Romeo And Juliet Love And Judgement Analysis

Throughout the play, Shakespeare develops the idea that love can cloud judgement and is shown through the characters Friar Lawrence and Juliet Capulet. Love does not only cloud the judgement of those who are in love, but others can be affected by its power and this can be seen through Friar Lawrence and his actions. Immediately after speaking with Juliet, Romeo visits Friar Lawrence and pleads with him to perform the ceremony which would marry him to Juliet. At first the friar is bewildered at Romeo’s sudden change of heart, however he responds by saying, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; / for this alliance may so happy prove / to turn your households’ rancor to pure love” (Shakespeare 2.3.92-94). Friar Lawrence agrees to the

Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another made Friar Lawrence optimistic that the marriage could resolve the feud, thus clouding his judgement and making him act on a decision he would soon regret. When Juliet, the only daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, gets betrothed to Count Paris, she becomes distraught at the idea of being with someone other than Romeo. However when Juliet loses the Nurse’s support, she hastily goes to Friar Lawrence and pleads with him for a solution to her problem. He agrees to help and says, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed, / and this distilling liquor drink thou off; / when presently through all thy veins shall run / a cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse / shall keep his native progress, but surcease” (4.1.94-98). Not only does Friar Lawrence make the mistake of marrying Romeo and Juliet without the knowledge of the Capulets and Montagues, but he adds to his mistake by giving Juliet a vial of poison that will make her appear dead.

At the start of Act III, Mercutio, who is Romeo’s friend fights with Tybalt, who is Juliet’s cousin. Romeo tries to intercede, however Tybalt stabs Mercutio under Romeo’s arm and leaves him with a fatal wound. Tybalt runs away, and Romeo becomes overwhelmed with fury when he realizes Mercutio is dead. Romeo confronts Tybalt, saying “Now Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again / That late thou gav’st me, for Mercutio’s soul / Is but a little ways above our heads, / Staying for thine to keep him company. / Either thou, or I, or both must go with him” (3.1.130-134). After Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo’s reluctance to fight Tybalt melts away. He is furious with Tybalt because he killed one of Romeo’s closest friends. Romeo is blind with the love he has for Mercutio and on impulse he kills Tybalt without considering what may result from his choice. Romeo’s friendship with Mercutio was so strong that the emotion Romeo had after his death overpowered his ability to think clearly. The consequence of Romeo’s sudden decision is his banishment and this punishment affects his relation with Juliet greatly. Another example of love clouding Romeo’s judgement is when Balthasar, Romeo’s servant, arrives in Mantua and informs Romeo that Juliet is “dead”. Romeo, being overwhelmed with grief goes to an apothecary to buy a deadly poison so