Romeo And Juliet Impulsive Decisions

By analyzing Romeo and Juliet’s rushed decision making throughout the works of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare argues that their unpremeditated decisions stem from their determination to be together, proving how desperation can be the fault of impulsive and reckless decisions and actions.
Shakespeare gives us a look at impulsivity when Romeo and Juliet first fall in love with one another. It has been only one day since their first meeting when Romeo approaches Friar Lawrence to ask for a favor. He states: “We met, we wooed and made exchange of vow, / I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray: / That thou consent to marry us today.” (2.3.62-64) In this scene, Romeo is seen begging Friar Lawrence to marry him with Juliet, telling him few details

Seeing how this decision only took a day, we can tell that it was rushed, meaning it was not well thought

Romeo and Juliet, being so desperate to be with each other, both threaten their own death if they are not to end up together. After her very first encounter with Romeo at the party, Juliet tells her Nurse: “If he be married, / My grave is like to be my wedding bed.” (1.5.133-134) Juliet reveals the depth of her love with Romeo by stating that if he ends up being married, she would rather die than marry anyone else. This demonstrates to the readers that because of Juliet’s desperation to be with Romeo, she has the mindset that Romeo will be the only one she’ll ever love. She refuses to think of any future with anyone else, exhibiting her willingness to be with Romeo and only Romeo. By metaphorically referring to her wedding bed as a grave, she also hints that she would kill herself in the case of Romeo being married, proving how her desperation to be with him drives her to think impulsive thoughts, such as suicide, if a relationship between them were not to happen. Another instance occurs similar to this one, when Romeo climbs to Juliet’s bedroom to talk to her and declare his love for her. Romeo confesses to Juliet: “My life were better ended by their hate / Then death proroguèd, wanting of thy love.” (2.2.77-78) Romeo declares that he’d much rather get killed by the Capulet family out of hate than never get to experience Juliet’s love at all. The dreamy tone