Most people think that coincidence is the main cause for the character’s severe misfortune in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but in reality, it is impulse and the inability to control one’s passion that account for the large amount of calamity in this tragedy’s plot line. Haste and passion are evident flaws in many of the character’s personalities. At one point in time, Romeo, Tybalt, Capulet, Friar Lawrence make a decision on impulse. Many of these decisions are also made when the character is overcome by a deep emotion. If some of the characters were able to get a hold of there passion and think things through, maybe the unfortunate deaths of Romeo and Juliet, as well as many others, could have been avoided.
Passion, and the inability to control it, is one of the major reasons that the characters experience such misfortune throughout the course of this tragedy. Instead of thinking things through before they act, many of the characters such as Lord Capulet, Tybalt, Friar Lawrence, and Romeo all let the emotions overcome them and ultimately rule their decisions. Shakespeare uses the downfall of characters that abuse the privilege of emotions to warn readers about making decisions without considering the results.
Lord Capulet allows his severe emotions to overcome him in rough situations and drastically alter his decisions. For example, after Juliet begs him to call off the marriage between her and Paris he explodes and replies, “Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o’thursday, or never differ look me in the face. Speak not, reply not; do not answer me. My fingers itch- Wife, we scarce thought us blessed” (Shakespeare III, V, 159-162). Juliet’s willingness to risk her life seemed pe...
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... Romeo to warn readers about the consequences of making decisions brashly and when overcome by passion. It is both possible and probable that had these hasty characters been able to control their passion, the great amount on deaths in Romeo and Juliet would have significantly decreased.
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William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet demonstrate the ignorance and susceptibility of men to making impulsive decisions without considering the consequences.
Aubrey, Bryan. “Critical Essay on ‘Romeo and Juliet’.” Drama for Students. Ed. Anne Marie Hacht. Vol. 21. Detriot: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. Web. 4 Dec. 2013.
As the leading characters, Romeo and Juliet both portray the flaw that ultimately leads to the resolution: impulsiveness. Portrayed as emotional throughout the play, Romeo’s hamartia came to play in his vengeful state: “And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now...Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.” (3.1.117-122). Shakespeare’s characterization of Romeo as
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. McDougal Littell Literature. Ed. Allen, Janet, et. al. Evanston, IL: McDougal Littell, 2008. 940-1049.
Romeo and Juliet made many choices out of their own free will, including an irreversible decision that ended in despair for all characters. “All are punished!”(5.3.305). In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, the actions of Romeo, the actions of Juliet, and the actions of others prove that free will is more paramount than fate in the plot of the play.
The demise of Romeo and Juliet was caused by Romeo’s fail of regarding the consequences
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Passion, lust, haste and deceit prove to be a fatal mix for Shakespeare's young star crossed lovers in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. There are many instances that convey this thought inside the literature, and it proves how their hastiness contributed to their mournful demise. The motif of haste in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is developed by illusion and imagery to reveal the importance of the proceeding rapidity of love , and careless actions that follow.
The choices Romeo and Juliet make are poor, and eventually resulted in their death. Getting married, killing Tybalt, and thinking with hastyness were all poor choices that lead to both of their deaths. Once in a while making bad choices doesn’t affect someone as much, but making then many times regularly does affect one’s life. This teaches people that we must think our actions through before committing them.
Through the flaws in the characterization of his characters, Shakespeare allows their weakness to manipulate and cloud their judgment. This fundamentally leads to the outcome of Romeo and Juliet, with each weakness presenting a conflict that alters the characters fate. Being especially true with the star-crossed lovers, William Shakespeare leads their perfect love into tragedy with these conflicts. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet, Friar Lawrence, and Tybalt all contribute to conflicts that enhance the plot. From destructive flaws in their characterizations, Juliet, Friar Lawrence, and Tybalt are all consequently controlled by their weakness, therefore affecting the outcome of the play.
Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet become embodiments of impulsiveness. Through their rash words and actions in the tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare sets forth that both are too hasty in their decisions, leading them into unfortunate events. As the plot unfolds, Romeo and Juliet’s futile love is torn apart by their family’s hate and animosity towards each other. Despite their constant struggle to let their love survive, it is doomed from the beginning of the tragedy. It is plain that lack of foresight and wisdom leads to disaster all around.
Clark, W. G. and Wright, W. Aldis , ed. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Vol. 1. New York: Nelson-Doubleday