo, He did have a wild, passionate swing with a wench that Mercutio sneered at. Who was she?

Rosaline...

Characters involved

Romeo - This young son of Montague and Juliet's passionate love

Mercutio - A Kinsman to the Prince and Romeo endearing cousin

Benvolio - Friend to Romeo and Mercutio

Rosaline - Though talked about much, does not seem to appear. Many directors and choreographers have brought her to the Capulet's ball. Romeo's first love and Juliet's cousin. A bawdy young woman Friar Lawrence denounces.