Examining the Characters and their Weaknesses in Romeo and Juliet

954 Words2 Pages

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. Juliet’s weakness to be controlled by love leads her to make unadvised and irresponsible decisions that contribute to her choice of ending her life. Characterized as a young and rash teenager, with no interest in love and marriage at first, Juliet wants to be independent. However, after she first lays eyes on Romeo, Juliet’s perception of love is quick to change. Their strong love easily manipulates and clouds her judgment. Even if she is cautious and realizes their love is too fast, the rush of feelings from having a first love overcomes her. Her soft-spoken words symbolically foreshadow the journey of Romeo and Juliet’s love. “Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, / I have no joy of this contract tonight. / It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;…/ This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath, / May prove to be a beauteous flower when next we meet” (2.2. 117-123). The blooming flower is indicative of their growing love, especially Juliet. Being her first experience of true love, her actions become more rash the deeper she falls in, even ... ... middle of paper ... ...d rising aggression leads him to fight his new, unknown cousin, Romeo. Consequently, Tybalt plants his own seed of fate with his aggression. Due to self-defense, Romeo kills Tybalt and then gets banished for his actions by the Prince. This marks the beginning of the end for Romeo and Juliet’s love. It presents the biggest challenge for the star-crossed lovers because it is their separation, and due to the strong love they are too young to handle, they self- destruct, both committing suicide. Romeo’s mother, Lady Montague, is also an innocent victim of this fight because she too dies due to the banishment of her son. Tybalt’s weakness and need to start a fight directly changes the outcome of the play. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt et al. The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 1997. Print.

Open Document