Examples Of Romeo's Flaws

Anderson Young
Mrs. Paul
Literature/Composition 9 Accelerated
4 May 2023

Romeo’s Tragic Flaw Love is a powerful and all-consuming emotion, capable of bringing people together then ripping them apart. No play captures this sentiment quite like Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, where we observe a timeless tale of young love, passion, and tragedy. The play’s impetuous character, Romeo, is often praised for his romantic nature and his boundless love for Juliet. However, his reckless and rash behaviors throughout the play ultimately lead to the young couple’s tragic fate. This reckless decisions include him attending the Capulet ball knowing he could very well be killed by guards, along with murdering Tybalt while completely filled

The use of the word "fury" implies a frenzied state, demonstrating Romeo's emotional impulsiveness in response to Mercutio's death. By using this phrase, he is effectively giving himself permission to act without restraint as an expression of anger over losing his dear friend. This is yet another example of Romeo acting rashly and putting himself at risk with no regard for potential consequences. Later, we see that Romeo realizes the ramifications of his impetuous nature when he exclaims “O, I am fortune’s fool!”

We know when reading however that he is aware of the consequences in this scenario because he says “I fear, too early; for my mind misgives / Some consequence yet hanging in the stars / Shall bitterly begin his fearful date” (1.4.106-108). This quote from Romeo in Act 1, Scene 4 of "Romeo and Juliet" is a classic example of his impulsive and rash nature. He admits to fearing the Capulet's party and sensing that something terrible may occur as a result of attending it. However, despite this apprehension, he throws caution to the wind and decides to go anyway. It's as if he's unable to control his own impulses and acts on a whim, without fully considering the potential consequences of his actions. Later on in this scene we also see Romeo questioning what love is after seeing Juliet and having his perspective of love changed when he says “Is love a tender thing? Is it too rough, / too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like a thorn.” (1.4.25-26). This quote supports the idea that Romeo has rash and impulsive behaviors because it reveals his inner turmoil as he struggles to reconcile his feelings of love with how powerful they are. He questions whether it is too much for him, or if perhaps it “pricks” like a thorn, an indication of pain, discomfort and struggle. This internal struggle shows that despite wanting to