Irrationality In Romeo And Juliet

Ever been in an argument with someone and wondered: What would finally make this guy understand what I’m saying? Arguing with a person with a stubborn personality will never be easy. How does one truly sway someone? Maybe it's providing factual evidence? Or is it using rational thinking? Well, it's none of them. Someone truly stubborn will never listen to these statements you're making. Now, what will you do? Rational methods aren’t working, so let’s go to irrational methods. Violence, threats, or just simply becoming an irrational and stubborn person yourself. Shakespeare uses the portrayal of irrationality to help teach the lesson that irrationality overpowers rationality by showing irrationality in the characters Tybalt, Friar Lawrence,

In the very first scene of the play, you can see how the Montagues and Capulets have bad blood. Benvolio, a Montague who saw the fight star, tried to separate the fight. But Tybalt, a Capulet, comes to the scene and is looking for a fight. “Part fools!” (1.1 65) (Mercutio). “What art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee Benvolio, look upon thy death.” (1:16) (Tybalt). Tybalt is an irrational character when it comes to fighting, as he is known as Verona's best fighter. Even though Benvolio was only trying to stop the fight, Tybalt turned it into a duel. Benvolio here portrays the rational one, but Tubalt, the irrational one, overshadows his thoughts. This also foreshadows that Tybalt's irrationality will lead to something bad. The day after the ball, Tybalt goes onto the street with his men to hunt down Romeo. When Romeo meets with Tybalt, Romeo tries to talk him out of it through rational reasoning. Romeo is set on not fighting, as he doesn’t hate him, instead, he thinks of him like family. Yet the only answer Tybalt wants ends in a fight, and Mercutio provides that with his irrational decision. “Boy this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw” (3.1 67-68) (Tybalt). “O calm dishonorable, vile submission”! Tybalt you ratcatcher, will you walk?” (3.1 74-76) (Mercutio). Romeo’s rational

The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet started with their marriage. Friar Lawrence’s irrational decision to allow the two to marry without letting their parents know led to consequences. “For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone till the holy church incorporates two in one” (2.6 36-37). The Friar wanted the two to get married, but he didn’t do anything rational. The Friar wanted them to marry because then it would bring the two families closer, but he didn’t even tell the two sides. If Lord Capulet knew Romeo was married to Juliet, Romeo wouldn’t have been banished, and Juliet wouldn’t have had to drink a potion for a plan to leave Verona. The Friar shows how irrational thoughts come first before rational ones when you are in a situation where you need to react fast. Later, the two get married. Romeo gets banished, leaving Juliet alone and sad. Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet have no idea of the cause of why Juliet is sad, so they decide to marry Count Paris. “Marry, my child. The County of Paris”. Lady Capulet says. The parents of Juliet never thought about Juliet's situation, nor do they even understand the root of her sadness. Instead, they made an irrational decision to marry her without her agreement to make her ‘happy’. Juliet doesn’t want to be with a person other than Romeo, so she goes to Friar Lawrence for advice as to what she should do. “Take this vial,