Essay On The Prefrontal Cortex In The Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet

According to neuropsychologist Lexi Tucker, the prefrontal cortex controls decision-making, predicting consequences, and the ability to plan but it is not fully developed till the age of 25. This is the exact problem in Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet in which the star-crossed lovers repeatedly make poor decisions, and they act more like impulse wild children multiple times. The main problem is that Romeo and Juliet's underdeveloped pre-frontal cortex is the cause of impulsivity and poor decision-making throughout the story. One of the first examples of their impulsive actions is early in the play when Romeo and Juliet secretly marry after knowing each other for only 12 hours. As the prologue states, "Two households, both

Romeo states after Mercutio's death, "Alive, in triumph! and Mercutio slain?/ Away to heaven, respective lenity,/ And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!/ Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, / That late thou gavest me; for Mercutio's soul/ Is but a little way above our heads,/ Staying for thine to keep him company/ Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him," (Shakespeare 355). This quote shows that when Romeo duels Tybalt for revenge after he kills Mercutio even though he is his cousin. This shows spontaneity since killing someone is a crime and the punishment for Romeo would be execution. Paris states after being stabbed by Romeo, "O, I am slain! If thou be merciful, / Open the tomb, lay me with Juliet," (Shakespeare 397). When Romeo fights Paris in the dark, Romeo doesn’t even know whom he was fighting before he kills him. This shows thoughtless action since Romeo had no idea whom he was fighting before he killed him. Romeo, like most teenagers, acts without thinking while trying to be cool. In conclusion, Romeo solves his problems by fighting which always ends up blowing up in his