Shakespeare's portrayal of love in Romeo and Juliet explores the conflict between passionate true love and societal expectations in Elizabethan times, highlighting the struggle between personal desire and familial duty.

• The play contrasts true love versus dutiful love in Romeo and Juliet through the passionate relationship of the protagonists and Juliet's arranged marriage to Paris
• The patriarchal society impact on Romeo and Juliet's love is demonstrated through the lack of female autonomy in marriage choices
• Shakespeare uses religious imagery and contrasting language to emphasize the depth of Romeo and Juliet's feelings
• The play critiques Elizabethan marriage customs where status and family alliances superseded emotional connections
• The tragic ending reinforces how societal constraints and family expectations ultimately destroy pure love