Examples Of Tragic Flaws In Romeo And Juliet

Awareness of Tragic Flaws

“New love can look for all the world like mental illness, a blend of mania, dementia and obsession that cuts people off from friends and family and prompts out-of-character behavior - compulsive phone calling, serenades, yelling from rooftops - that could almost be mistaken for psychosis” (Carey 1). In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare this love sick attitude plays an immense role in what makes the tragedy of the two lovers. The passion exerted through Romeo for Juliet, vice versa, is what keeps their love for one another together but ultimately is at fault for their demise due to the out of control behavior the quote suggests. The play holds many tragic heroes: characters whose’ traits seen as benign lead to

Immediately after Romeo and Juliet’s first interactions at the Capulet party, they discuss their marriage only a day later to which Romeo takes into his own hands (II.ii.144-190). By the hands of his heart rather than his head, he says to Friar “Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set / On the fair daughter of rich Capulet...but this I pray, / That thou consent to marry us today” (II.iii.57-58, 63-64). Feeling passionately in love for someone enough to marry them on the spot seems admirable, but in this case the problem was how impulsive the decision was in these circumstances. Romeo had reacted so instantly, because he is enamored with Juliet, but in turn, this quick action did not take into consideration the reaction others would have of their marriage. If it was thought out rather than impulsively made, their love could possibly have lived on. Romeo’s impulsive decisions based on his love for Juliet did not only lead to his death, but literally killed him. After hearing of Juliet’s death he had promptly made a plan: “Come, cordial and not poison, go with me / To Juliet’s grave; for there must I use thee” (VI.I.85-86). Because of Romeo’s strong emotions, it pushed him to kill himself with poison for his longing for her was too strong to bear. His intense emotion is thus seen as a flaw that contributed to his own

As an impulsive teenager, Romeo must seek advice when in trouble: Romeo’s counselor is Friar Lawrence who is also seen as a tragic hero through his trait of optimism that works against him. After getting himself in trouble, Romeo hides away to Friar’s cell where he is told “For then thou canst not pass to Mantua, / Where thou shalt live till we can find a time / To blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, / Beg pardon of the prince and call thee back / with twenty hundred thousand times more joy / Than thou went’st forth in lamentation” (III.iii.149-154). Consulting another on what decision to make seems right but making up this plan for Romeo lead him into misconception and death. Instead of confessing and dealing with the situation, Romeo’s intense emotions felt in his love for Juliet caused him to get involved with Friar whom would bring him to his downfall. Adding onto that, Romeo is also advised by one of his trusted men Balthasar. Although Balthasar’s intentions were seemingly loyal when he says “I will be gone sir and not trouble ye” and Romeo’s response “So shalt thou show me friendship” (V.iii.41) shows that he trusts him, we know that he suspects Romeo will do something harmful when Balthasar says to the audience in an aside “For all this same, I’ll hide me hereabout, / His looks I fear, and his intents I