Emotions Rather Than Intelligence In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Emotions Rather than Intelligence “To be old and wise, you must first be young and stupid.”(Unknown). Romeo and Juliet lose their young lives due to youth and inexperience. They were rash and reckless when it came to their actions which led to their sad ending. For instance, if they listened to the adults and recognized what could result from their love, they could have had a happier ending. In other words, Romeo and Juliet waste their young lives and love for making decisions based on emotions instead of intelligence. Firstly, Romeo and Juliet react on their physical instinct instead of logical thought. When the lovers meet for the second time at the balcony, they decide to get married the next day to satisfy themselves, but Juliet feels like it may be too sudden. On the balcony Juliet says,“Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, have no joy of this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden,”(II,2,116-118). Just like Juliet said, she feels that getting

Romeo’s immaturity and unawareness led the death of both the young lovers. When Romeo finds Juliet “dead” in the tomb he jumps to conclusions and fails to notice that she is still alive. Romeo says in the tomb, “Here’s to my love! O true apothecary, Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.”(IV,3,129-131). Romeo assumes in thinking that Juliet is dead and ends up killing himself due to his ignorance. Another example is when Juliet doesn’t want to marry Paris so she takes a potion instead of explaining her love for Romeo to her parents. "Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!”(IV,1,124). Juliet fears speaking to her parents so her impulsiveness leads her to take the potion without taking into consideration what could happen in result to taking the potion. The lover’s characteristics that come with being young lead to many of the problems in the