Failure of Good Intentions to Produce Good Consequences in Romeo and Juliet

First, Romeo’s kind and calm personalities act as an advantage for many of the possible problems he could have had, such as Capulet hatred towards him and his increase in violence. After Romeo was depressed because he liked Rosaline and she didn’t like him back, his cousin Benvolio helped Romeo sneak into a Capulet party so he could get over Rosaline and pick another woman that he might want. As Romeo was describing how Juliet looked to his cousin, Tybalt, Capulet’s nephew, figured out that Romeo was at the party by his voice. He then confronted Capulet and asked him if he could kill him, but surprisingly Capulet lets him stay at the party and calls Romeo a gentleman and a good man (Shakespeare Act 1 Scene 1 Line 64). Capulet could have captured him or even killed him, but he did not. Capulet stated that Romeo is a well-governed youth and that Romeo is a good man, which shows that Romeo isn’t a person who would cause a commotion and that he causes no threat to the Capulet family. Later on, as Mercutio, the prince's kinsman, is arguing and fighting with Tybalt about him being one of his villain Romeo’s friends, Romeo comes in and says, “Tybalt, the reason I have to love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage to such greeting. Villain am I none.Therefore farewell. I see thou knowest me not” (Shakespeare Act 3 Scene 1 Line 58). As Tybalt wants to fight Romeo and bring in violence,

Moments before, Romeo thinks that he could never harm Tybalt, as he has married Juliet, Tybalt now his kin. Romeo states that he “love[s] [Tybalt] better than [Tybalt] canst devise” (3.1.70). But by the death of his dear friend, instead of his love for Tybalt, his heart now despises him. His anger is shown when “for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above [their] heads,” as his hate is born towards Tybalt, whom he had just moments before loved, stating that “[his] name [he] tender as dearly” as his own (3.1.72-73,131-132). His hate turns murderous as he tells Tybalt that Mercutio is “staying for thine to keep him company” (3.1.133). As Romeo states that “thou or I, or both, must go with him” (3.1.134), the duel breaks out, leaving Tybalt slain, his kinsmen now his foe. The hate and revenge that Romeo felt caused love to turn to zeal for Tybalt's blood. His belief that he must not hurt his kinsmen but love him, the reminder that fights were not allowed by the prince, ended with the spilled blood of Mercutio. The death of his friend turned love to hate, the hate that killed

Romeo wants revenge and fights with Tybalt. In this fight, Romeo kills Tybalt. When Romeo realizes the consequences of his actions, he says that he is “Fortune’s fool” (3.1.142). He believes that he has no control over the killings of Mercutio and Tybalt. However, these events are caused by his own rashness. Romeo chooses to fight with Tybalt and even starts the fight. Romeo fights to avenge his friend’s death. Romeo’s actions are rash because he does not consider the results of his actions. Romeo could resolve the conflict in some nonviolent way, but his mind is fixed on killing Tybalt. Romeo is exiled from Verona because he kills Tybalt. His rashness causes problems for his own family as well as for the Capulets and for the Prince. Romeo’s rashness in killing Tybalt leads to his killing himself.

Additionally, after Romeo’s marriage with Juliet he gets in the middle of a fight. If Romeo did not engage in the brawl between Mercutio his best friend and Tybalt his opposing rival, they would still have a fair chance at survival. Mercutio engages in a fight with Tybalt on Romeo’s behalf because Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt, since Tybalt is now Romeo’s cousin-in-law. In addition, Romeo attempts to break up the progressive fight, but his actions are futile. Furthermore, Romeo getting among Mercutio and Tybalt does more harm than good because Mercutio dies. The only explanation of how Mercutio dies is that Tybalt is able to pierce Mercutio’s chest under Romeo’s arm. Romeo blocks Mercutio’s view, leaving him defenseless and feeble.

Fate used Romeos fatal flaw of impetuousness in act 1 scene 4, Romeo reads out a guest list for a

Romeo’s hate towards Tybalt for killing Mercutio leads him to make irrational decisions. He is so blinded by hate, that he kills Tybalt. Up until Mercutio’s murder, Romeo loves Tybalt for his relation to Juliet. This can be seen when Romeo says “ but love thee better than thou canst devise till thou shalt know the reason of my love;”(3.1.65-66). The murder of Tybalt prompts Prince Escalus to sentence Romeo with banishment to Mantua where he learns of the so-called “death” of his Juliet. This news urges Romeo to visit the nearest chemist to ask for a vial of poison that will “disperse itself through all the veins”(5.1.65). The hasty decision to use this poison as a means of death stems from the unknown hate between the two families as well as the death of Mercutio and Juliet. Juliet had no other option than to turn to the sleeping poison, for fear that if she didn’t take the potion, she would have to marry Count Paris. Lord Capulet threatened to disown Juliet if she refused to marry Count Paris, as her parents had wished. Romeo and Juliet’s hate for the feud between their families is what prompts them to end their

