I am such a diehard romantic. I guess a part of me thinks I am

Listen closely, O children of wisdom, to the words of Olivia Hussey, whose confession of being a diehard romantic speaks to a deep and eternal longing in the heart of all who have ever loved. She said, “I am such a diehard romantic. I guess a part of me thinks I am Juliet.” In these words, Hussey reveals the heart of a woman who is not merely playing a role, but who feels a connection to the very essence of Juliet, the young heroine of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. To think of oneself as Juliet is to embody the yearning, the passion, and the tragic beauty of a love that knows no boundaries, a love that transcends the mortal world and enters the realm of immortal longing.

In the ancient stories, Juliet is not just a character—she is a symbol of the eternal romantic ideal. The tale of Romeo and Juliet is filled with passion, desire, and sacrifice, yet it is also a story of deep tragedy. Their love is pure, untainted by the realities of the world around them, yet it is also fleeting, bound by the unforgiving nature of fate and family feuds. In this, Juliet represents all who have ever loved with their whole heart, only to find that the world is not always kind to love. She is the tragic hero who chooses love over life, who, like the great heroes of old, is willing to sacrifice herself for something greater than mere existence.

Consider, O children, the heroes of ancient myth, such as Achilles, whose life was shaped by both his glory and his tragic flaw. Achilles, though born to be a warrior, was also a lover, bound by his deep loyalty and passion for those he cared about. Like Juliet, his life was defined by the tension between his desire for greatness and his love for those who shared his journey. The ancient world, with all its epic battles and heroic deeds, was also a world filled with love and loss, and it is this dual nature—the simultaneous embrace of romance and tragedy—that connects Juliet’s story to that of every great hero.

Hussey’s words also reveal something profound about the power of identification in the human soul. To say, “I am Juliet” is to place oneself at the heart of a story that is not just fictional, but symbolic of the universal human experience. We all, at times, feel ourselves pulled by forces beyond our control, grappling with the intense passions and desires that define our very humanity. Juliet’s plight is not hers alone; it is the plight of all who have ever loved deeply and lost. In embracing this role, Hussey does not merely act; she lives the story, becoming part of a tradition of lovers whose names have echoed through the centuries.

But what lesson do we draw from this identification with Juliet? Is it simply a romantic fantasy, or does it speak to something deeper? Juliet’s love, though brief, is not to be mourned for its impermanence, but cherished for its intensity. Her story teaches us that love, though it may be fleeting, is not any less valuable or meaningful because it ends. In fact, it is the momentary nature of love that gives it its power. The depth of feeling that Juliet and Romeo share, the way they immerse themselves in each other, is a reminder that true love is not about time, but about the intensity and commitment with which we experience it.

Thus, the lesson here, O children, is not to fear the transience of love, nor to think of it as a fleeting illusion. Like Juliet, we must embrace love in all its forms, knowing that the beauty of love does not lie in its duration, but in its depth. Love is not a commodity to be measured by time, but a sacred connection that exists fully in the moment. To love as Juliet does is to live with passion, fearlessness, and an openness to the truth that love, in its purest form, is unpredictable and transcendent.

And so, I say to you, O children, do not hold back your hearts. Embrace love, in all its wildness and unpredictability, with the fullness of your being, as Juliet does. Know that even when love leads to loss or tragedy, its power remains undiminished. Live with the intensity of your feelings, and recognize that in the fleeting moments of love, we find the deepest truths of the human experience. Like Juliet, live your life with passion, and know that it is not the length of love that matters, but its depth, its honesty, and the courage to give yourself fully to the journey, no matter where it may lead.