How Does Romeo And Juliet Make Bad Decisions

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Being in a relationship isn’t just about the two individuals, it’s also about the decisions made, consequences of actions, and the people around you. The combination of these things can cause the course of a relationship to be rocky. In Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo makes poor choices and both he and Juliet suffer the repercussions. The people involved in their lives contribute to the course of the relationship, positively and negatively as well. Throughout the play, Romeo demonstrates immature behavior and makes poor decisions. Romeo’s bad choices cause many problems in his relationship with Juliet. He makes decisions quickly and without consideration. Juliet soon notices this, recognizing that their love is “too rash, too …show more content…

Along with making poor choices, Romeo often lets other people make decisions for him. The Friar gives Romeo a lot of good advice, but most of the time, he’s just telling him what to do, instead of Romeo trying to figure it out for himself. As a direct result of Romeo’s mistakes, the characters receive consequences that change the course of their relationships. Repercussions of his actions range from the deaths of Mercutio, Tybalt, and Juliet, to the Nurse and the Friar getting fed up with Romeo. Because Romeo doesn’t deal with Tybalt’s aggression, Mercutio dies defending his cowardly friend. Then, instead of calling authorities or trying to talk out a solution, Romeo kills Tybalt. As a result of these deaths, Romeo is exiled from Verona. Although Romeo could try to find a mature solution to his banishment, he chooses to whine and complain. The Nurse scolds him, telling him to “stand and you be a man” (III, iii, 96). The Friar gives Romeo a speech, insulting him and telling him that “thy tears are womanish” (III, iii, …show more content…

Romeo and Juliet’s relationship is heavily influenced by the people they surround themselves with. Benvolio and Mercutio worry about Romeo’s despair over Rosaline, and they push him to get over her and find a new woman. The Montagues and the Capulets are feuding, and this causes the couple to be secretive and discreet. Juliet’s family wants her to marry “the gallant, young, and noble gentleman, the County Paris” and she is going against their desires by falling in love with a Montague (III, v, 118-119). The Nurse also contributes to this desire, saying that she thinks “it best you marry the County” (III, v, 230). Friar Lawrence gives both Romeo and Juliet advice on multiple occasions, at first disapproving of the match but later accepting it and urging them to be cautious and wise. The society that Romeo and Juliet live in as a whole are disapproving of the match due to the knowledge of the longtime feud. Romeo and Juliet let other people’s opinions affect their thoughts, decisions, and relationships. A relationship will never be easy because there are so many factors involved in