How is love portrayed in Romeo and Juliet?

Shakespeare portrays love in Romeo and Juliet in many ways. Their love is portrayed by images of light and dark and is juxtaposed against death, and he sets next to Romeo and Juliet the love associated with sight and appearances. In all, their love is of another world. The love of Romeo and Juliet is portrayed as otherworldly and heavenly. They are "star-crossed lovers", with their destiny pre-determined; they and other humans have no control. …

…had for Rosaline. Instead he wanted to portray Romeo and Juliet's love as powerful, violent, passionate, and as intense as death. Because of the way in which Shakespeare employs images and common themes, the play records Romeo and Juliet's evolving love, from their metaphorical and heavenly meetings at the ball with "torches" to their literal and dramatic deaths in the darkness of the mausoleum. In the space of four days, Shakespeare has encompassed a lifetime.