Romeo And Juliet Rationale Analysis

While bidding farewell to his teenage son, the famous British author, Thomas Browne, pulled him close, advising, “Think before you act; think twice before you speak” (Mieder, 820). Now, although the circumstances in which this statement was made are not entirely true, the quotation still conveys a significant idea: the presence of rationale and logic in decision making is crucial to avoiding the consequences of a choice. However, as beings of social and emotional nature, our cognitive process is often influenced by our feelings, therefore inciting emotionally impulsive actions. Throughout the literary works of William Golding and William Shakespeare, the main characters are often subject to the various consequences stemming from their emotionally-driven

When acting impulsively on emotions, individuals often neglect the apparent consequences of their acts. This remains true for both literary works, in which characters are often oblivious to the ensuing chaos of their emotionally-driven actions. This concept is portrayed through Romeo’s vengeful murder of Tybalt, in which his rage-fueled state prompts him to take up arms. As the realization of Mercutio’s death manifests itself in Romeo, he forfeits his rational judgment, instead acting through anger, where he blatantly exclaims, “Away to heaven, respective lenity, And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now” (3.1.85-86). The unfortunate string of events following Tybalt’s fall, including Romeo’s exile, all stem from his emotionally-driven decision to acquire vengeance, effectively portraying the birth of chaos as a result of impulsive behaviour. More notable, however, is the illustration of this idea through Jack’s abandonment of Ralph’s faction in Lord of the Flies. After seizing the conch to summon an assembly, Jack attempts to impeach Ralph through open discredit of his leadership, to no avail (Golding, 127). Humiliated and ashamed, he hastily deserts the group, asserting his estrangement from Ralph when he states, “I’m not going to be a part of Ralph’s lot−” (Golding, 127). Following Jack’s departure, Ralph’s incentive to lead the remaining boys fades, as he believes there is “‘Nothing to be

The manner in which characters interact often establishes the tone of their relationship, whether it be resentful, or friendly. However, the presence of emotional impulse in their interactions often acts to break this foundational tone, and ultimately, the relationship itself. An occurrence of such is evident through Juliet’s deteriorating relationship with her father as a result of his emotionally-driven decision to threaten Juliet with disownment. After rejecting her father’s choice of marriage - that being Paris - Juliet is subject to verbal abuse from Capulet, culminating in a warning of disownment if she fails to comply, where he states “Graze where you will, you shall not house with me” (3.5.190). Through this heated exchange, it is evident that Capulet’s rage-fueled mindset severely damages his relationship with Juliet, as following their dispute, she departs for Friar Lawrence’s cell in despair (3.5.241-242). Likewise, the gradual deterioration of Ralph’s relationship with Jack in Lord of the Flies only further exemplifies this concept, where much of his resentment for Ralph derives from his intense bloodlust. From the onset of the novel, the two leaders reflect similar ideologies, with both prioritizing the establishment of order on the island (Golding, 33). However, as Jack gradually descends into savagery, he is overcome by the emotion of bloodlust, which