Examples Of The Tragic Flaws In Romeo And Juliet

Zach Hettich

Ms. Reid

ENG1D1-11

14 November, 2016

Tragic Flaw to a Tragic End in “Romeo and Juliet”

Shakespeare’s tragedies often include a character that’s a tragic hero. In “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare uses the concept of a tragic hero to develop a character whose personality traits impact the outcome of his life. Romeo, the tragic hero, has a tragic flaw, his impulsivity. Romeo acts impulsively by rushing into marriage with Juliet and he kills Tybalt without thinking of the consequences.

Firstly, Romeo’s tragic flaw is his impulsive behavior which caused him to have a hasty marriage with Juliet. The following morning that Romeo met Juliet, Romeo says to Friar Lawrence "But this I pray, that thou consent to marry us today" (II.iii.64-65). This means that Romeo’s impulsive

Near the beginning of the play, Capulet says that Romeo “bears like a portly gentleman, and, Verona brags of him” (I.V.75-76). Romeo is portrayed as a well-behaved gentleman who everyone talks about, but in (III.i.92-144) Romeo makes a big mistake. Romeo was a gentleman until his impulsivity and rage kicked in and caused him to kill Tybalt putting Romeo into a downward spiral to his subsequent death. Romeo’s composure and attitude changes dramatically over a short period as the situation escalates, in this case Romeo starts off peacefully to Tybalt "To such a greeting. Villain am I none. Therefore, farewell. I see thou know’st me not.”, he is not fighting Tybalt because he is related to Juliet, he is using his practical reasoning. Then Tybalt kills Mercutio and fills Romeo with rage, he forgets everything and decides to face Tybalt in a duel which he ends up winning. The rage and anger Romeo gets from Tybalt crushed all rational thinking and causes Romeo to kill Tybalt. Romeo is illogical and lets his anger take control of him to make bad