Compare and contrast Romeo's love for Rosaline and his love for Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

Romeo's "love" for Rosaline is almost identical to his "love" for Juliet. Both "loves" would be better defined as infatuation. What attracts Romeo to each woman is her beauty. Romeo refers to his feelings for Rosaline as the "devout religion of mine eye" and declares that no woman could be "fairer." He doesn't praise Rosaline's character, personality, or wit. In fact, he dislikes her outlook on life, particularly the fact that she is not interested in a physical relationship with Romeo. She never allowed him so much as a kiss.
When he sees Juliet, he falls in love at first "sight" without ever knowing what she is like as a person. He says, "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night." Again, his only criterion for "love" is the outward appearance of the woman.
Friar Lawrence nails it when he says to Romeo upon hearing he has abandoned Rosaline for Juliet, "Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, / So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies / Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes." Juliet is more susceptible to Romeo's suit, allowing him to kiss her twice during the first minutes of their acquaintance.
Romeo's distinction in why his love for Juliet is different from his love for Rosaline is as follows: "I pray thee, chide me not. Her I love now/ Doth grace for grace and love for love allow." To be fair to Romeo, the fact that Juliet returns his affections allows their relationship to grow, yet the two have known each other less than a day when they exchange private vows of marriage. Still, Romeo's love for Juliet appears to rise above mere infatuation because of the commitment he shows despite obstacles. Even when he learns she is the daughter of his "enemy," he still remains true, and he returns to her at great personal cost after he has been banished.
Although Romeo's feelings for Rosaline and Juliet could be called infatuation rather than love, Romeo displays much more loyalty toward Juliet than he does toward Rosaline.