One of the most popular theories about irrational behavior is that people’s actual interests will differ from what they believe is really their interest. In other words, what you think you want is not really what you want, it is not what your real interests are. The story of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is about two people from two rival families who fall deeply in love. The two lovers believe that they have been in love since the moment that that they landed eyes on each other. However, this did cause some terrible things to happen, only because they loved each other. Shakespeare's purpose in writing this play was to show that you should not be irrational just because you believe that you want something new. Romeo’s actions were irrational due to the fact that he acted absurd when he quickly moved on to Juliet from Rosaline. In the play, Friar Lawrence …show more content…
says this to Romeo, “So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies. Not truly in their heart but in their eyes.”(II.III.LXVII-LXVIII). When Friar Lawrence said this he meant that Romeo was moving on because he had seen Juliet and was automatically in love with her. Romeo had moved on to Juliet in a matter of hours, which was shocking to Friar Lawrence. Normally, one would not jump from love to love so quickly, there would normally be some time in between the two lovers. However, Romeo was faced with the new thrill of a forbidden love, something that he had never had. He wasn’t interested in Juliet for her looks, he liked her cause she sparked excitement. Due to this, he changed what he wanted, he did not do very much thinking into his new wish, as he had “fallen in love” with a member of the rival family. It most likely that Romeo was not really interested in Juliet until he knew that Juliet was a Capulet, which sparked the idea of a forbidden love. Which was much more interesting, he could’ve stayed with Rosaline but he didn’t because he wanted this new experience. It didn’t really have any good reasoning, it was just because he wanted something new. Romeo’s decision was an irrational decision because it was only the thought of wanting to have a forbidden love. Juliet’s actions were irrational as she was selfish when she choose Romeo over Tybalt because she wanted her and Romeo’s love to stay strong.
In the play, Juliet is questioned by the Nurse after Tybalt’s death and replies with this, “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband.”(III.II.XCVII). Juliet was not bothered by her cousin’s death at all. She was much more worried about Romeo’s punishment for killing Tybalt. A normal reaction to one’s cousin's death would have been sadness, but instead, Juliet was worried about the killer’s punishment which would normally be abnormal, however, she had more interest in her and Romeo’s relationship. Normally this would not have been how she wanted to feel, but her new love made her think irrationally and selfishly. She did not want her new love to end so she chose to take Romeo’s side as she may have felt it would make their love last forever. He was her only love so of course she would not want it to end. She wanted it to last. However, this caused her to make decisions based on the fact that she wanted something, which made her decisions
irrational. Romeo and Juliet’s actions were irrational because they both made unnecessary choice to kill themselves just to keep their love strong. In the play, Juliet saw Romeo dead and said, “Oh happy dagger, This is my sheath.”(V.III.CLXXI). They both killed themselves because they felt that they could not live without each other. The definition of irrational is to be lacking of normal mental clarity. Their actions clearly showed that they were lacking of normal mental clarity. They only did this because they thought that it would keep them together forever, and although to them it may have stayed strong, however it consequently had negative effects on their families. In spite of the fact that, that it ended the rivalry between the two families, it caused great sadness for the two families as they both lost their children. All because they wanted their love to be forever. Their actions were not because they really felt they needed to kill themselves, it was because they wanted their love to last forever. They would have not killed themselves if the other didn’t. They made this unnecessary and irrational decision just so that they could keep their new love forever. Romeo and Juliet was tragic yet horrible story, both caused by the fact that Romeo and Juliet’s actions were so irrational. One should not be irrational just because you believe that you want something new. Romeo made quick rash decisions that he didn’t think through just so he could have the thrill of a forbidden love. Juliet was selfish in the fact that she chose Romeo over her own cousin, Tybalt, just so that she could have a love that was indefinite. Finally, both Romeo and Juliet’s actions were irrational and unnecessary when they killed themselves because once again they just wanted a love that could last forever. Neither Romeo or Juliet knew what they were interested in, just what they wanted causing them to make all of these choices.
