Romeo And Juliet Deception Essay

Ambition is what induces an individual to do irrational acts that subconsciously lead to inevitable consequences. In the world today, there is no escape from the act of temptation and the consequences that come with it. This is thoroughly demonstrated in the play “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare. The play demonstrates that one's temptation leads to irrational acts in order to achieve individual goals. This is proven through the three characters
Romeo, Friar Lawrence, and Juliet. Each character demonstrates the act of temptation, resulting in the absurd decisions the characters make in order to satisfy one’s objective.

Firstly, Romeo is one of the three victims that fall into the fault of temptation due to his lust for Juliet.

Romeo’s desire for Juliet's lust is shown when Romeo wants a second kiss from Juliet. Romeo says “Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urg’d! / Give me my sin again“ (1.5.108-109). Romeo feels that one kiss is not enough to satisfy his temptation for Juliet's love, thus making him want another kiss. Romeo’s actions shows his strong desire for Juliet's love, it shows how eager he is to kiss her again. Potential reasons for Romeo's temptation is his affection toward Juliet this is shown when Romeo proclaims Juliet’s “Beauty [is] too rich for use, for earth too dear” (1.5.46). Romeo thinks highly of Juliet and thinks she is too pretty for the world.This further enhances Romeo’s temptation for Juliet's love, which shows that Romeo only wants Juliet for himself and no one else. Furthermore, Romeo is capable of going to great lengths to satisfy his appeal for Juliet’s love. Upon hearing the apparent death of Juliet; he creates a plan to go back to Verona to see her. Hower, Romeo is banned from Verona, and visiting Verona would have been very dangerous. This shows the absurd lengths that Romeo is willing to go to to see Juliet. In addition, Romeo is jealous that death can accompany Juliet forever and yet he cannot. This is noted when Romeo states “Well Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight.”(5.1.54). Romeo is envious that he is not able to be with Juliet in her last moments, thus, he is eager to go back to Verona and be with her. Hence, he is tempted by the love of Juliet and is willing to risk going back to Verona. Overall, Romeo’s display of temptation is due to his affection toward Juliet.

Friar Lawrence is also guilty of falling into the act temptation that is only beneficial to his own personal goals.

When the Friar agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet, he is not doing it for the sake of the young couple, but the sake of his own motives. The Friar remarks “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be:/ For this alliance may so happy prove / To turn your households’ rancour to pure love” (2.3.90-92). The only reason why the Friar is helping the young couple is in hopes to repair the damage between the two families. He is tempted to help the families because he wants to end the feud between the Capulet and Montague households. Hence, he is only doing this for the sake of his own belief. The Friar goes on to marry the young couple in secret, possibly jeopardising his role as a Father.Which shows that he will make impulsive decisions in order to fulfil his goals. Moreover, the Friar’s action ultimately lead him to irrational acts in order to help Romeo. The Friar kept Romeo in his cell and told Romeo that “A greater judgement vanish’d from his lips:/ Not body’s death, but boy’s banishment.” ( 3.3.10-11). In the position of the Friar, he can be in big trouble if he is caught helping Romeo, especially because Romeo is banished from Verona. Yet, Friar’s temptation of trying his best to help Romeo led him to put himself and Romeo in danger. The Friar is helping Romeo because he wants Romeo and Juliet to have a successful marriage, in hopes that the two star-crossed lovers can

be the reason to end the two families quarrel. Although Friar Lawrence has good intentions of helping the families, he was too oblivious to realize the potential harm he was putting himself and Romeo in. The impulsive act displayed by the Friar shows how tempted he is in satisfying his goals of mending the two families.

Finally, Juliet shows the act of temptation through her attraction toward Romeo.

In the beginning of the play, readers can see that Juliet has no interest of marrying or being with anyone. This is shown through her lack of interest when her mother, Lady Capulet, brings up the topic of marriage. However, as soon as she meets Romeo, she falls in love with him, she exclaims “Which mannerly devotion shows in this,/ for saints have hands that pilgrim’s’ hand do touch,/ And palms is holy palmers kiss” (1.5.97-99). It is evident that Juliet is tempted by the idea of Romeo, which is shown through her ambitious desire to kiss him. In addition, Juliet’s actions and dialogue when discussing the possibility of marrying Paris make it apparent that she does not want to marry anyone, as Juliet claims “ It is an honour that I dream not of” (1.3.67). In regards to Juliet’s wedding plans, Juliet has not dare thought of getting married to anyone. Yet, as soon as Juliet meets Romeo, she is more than excited to marry him, she exclaims “Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow”, yet when she hears that her father is arranging a marriage with Paris, Juliet exclaims “Delay this marriage for a month, a week, / Or if you do not, make the bridal bed / In that dim monument where Tybalt lies” (3.5.199-20). The difference between Juliet's reactions is quite distinctive. She is frustrated by the fact that she has to marry Paris, and yet when she hears that Romeo wants to marry her she cannot wait to

hear back from him. From this quote, we can see the contrast of Juliet's emotion toward each of the characters, which shows the temptation of Juliet’s love for Romeo. The difference in Juliet’s willingness to marry Romeo in comparison to Paris makes it apparent that Juliet has strong feelings of temptation toward Romeo, which then fuels her desire to sacrifice everything for him. Juliet is tempted by her desire of his love for Romeo that she is willing to give up her identity for him. Juliet remarks “Deny thy father and refuse thy name;/ or if thou wilt not, be but sowrn my love , / And I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (2.2.34-36). This shows that Juliet will go as far as changing her last name if it means that Romeo will love her back. Her actions caused by her temptation shows the extremities she is willing to go after in order to gain Romeo’s love. In addition, when Juliet fakes her death, it shows the great lengths she will go for Romeo. Juliet pleads to Friar Lawrence as she is desperate to get the drugs that will make her seem dead, she says“ Give me, give me? O tell me not of fear” (4.2.121). Juliet is desperate for the drug because she really wants to see Romeo again. With this drug, she will then be able to be with Romeo forever. This shows the great length she is willing to go to for the love of Romeo. Altogether, Juliet is tempted by Romeo's’ lust, making her go to great lengths to achieve it.

In conclusion, temptation is inevitable in this world. The act of temptation leads characters to impulsive decisions and actions. This is shown through the behaviour of Romeo, Friar Lawrence, and Juliet. It is enough to say that what Romeo and Juliet had was not real, but full of lust and allurement. Friar Lawrence was also a trapped into the emotion of temptation in fulfilling his own goals. All in all, the trigger of temptation reflects back upon the human mindset. It shows how little self-control one has and how ambitious acts can be done in order to fulfil motives that are desired by the human mind.