Love is often perceived as something perfect and flawless in today's society. However, Romeo and Juliet, a play written by William Shakespeare, portrays love as a passionate and violent form of strength that comes with both rewards and consequences. The tragedy focuses on two young lovers called Romeo and Juliet, whose families are intertwined in an ancient feud that disrupts the peace in Verona, Italy. Out of love, the two teenagers are forced to overcome obstacles they never imagined they would face and, as a result, they and the other family members are forced to pay the price of their lives. Through the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows the reality of young love through the depiction of Queen Mab's speech, the impulsive actions taken by both lovers, and the results caused by the powerful nature of their love. Through Mercutio's portrayal of Queen Mab, he describes the reality of Romeo and Juliet's delusional love. After Romeo reveals his feelings of apprehension about his dream, Mercutio also begins to reveal his "dream" of the enchanting fairy called Queen Mab. At first, his description of Queen Mab seems to be just an innocent fantasy dream: "Oh, then I see that Queen Mab has been with you/...and she comes/In form no bigger than a stone of agate… I tickle the nose of a sleeping parson” (1.4.58-85). Although Mercutio appears to be depicted simply as a witty character who constantly makes comical puns throughout the play, he is also shown to possess a intellectual insight that Romeo does not know that the dreams that Queen Mab brings also refer to the naive and short-sighted dreams that Romeo has of Rosaline (1.1.226-232), a woman he perceives as his eternal lover reinforcing the naive mentality of Romeo's visions of love, but... middle of paper... portrays the reality of the intoxication of love Queen Mab's speech accentuates the difference between the fantasy in which Romeo and Juliet imagine of living and the reality of their young love of which Romeo and Juliet are unaware. The two are unknowingly intoxicated by their own love, which leads them to take reckless actions as they gradually drift away from the world of reality. The love becomes so overwhelming to the point that the lovers are willing to end both their lives to preserve their love. Despite the lovers' tragic end, the feud between the families ceases, further demonstrating the compelling power of love. Through the portrayal of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare conveys that, in reality, young love is not as delicate as many perceive it to be; it is often delirious, intoxicating, and causes both reward and tragedy.