Romeo and Juliet's marriage was an irrational decision because they had barely known each other. Romeo and Juliet had met at a party earlier in the night and Romeo wished to speak with Juliet more. After only 24 hours of speaking with each other, they had already planned to marry “by the hour of nine”
Juliet is no longer herself without him. ‘O, break, my heart! Poor Bankrupt, break at once’. Juliet’s heart has lost everything worth living for ‘Vile earth, to earth resign, and motion here’, she believes her life should end due to the fact she believes she is worthless, and should be surrendered to the grave. The theme of love is expressed through the passage, shown between the Nurse and Juliet. The nurse desires Juliet’s happiness; she helped Juliet with the secret marriage with Romeo and tries to convince the Capulets to not arrange a marriage with Count Paris. After the event of Tybalt’s death, she believes it is best for Juliet to forget about banished Romeo. Juliet ‘chides’ Romeo over his contradictory peace and violence. Juliet questions ‘Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?’ as she reflects on how she spoke poorly about him. Shakespeare conveys love throughout Romeo and Juliet as a brutal, powerful emotion which captures individuals and at times turns them against their wold and
The brilliant, author, actor, and mom, Amy Poehler once expressed, “It's never overreacting to ask for what you want and need.” (Amy Poehler) Overreactions are solidly based on the fact that one is very passionate and does not think things through because of it. People are blinded because of ignorance and they refuse to listen to what others have to say. In the classic play, Romeo and Juliet, star crossed lovers take their lives after a series of unfortunate events. William Shakespeare uses overreaction as a motif to develop the theme when people use passion instead of reason, disaster follows.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet demonstrate the ignorance and susceptibility of men to making impulsive decisions without considering the consequences. Juliets beauty instantaneously mesmerizes Romeo, which ultimately diminishes his previous affection for Rosaline. In this scene, impulsive behavior and decision-making are greatly portrayed. During Romeo and Juliets first encounter, he asks for a kiss “[my] lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready to stand, / To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” (I.v.95-96). In his initial reaction to seeing her, Romeo boldly approaches Juliet with the sudden desire to kiss her.
In the beginning of the play Romeo and Juliet make many rash decisions that change the course of the play. Such as, when Romeo decides to sneak into the Capulet’s garden to have a conversation with Juliet. If Romeo was spotted by any of the guards or a resident of the Capulet household, he would have been captured and killed. When Juliet asks how Romeo snuck into the garden he replies to her, “With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out…” (2.2.66-67). Romeo states that he snuck in with love’s wings and that nothing can stand in the way of love. Romeo shows that his love for Juliet can lead him to make rash decisions and not to think his actions through. An example of Juliet making a rash decision
Secondly , the impetuosity of youth is also shown through the idea of desperation in forbidden love. Romeo and Juliet come from different families whom have a long and tragic history between each other because of a feud amongst them for unknown reasons. Due to this, when the couple fell in love they risked being outcast by their families and society, so because of this
Trust is not something that is easily given. In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, one of the main protagonists, Juliet Capulet, has a difficult time trusting many of the people in the play. This is evident through her skepticism of multiple characters throughout the play, even those that she loves very deeply. Trust is not something that Juliet can easily give because it puts herself in a very vulnerable position and it requires the belief that those she encounters will all be selfless human beings, which Juliet is smart enough to know is not always going to be the case. Juliet must take into account the possibility of other motive’s before continuing onward as misplaced trust could cause very negative repercussions and even her life
Romeo fights and kills Tybalt just because Tybalt slays Mercutio, despite knowing the consequence of fighting -death- he still takes it upon himself as a way to seek repentance for Mercutio’s death. He is able to restrain himself before the death of Mercutio but after his death Romeo falls to his impulsiveness and fights Tybalt. After killing Tybalt and getting banishment instead of a death sentence, Romeo refuses to look on the bright side and goes to Friar Lawrence where he says “Ha, banishment! Be merciful, say ‘death’.” (Act 3, Scene 3 line 12), this shows that he deems life without Juliet life not worth living. He then continues weep then decides to take his own life, the Friar stopped him but had Romeo stopped being so quick to make decisions he would have realised banishment is much better than death and would be rejoicing instead of weeping. Romeo hears about Juliet's “death” from his servant Balthasar he instantly decides to kill himself, he doesn't mourn his loss or even cry, he simply buys poison, rides to Verona and kills himself. Had he spoken to anyone and taken any advice he would realize that suicide is not the answer but he had his mind made in a minute, he wanted to be dead with his wife. Romeo impulsiveness to make decisions is a very important characteristic for him to have and for the rest of the
