Responsibility Of Love In Romeo And Juliet

The majority of people regard adolescence as a tumultuous time, so it comes as no surprise that it is the focus of many literary works. Few, however, match the grandness of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. In the timeless tale, two “star-crossed lovers” meet their demise. Undoubtedly, their actions are lamentable, but fault lies on more sources than solely them. Romeo and Juliet cannot be entirely blamed for their love’s outcome because of rampant emotions, neglectful parents, and an increased enticement in harmful activities. For better or for worse, people often regard teenagers as extremely emotional. Though some may claim that this is simply a stereotypical assertion, scientific evidence exists that supports the widely-accepted claim. For

In modern times, examples of this exist in, to name a small amount, consuming alcohol, using illegal drugs, and texting and driving. The Elizabethan Age, though, did not have many of these options available. Still, teenagers are going to find enticing ways to distract themselves, one way or another. For Romeo and Juliet, this distraction was present in the form of love. Seeking out new experiences is certainly no oddity among adolescents; in fact, according to Dr. Daniel Siegel, “[N]ew things feel really, really good to a teenager … [because] novelty is one of the major things that can trigger dopamine [which is a neurotransmitter in the brain that supplies a feel-good chemical upon completion of a reward] release.” Therefore, the assumption can be made that adolescents are hardwired to perform actions that are enticing, regardless of whether such actions present a risk of harm. Romeo and Juliet’s entire love, in correspondence, seems to be established on the spineless foundation that, to put simply, they adore each other because intimacy is exotic. This would explain many of the events that take place in the story, chief among them being their introduction, in which Romeo, having never met her before, asks of Juliet, “If I profane with my unworthiest hand / This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: / My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand / To smooth that rough tough touch with a tender kiss” (Wiggins and Education, Inc.). Essentially, in the quote Romeo asks permission to kiss Juliet even though, to repeat, he has no acquaintanceship with her at that point. This event displays, like others, that they are not responsible for their actions since it is entirely natural and inevitable to, as adolescents, pursue things that may harm