Impulsive Decisions In Romeo And Juliet

Romeo says “The exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine” [2.2 (28)] This rash decision is just one of Romeo’s many impulsive actions that lead to his downfall in Shakespeare’s tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The story, Romeo and Juliet, is about two teens who are apart of feuding families, and have to keep their love a secret. The main characters Romeo and Juliet both suffer the consequences of making impulsive decisions in love. Romeo loses everything after he finds out that Juliet is “dead” and takes his own life. Romeo is a tragic hero because he experiences this victory in defeat. Tragic heroes are characters who start off with a high status or something to lose and lose it later in a tragic loss. They often have a tragic flaw that directly

The spontaneous decisions are what causes Romeo’s downfall. A tragic flaw is a negative character trait the character has that directly leads to their downfall. Romeo’s tragic flaw is that he makes impulsive decisions. Romeo sneaks into a party at the Capulet’s house with Benvolio and Mercutio. The Capulets enter the room to greet the guests. Romeo sees Juliet for the first time and falls in love. Romeo goes to Juliet and whispers, “If I profane with my unworthiest hand. This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this, My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand. To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” [1.5 (21)]. Romeo complements Juliet by comparing her to a holy shrine and says he will praise her by kissing her hand. Romeo is impulsive because he goes up to Juliet and kisses her multiple times without even getting to know more about her. This is his tragic flaw because he kisses the daughter of the family that his parents are fighting with. This decision leads to him wanting to get married to Juliet without even taking their love slower. Romeo was on his way to meet Juliet after they got married. Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, started a fight with Mercutio. Romeo tries to stop them, but Tybalt stabbed Mercutio under Romeo’s arm. Romeo hissed, “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.” [3.1 (46)] Romeo tells Tybalt to take back his insult because Mercutio is dead and waiting for Tybalt’s soul to join him: either Tybalt or Romeo or both of them must die and join Mercutio. Romeo is impulsive because he decides to fight Tybalt without thinking about the consequences of the situation. His decision led to killing Tybalt and his downfall of being banished from the town. If