Impulsiveness In Romeo And Juliet

Impulsiveness is the tendency to act quickly without the thought of consequences. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet demonstrates this behavior where Juliet and Romeo act on their emotions instead of reason. Romeo is from the Montague family, while Juliet is from the Capulet family; both families are enemies. Romeo and Juliet are not destined to be together because of their families. Due to Juliet’s sorrow when witnessing her loved one’s death, she stabs herself. As a result, William Shakespeare determines impulsiveness as an unpleasant effect that results from the heart.
To begin with, the characters act upon their impulsive emotions instead of reasoning. For example, Friar Laurence agrees for Romeo and Juliet to be married, and decides to give

This indicates the potion would stop Juliet’s pulse and give her characteristics a dead person would have. Once Friar Laurence gives Juliet the potion and she takes it, she is supposedly dead for forty-two hours. Since the message Friar Laurence tries to deliver is unable to reach Romeo, he falls into depression and takes his own life. Friar Laurence acts impulsively upon his feelings by giving Juliet the potion and believing the plan would be effective. He encourages the relationship between Romeo and Juliet which ultimately leads to their deaths. Another instance is when Romeo kills Tybalt out of anger. During Act III, Scene I, Romeo demands “Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back now 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” (232). Romeo is enraged over the murder of Mercutio and

For example, Juliet decides to take the potion. In Act IV, Scene III, “I see my cousin's ghost/ Seeking out Romeo, that did split his body/ Upon a rapier's point. Stay, Tybalt, stay!/ Romeo, I come! this do I drink to thee” (259). She decides to take the potion to be with Romeo because she wants to avoid getting married off to Paris. Friar Laurence tells Friar John to send a letter to Romeo. However, he helps infected people and is told by the government to be quarantined. Thus, Romeo does not receive the letter. Romeo can't live without her and takes his own life. Romeo and Juliet thought they had made the best decisions. Ironically, their foolish decisions lead them to death. Another example is, upon hearing about Juliet's death, Romeo decides to buy poison from a desperate apothecary to take his own life. Romeo states, “A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear/ As will disperse itself through all the veins/ That the life-weary taker may fall dead,/ And that the trunk may be discharged of breath/ As violently as hasty powder fired” (267). He misunderstands the situation and decides to take the poison. When Juliet wakes up, she also decides to take her own life shortly after Romeo’s death. Romeo's heart and emotions affect him deeply as he does not take into consideration the consequences of taking his life. During these moments, Romeo feels depressed and acts hastily. Hence, impulsiveness is a useless