Romeo & Juliet by William Shakespeare, perhaps the most classic story of love and sorrow to exist within English literature, portrays the depth of young love and lust, and the lengths young lovers would go to in order to preserve it. The unfortunate ending to the tale is the product of numerous decisions marked by impatience, often as a result of the youth and immaturity of the two “star-cross’d” lovers. However, nearly every character contributes somehow to the demise of the couple, due to honor, loyalty, or desperation, to the point where making impetuous decisions becomes a dominant and recurring theme in the drama. Their impulsive manners of abandoning logical deliberation cause suspense, confusion, betrayal, death, and intensity for both the characters and the reader/audience. Impetuosity in Romeo & Juliet is a powerful force that overtakes the characters, propelling them against their fates, their worlds, and, at times, against themselves.
Following the day of the Capulet party, Romeo is confronted by Tybalt, yet he refuses to dignify Tybalt’s challenge out of reverence for their newly-formed …show more content…
While observing Juliet’s “dead” body, Romeo says: “Thou art not conquer’d; beauty’s ensign yet / Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, / And death’s pale flag is not advanced there” (86). From an objective viewpoint, there is obviously something wrong with the situation, and the wise decision is to be patient and consult Friar Lawrence. Unfortunately, Romeo’s boundless love for Juliet supersedes any sense of logic he has, and he makes the decision which actually kills her.
Shakespeare has cleverly crafted the drama so that each of these impetuous actions impels others for fate to take its toll and end the feud, at the cost of the lives of the star-crosses lovers and four
Following the day of the Capulet party, Romeo is confronted by Tybalt, yet he refuses to dignify Tybalt’s challenge out of reverence for their newly-formed …show more content…
While observing Juliet’s “dead” body, Romeo says: “Thou art not conquer’d; beauty’s ensign yet / Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, / And death’s pale flag is not advanced there” (86). From an objective viewpoint, there is obviously something wrong with the situation, and the wise decision is to be patient and consult Friar Lawrence. Unfortunately, Romeo’s boundless love for Juliet supersedes any sense of logic he has, and he makes the decision which actually kills her.
Shakespeare has cleverly crafted the drama so that each of these impetuous actions impels others for fate to take its toll and end the feud, at the cost of the lives of the star-crosses lovers and four