Impulsivity In Romeo And Juliet

In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare uses the repeated concepts of danger, warning, rash decisions, life, and death to contribute to the thematic development of the play. The overall theme conveyed in the story is that impulsivity can lead to undesirable consequences. This is shown through the actions and interactions between star crossed lovers Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. In a search for love they become too impulsive, leading to their untimely demise. This is the tragic story of Romeo and Juliet.

Through recurring signs of danger and warning Shakespeare foreshadows the coming deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In Act I Romeo states that he feels that his entering of the party will lead him to a “vile forfeit of untimely death” (Shakespeare I.iv.118), alluding to the rapid series of events that are to lead to his demise. Despite this feeling Romeo enters the party, immediately forgetting this feeling and instead focusing on Juliet. The next day Romeo speaks to Friar Lawrence about his marriage that afternoon, but is warned that “they stumble who run fast” (Shakespeare II.iv.101). This foreshadows the end of the relationship due to

When Mercutio and Tybalt were fighting Romeo stepped between them, giving Tybalt the opportunity to stab his opponent. In his final moments Mercutio asks Romeo, his closest friend, “why the devil [he] came” (Shakespeare III.i.106-107) between them at such a time. Romeo had acted impulsively in his new marriage, leading to the death of his closest friend. Romeo is instantly regretful for this and allows his “fire-eyed fury [to] be [his] conduct” (Shakespeare III.i.129). Romeo then kills Tybalt whom he had been protecting from Mercutio mere minutes ago, losing both his friend and his cousin due to his rash actions. While the death of these characters weighed heavy on Romeo, his biggest mistake lies at the end of his