Examples Of Impulsiveness In Romeo And Juliet

As stated by an unknown individual, "Our impulses are what reveal our character. What we are quick to do, what we are quick to be." William Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet follows this theme of impulsiveness that is exhibited by characters in several different ways. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo's unpredictable personality, the star-crossed lovers' decisions to marry each other, and the self destructive impulses exhibited by both main characters clearly contributed to Romeo's banishment and Juliet's disownment by her father.

Primarily, Romeo's arbitrary nature draws close attention to impulsiveness as a key factor in his banishment. As illustrated in the scene when Romeo visits Juliet under her balcony after the Capulet party, Romeo's

impulsive behavior takes over him as he scales the wall of the Capulet residency. For example, Juliet states, “How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?/The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,/And the place death, considering who thou art,/If any of my kinsmen find thee here” (2.2.67-70). This excerpt exemplifies Romeo's impulsive behavior because although he knows that he is scaling the walls of his family's enemy and could possibly die from doing so, he continues on just to see a women that he met that very night. Romeo's willingness to neglect his own safety out of pure adrenaline-like feelings show his impetuous character, therefore contributing to the theme of the tragedy and eventually to his banishment. In addition to this, Romeo displays his impulsive nature in a more direct way when he murders Tybalt almost immediately after Tybalt murdered his friend Mercutio. After murdering Tybalt and being told to leave the area for risk of being caught, Romeo exclaims, "O, I am Fortune's fool!" (3.1.142). This is the moment when Romeo comes back to his senses and realizes yet another mistake that his impulsive character has caused him to make. He realizes that he has murdered Tybalt out of his anger in the moment. However, if he was as calm and collected as he claimed to be near the beginning of Act III Scene I, he would have honored his friend and acted mindfully rather than causing more conflict, directly banishing him from Verona.
In addition, Romeo and Juliet's decision to get married shows how impulsiveness once again contributes to their two downfalls at the end of Act III.

After only getting to know each other for just a few hours, Romeo and Juliet make the decision together to get married the next day. As Romeo pleads with Friar Lawrence to perform the marriage ceremony, he says, "But this I pray, / That thou consent to marry us to-day" (2.3.67-68). This simple line by Romeo illustrates the impulsiveness of the two teen's decisions and how that leads to further conflict because he begs the Friar that the marriage must be done as soon as possible. Instead of being reasonable, Romeo and Juliet insist to get married after supposedly meeting their true loves just one day prior to this. The immaturity of this decision is what ultimately leads to the demise of the two characters. Secondly, Romeo and Juliet's decision to look over the fact that their families are sworn enemies leads to a string of further problems. As Romeo speaks to Juliet from her balcony, Juliet says, “My ears have yet not drunk a hundred words/Of thy tongue’s uttering, yet I know the sound./Art thou not Romeo, and a Montague?” (2.2.64-65). After hearing this, Romeo responds, “Neither, fair maid, if either thee dislike” (2.2.66). This illustrates the couple's willingness to be oblivious to the fact that their families have been feuding for longer than anyone could remember. They are still risking being caught together when they

know the obvious repercussions. This later causes Juliet's loyalty to be towards Romeo, resulting in her disownment and Romeo to kill Tybalt after he kills Mercutio, making him banished. This act of disregarding the views of one's family can also be seen through Muthoni in The River Between by Ngugi W a Thiong’o. Muthoni makes the decision to be circumcised, completely ignoring her family's Christian values just like how Romeo and Juliet ignore their families in order to be together.
Ultimately, the self destructive attitudes of both Romeo and Juliet when faced with the idea of being apart are the last impulsive love examples that lead to their obstacles after Act III.

Primarily, as Romeo gets ready to marry Juliet, he says that he would be happy to die after having Juliet as his wife. Romeo states, “Amen, amen. But come what sorrow can,/It cannot countervail the exchange of joy/That one short minute gives me in her sight./Do thou but close our hands with holy words,/Then love-devouring death do what he dare,/It is enough I may but call her mine” (2.6.3-8). By having this thought process and saying these words, Romeo already sets himself up to believing that he needs Juliet in his life and would do anything to be with her. This self destructive behavior is the same behavior that caused him to kill Tybalt with little hesitance. He believes so early on in the relationship that Juliet will complete his life, bound to set him up for disappointment later on. Similarly, Juliet shows the same behavior as she speaks to Nurse about Romeo's banishment and Tybalt's death. Juliet says, “Wash they his wounds with tears?/Mine shall be spent,/When theirs are dry, for Romeo’s banishment./Take up those cords” (3.2.141-144). Juliet's continuous loyalty to Romeo even after he killed her cousin is ultimately a self destructive and impulsive behavior that leads her to be disowned by her father. If Juliet had not been so unnecessarily loyal to Romeo, she would have been more

willing to marry Paris, resulting in her father's happiness as opposed to hate towards her. Once again, this portion of Romeo and Juliet relates back to The River Between because Muthoni's decision to not be circumcised would have result in her father appreciating her as opposed to hating her. However, both Muthoni and Juliet were far too loyal to their personal beliefs and impulsive love for a cause over the words of their families.
In conclusion, Romeo's arbitrary personality, the decision to marry so early by both parties, and self destructive behavior all stemming from impulsive love ultimately are the causes of Romeo's banishment and Juliet being disowned. Two young members of enemy households eventually came together to cause more damage than ever imagined. Had Romeo and Juliet not shared the impulsive love that they did, it can be imagined that the tragedy would have ended up ending differently, perhaps not being considered a tragedy at all.