Romeo And Juliet Decisions Essay

The course an individual’s life takes can be profoundly affected by personal decisions and actions. In the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare’s unfortunate lovers experience a tragic end in their destiny. It is their individual, unwise decisions and hasty actions that contribute to the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. The lovers’ unwise decisions are driven by passionate feelings. Romeo disregards the cautionary warnings in his dream and attends the Capulet masquerade ball. Before entering the event, Romeo fears that his attendance at the ball will result in an “untimely death” (Iv 117). However, with his desperate feeling to see Rosaline and at the urging of his friends, Romeo agrees to attend, and he first encounters Juliet. This decision

At the end of the party, she learns that Romeo is her family's enemy; she states "My only love sprung from my only hate" (I v 136). Juliet is aware of the potential consequences if Romeo is caught. She warns that “If they see (him), they will murder (him)” (Iii 74). She also reasons that Romeo’s decision to marry is “too rash, too advised, too sudden” (Ii ii 119). However, after all of her good judgments and reasons that her love for Romeo is risky, she follows her heart and accepts the proposal of an enemy. Finally, Romeo wishes to pursue his passionate love for Juliet by asking Friar Laurence to marry them. Just the day before, Romeo is in love with Rosaline; however, after meeting Juliet, he falls in love with her at first sight and proposes marriage that evening. Romeo tells Fr. Laurence, “I pray (you) consent to marry us today” (Ii iii 63-64). In this quote, Romeo illustrates an intense wish to be with

The death of Mercutio by Tybalt deeply affects Romeo, which is displayed when he avenges Mercutio by killing Tybalt. Romeo states, “Fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!“ (Iii 120). This quote can be seen as an impulsive action influenced by anger that leads to Romeo’s banishment from Verona, leaving Romeo upset with the thought of not being able to see Juliet again. When Juliet takes the sleeping potion, setting aside her doubts, it can be seen as reckless action. She fears that she will awaken from her sleep before Romeo arrives. However, Juliet decides to risk her life for Romeo, to avoid the Capulet’s arranged marriage with Paris. She states, “Romeo! Here’s to a drink. I drink to (you)” (Iv. iii. 58). A significant consequence of this decision was Romeo's suicide from misunderstanding. Without thinking, Romeo commits suicide due to the belief that the love of his life is no longer alive. This shows impulsiveness because he did not think anything through. He did not think of getting any clarification if any of the news he heard was true. Immediately, he got poison to kill himself. Before Romeo takes the poison, he tells Balthasar, “Take this