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What is Romeo's attraction to Juliet?

When Romeo attends the Capulet ball, he sees Juliet from a short distance and feels the proverbial "love at first sight" because of her stunning beauty.

Romeo's reaction upon seeing Juliet—"Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!" (1.5.45-46)—is shortly followed by more intense outbursts of emotion.



Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. (1.5.50-51)



These "violent delights," as Friar Lawrence calls Romeo's passionate feelings for Juliet, are what he warns Romeo to control:



These violent delights have violent ends,
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which as they kiss consume. (2. 6. 9-11)



However, when the friar realizes that Romeo will not be patient, he feels that he cannot allow the two young lovers to be alone together until they are married. So he performs the marriage ceremony of Romeo and Juliet secretly in his cell. Unfortunately, their "violent delights" do, indeed, have "violent ends." Romeo proves himself the victim of his "violent" and impulsive emotions since he later slays Juliet's cousin Tybalt. Unfortunately, this violent act leads eventually to Romeo's and Juliet's deaths.


In short, Romeo's attraction to Juliet is best characterized as violent—and it leads to death.

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