Romeo And Juliet Character Analysis

Tragedy has plagued the world ever since Pandora needed to quench her curiosity; nowhere is this most evident but in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo’s role as harbinger of the tragic events that occur in Verona is made painfully clear through his nature, hubris and tendency to blame fate for his actions. At heart, Romeo’s impetuousness is unquestionably responsible for his and Juliet’s death. It is this fatal flaw in his nature that signals him as a tragic hero, rather than the pawn of fate he proclaims himself to be.

As a character, Romeo embraces the concept of romanticism, reveling in satisfying his emotions without truly comprehending the consequences which may follow. In a way, his impetuous nature acts as his tragic flaw, setting him on a path which dooms both him and Juliet. This is established when Romeo immediately proclaims his love for Juliet after merely seeing her at Capulet’s celebratory feast, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (1.5.51-52) The fact that Romeo’s love for Rosaline, something that caused him much heartache, is so soon eclipsed by Juliet sing to his impetuous and romantic nature. His rash actions toward Juliet through-out the remainder of this scene further establishes this fact and strikes the first metaphorical domino essential to the two lover’s demise. Romeo’s impulsive decision to avenge Mercutio’s death, despite its inevitability, signals the point of no return all tragic heroes face and again, indicate his impetuous nature. This is most clearly seen where Romeo actively threatens Tybalt after Mercutio’s death saying,

And fire-ey’d fury be my conduct now!

Now, Tybalt, take thy villain back again

That late thou gavest me, ...

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... is a delusion created for the sole intention of concealing the truth and the explanation for his impetuous nature; once again, he is found guilty of the death of both himself and Juliet.

The evidence is overwhelming; Romeo’s impetuousness is undeniably responsible for his and Juliet’s death. It is this tragic flaw no his nature that indicates him as a tragic hero, rather than the pawn of fate he declares himself to be. Throughout Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, his rash and impulsive nature and hubris are made crystal clear, revealing the consequences of his hast actions and how they influenced both his own and Juliet’s decisions. His tendency to blame fate to atone for his actions directly correlates to his nature and which ultimately, classifies him as a tragic hero. “Man is manacled only by himself; thought and action are the jailers of Fate.” – James Allan