As already shown, both Romeo and Juliet are horrified to discover that they were family enemies. Despite of this, they both choose to devote their love for eachother. Given this point, it is unrequited love that brings Romeo and Juliet together. But this also means that they would have to get over the fact that their families hate each other. This eventually leads them to forgiving the rival family for all the hateful acts that have occurred against one another. This is not the only forgiveness that is experienced in this play. Tybalt is a Montague with a fiery attitude. After catching Romeo at a party he was not supposed to be at, Tybalt had it out for Romeo. Just after Romeo and Juliet’s wedding, Tybalt comes looking for him wanting to fight. Romeo does not want to fight because he now loves Tybalt since he is family to him, but neither Tybalt or anyone else knows this reason. Quickly Mercutio steps in and tells Tybalt that he will fight him in honour of Romeo. Sadly this leads to the death of Mercutio. Romeo is angry and in need of revenge, which creates an intense fight between Tybalt and Romeo. Romeo wins this battle, killing Tybalt. He leaves in a hurry, only to discover that he would be banished from Verona. The death of Tybalt is absolutely devastating to Juliet. Her cousin was murdered by her husband. But she did not hesitate to forgive Romeo, she did so right away. She knew that Romeo had a reason for this incident and decides to
Romeo and Juliet choose their own actions through their judgments, which were caused by their belief of everlasting love. Due to their unsound and absurd attitudes, both characters are dazed by love in a puerile manner. The relationship they created was actually built on lust and desperation. Firstly, Romeo is the first character whom shows immature love in the story as a whole. Once Capulet’s party is over, Romeo’s attitude leads him to jump over the wall to Juliet’s house and exclaim to her,” And what love can do, that dares love attempt./Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me”(2.2.68-9). The effect of love caused Romeo to not pay attention to the consequences of jumping over the wall and talking to the daughter of his enemy. The flaw is that he is beginning to think that his love is as hard as nails. It is illogical for Romeo to think this...
... and is ready to swear the vows of marriage with Romeo. Juliet’s reckless and hasty decisions demonstrate her impulsiveness. Juliet’s love for Romeo largely dictates her brash decisions and speech. If Romeo did not enter Juliet’s life, she would never have known the hurt and heartbreak she experiences throughout the tragedy.
Romeo has an obsessive personality. The morning before he meets Juliet, he is obsessing on Rosaline. To see Rosaline, Romeo snuck into a Capulet’s party; once there, he meets Juliet and instantly he forgets his obsession of Rosaline, thinking Juliet is the most beautiful creature on earth. Friar Lawrence even acknowledges this when he states, “Young men’s love then lies / Not truly in their hearts but in their eyes” (II iii 67-68). Romeo’s affection is easily swayed from Rosaline to Juliet.
“We met, we woo'd and made exchange of vow, I'll tell thee as we pass; but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us to-day.” (Shakespeare II.III. 60). Romeo’s impulsiveness is clearly shown through this quote that he states. The reason for Romeo’s impulsiveness is because he just recently met Juliet and he decides to marry her very quickly. Also this quote reveals to the audience Romeo’s hamartia. Since he is too quick and rash it will inevitably lead him to his fatal death; and through this quote you could see where Romeo went wrong and how it will greatly affect him. Furthermore Romeo leads the audience to believe that he is just infatuated by Juliet’s looks; due to the fact he was strongly in love with Rosaline and then all of sudden falls in love with Juliet and forgets about Rosaline which he claimed to be his one and only love. “Young men’s love then lies Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.”(II.III.65). This quote that Friar Lawrence states planted into the readers mind that Romeo might not be truly in love but rather infatuated. This tragic play takes place in fair Verona where a quarrel between two families takes place due to an ancient grudge. Both families, Montague and Capulet hate each other with a great passion. Two lovers named Romeo and Juliet are both from the two opposing families and they love and marry each other in secret without their families knowing. Because of their impulsiveness and rash decisions it causes them to lead themselves to die a tragic death. Foil characters aid to heighten or highlight an attribute in another character which furthers the plot. Romeo is heightened and influenced by secondary characters that eventually brings out his hamartia, peripeteia, and anagnorisis. These chara...
This rash decision also caused Juliet and Romeo pain and disappointment. “When something bad happens to one you love, something bad also happens to you. If a loved one is hurt or disgraced, you are hurt; if something wonderful happens to her, you feel better off. ”(“Love’s Bond”, Robert Nozick) If that is true when loving someone, Romeo evidently made the wrong decision to kill Tybalt.
After the wedding, Romeo runs into Juliet’s cousin Tybalt, who hates him. They engage in a duel, and Romeo kills Tybalt. He fled the scene of the crime. Later, he discovers from Friar Lawrence that rather than executing him for murder, the Prince of Verona has declared that he be banished forever. Instead of being relieved and grateful, Romeo laments his fate and claims that he would rather be dead than be separated from his dear Juliet.