The Fault in Ourselves
Within a Shakespearian tragedy, there is sadness, misfortune, and death. More often than not, the character blames fate and life for the tragic circumstances that befall them. However, the character fails to notice that it is their own actions that cause these events to happen. Whether it be Markus Brutus, whose lack of judgement and preparation killed him, or Romeo Montague, whom killed himself after his own decisions came back to haunt him. Even William Shakespeare cannot escape his own actions, and eventually loses the love of his life due to this. All of these characters prove that it is not fate, but their own actions that cause their tragic circumstances.
In Julius Caesar, the audience is introduced to the …show more content…
One of the characters to cause their own misfortunate is Romeo. He is a member of the house of Montague, while Juliet is a Capulet. There two families have an intense blood feud, which seems to be the cause of their misfortunate, but it is really their own actions. Romeo’s misfortunate is cause by his childish sense of love, his clouded judgment, and his own rash decisions. He begins by pining over Lady Rosaline in an almost childish manner, but this affection is later forgotten when he sees Juliet. Even though this love is forbidden, Romeo still pursues Juliet, with the chorus saying “Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” (Romeo and Juliet 1. 5. 149). Without even getting to know Juliet or what trouble her family will cause him, he pursues her for her looks. Rather than realise that he is being foolish for pursuing an unrealistic relationship, he keeps up the charade. Next, Romeo causes his own misfortune when he participates in the fight that kills his best friend Mercutio. Romeo is so filled with grief that he kills the Capulet, Tybalt, who was for Mercutio’s death. This leads to Romeo being banished from Verona, and thus not able to see Juliet. Romeo feels a great amount of grief and despair at not being able to see his true love, saying “O sweet Juliet/Thy beauty hath made me effeminate/And in my temper soften’d valour’s steel!” (3. 1. 109-111), but this sadness is his own fault. If …show more content…
However, William is the one that eventually causes his own unhappiness through his dishonesty, disloyalty, and dreamer personality. To begin with, he is dishonest when he sells his play to two different people, thus causing a fight. When talking to Shakespeare, his friend Christopher Marlowe says, “I thought your play was for Burbage” (Shakespeare in Love) implying that Will sold his play to multiple people. This leads to arguments about who deserves the play and causes strife on Wills’ behalf. Next, Shakespeare is disloyal to his wife, Anne Hathaway, when he begins an affair with Lady Viola. When he stops writing his play, he is told by Philip Henslowe “Let us have pirates, clowns, and a happy ending, or we shall send you back to Stratford to your wife!” (Shakespeare in Love). This shows that Shakespeare has no desire to see his wife again, and will continue with his affair. This disloyalty prevents Will from having a real and honest relationship with Viola prompting her to saying “This is not life, Will. It is a stolen season” (Shakespeare in Love). Finally, as a playwright, William constantly has his head in the clouds. This causes him to never get any work done, and he ultimately has lots of pressure put on him to finish his play. He then becomes disenchanted with theatre as a whole,
Within a Shakespearian tragedy, there is sadness, misfortune, and death. More often than not, the character blames fate and life for the tragic circumstances that befall them. However, the character fails to notice that it is their own actions that cause these events to happen. Whether it be Markus Brutus, whose lack of judgement and preparation killed him, or Romeo Montague, whom killed himself after his own decisions came back to haunt him. Even William Shakespeare cannot escape his own actions, and eventually loses the love of his life due to this. All of these characters prove that it is not fate, but their own actions that cause their tragic circumstances.
In Julius Caesar, the audience is introduced to the …show more content…
One of the characters to cause their own misfortunate is Romeo. He is a member of the house of Montague, while Juliet is a Capulet. There two families have an intense blood feud, which seems to be the cause of their misfortunate, but it is really their own actions. Romeo’s misfortunate is cause by his childish sense of love, his clouded judgment, and his own rash decisions. He begins by pining over Lady Rosaline in an almost childish manner, but this affection is later forgotten when he sees Juliet. Even though this love is forbidden, Romeo still pursues Juliet, with the chorus saying “Alike bewitched by the charm of looks” (Romeo and Juliet 1. 5. 149). Without even getting to know Juliet or what trouble her family will cause him, he pursues her for her looks. Rather than realise that he is being foolish for pursuing an unrealistic relationship, he keeps up the charade. Next, Romeo causes his own misfortune when he participates in the fight that kills his best friend Mercutio. Romeo is so filled with grief that he kills the Capulet, Tybalt, who was for Mercutio’s death. This leads to Romeo being banished from Verona, and thus not able to see Juliet. Romeo feels a great amount of grief and despair at not being able to see his true love, saying “O sweet Juliet/Thy beauty hath made me effeminate/And in my temper soften’d valour’s steel!” (3. 1. 109-111), but this sadness is his own fault. If …show more content…
However, William is the one that eventually causes his own unhappiness through his dishonesty, disloyalty, and dreamer personality. To begin with, he is dishonest when he sells his play to two different people, thus causing a fight. When talking to Shakespeare, his friend Christopher Marlowe says, “I thought your play was for Burbage” (Shakespeare in Love) implying that Will sold his play to multiple people. This leads to arguments about who deserves the play and causes strife on Wills’ behalf. Next, Shakespeare is disloyal to his wife, Anne Hathaway, when he begins an affair with Lady Viola. When he stops writing his play, he is told by Philip Henslowe “Let us have pirates, clowns, and a happy ending, or we shall send you back to Stratford to your wife!” (Shakespeare in Love). This shows that Shakespeare has no desire to see his wife again, and will continue with his affair. This disloyalty prevents Will from having a real and honest relationship with Viola prompting her to saying “This is not life, Will. It is a stolen season” (Shakespeare in Love). Finally, as a playwright, William constantly has his head in the clouds. This causes him to never get any work done, and he ultimately has lots of pressure put on him to finish his play. He then becomes disenchanted with theatre as a whole,