When Benvolio urges Romeo to forget about her, Romeo replies that he could not possibly forget her because he loves her too much. Considering that Rosaline has shown no interest in Romeo and that they do not have a real relationship, it is suggested that Romeo is inventing his sense of deep love. This is further suggested when Romeo meets Juliet and instantly forgets about Rosaline and transfers all his feelings of love to Juliet. Reading Romeo and Juliet as a love story, it could be argued that Romeo forgets about Rosaline because he experiences real love when he sees Juliet. However, on seeing Juliet, he decided that he loves her intensely without even knowing her. In fact, the only thing he does know about Juliet is that she is a Capulet. This suggests that Romeo desperately wants to love a Capulet.

             The meeting between Romeo and Juliet is worth looking at in more detail. On seeing Juliet for the first time, Romeo focuses on her beauty at first, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!" (I,v 44-47). In this statement, Romeo describes Juliet's beauty in terms that go far beyond what would be expected. Certainly, Juliet may be attractive, and Romeo may be attracted by the beauty, but referring to her beauty as being the source of light and something beyond the earth suggests that Romeo is being more imaginative than factual. It is also important that Romeo immediately uses references to light and dark, where Juliet brings light to his life. This is something that continues throughout the play. If it is considered that light represents good and dark represents evil, then it is seen that Romeo immediately sees Juliet as taking him out of evil and into goodness. Romeo then finishes his statement with the lines, "Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night" (I,v 52-53).