Tybalt is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because he doesn't like Romeo and is always trying to start a fight with him. Tybalt states “ Romeo, the love i bear thee can afford no better term than this: thou art a villian.... Boy this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done to me; therefore turn and draw “ ( 145 ). In act 3 when Tybalt is trying to pick a fight again Romeo responds with patience and love but when Mercutio steps in everything starts heading downhill. Romeo tries to stop the fight which consequently leads to Mercutio's death. Romeo, full of rage kills Tybalt in return and this is what leads to his banishment. As a result of Tybalt's foolishness he is dead and Romeo has to now suffer the banishment. The banishment is the final straw for Romeo so when he hears Juliet is dead he already isn't thinking straight and doesn't have Friar to turn to this

They have made worms meat of me,” (3.1, 68-69). This quote exemplifies that although Mercutio is neither a Montague nor a Capulet he still dies in a battle fought between the families. This incident heightens Romeo’s fatal flaw, as his reckless act of heroism turned out to be a burden as it caused the death of Mercutio. Moreover, Mercutio’s plague towards the families also foreshadows further tragedy, as Romeo then gets banished from the Verona, along with additional events which later on result to his death. Last, even after his death, Mercutio acts as a foil character to Romeo by causing a shift in Romeo’s gentle character. For example, after Tybalt slays Mercutio, Romeo avenges his friend by killing Tybalt. This act shows his alteration in character, as he was never seen as a ferocious character in any previous scenes. This is evident in the play when Romeo says, “Away to Heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now,” (3.1, 125-126). This quote exemplifies Romeo’s new perception, as he claims he is finished with sympathy and gentleness. This change in Romeo’s personality is significant because not only is he going to attack Tybalt, but also he is going to kill him, which then entitles him a murderer. This is significant because it further leads to his banishment, which in all leads to his death. The transition in the persona of Romeo is highlighted by the character Mercutio, which leads to the

Secondly Tybalt sends a decree for a fight and he kills Mercutio. This is shown by “I will not budge for no man’s pleasure, I”. This reveals that Mercutio wants to have a fight with Tybalt. Tybalt wants to have a fight with Romeo the most but Mercutio gets in the way. Mercutio feels that he must stand by the Montague’s. He feels he needs to be a true Montague and fight. Romeo retaliates and kills Tybalt in anger and revenge for his friend. This is apparent in the line “Either thou or I, or both, must go with him. This conveys that Romeo felt he had to get revenge for Mercutio but he really didn’t mean to kill Tybalt and couldn’t believe that he’d actually done it.

Once in a while many people make bad decisions. Usually these decisions don’t cause them any harm in their futures, unlike Romeo Montague’s and Juliet Capulet’s decisions. In Verona, a city in Italy, two lovers fall in love. The catch is their families despise each other. Eventually Romeo get’s banished from Verona, and Juliet is forced to marry someone she doesn’t want to marry. Juliet takes a potion that knocks her out for 42 hours, and feigns her death, hoping she does not have to marry Count Paris. Romeo assumes Juliet is dead, and drinks a potion that kills him, and when Juliet wakes up and realizes that Romeo is dead, she stabs herself. In William Shakespeare’s tragic play, Romeo and Juliet, the main protagonists, Romeo and Juliet,

Romeo and Tybalt fight each other and they exchange a conversation in which they say,” Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again that late thou gavest me; for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company: either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, shalt with him hence. This shall determine that. [They fight; Tybalt falls]” (Shakespeare, III.i.46). When Mercutio was slain by Tybalt, Romeo chose to stay and try to get revenge for Mercutio’s death. At the time, Romeo was already Tybalt’s kinsman because he and Juliet were already married, and Romeo could have left the scene and let the law do it’s job with Tybalt. However, Romeo was only infatuated with Juliet, and as a result, only realized the impact of his actions after he had killed Tybalt. In addition, Juliet decides to follow Friar Laurence’s plan, in which he tells her to “for no pulse shall keep his native progress, but surcease: no warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest; … Shall Romeo by my letters know our drift; and hither shall he come” and he and I will watch thy waking, and that very night shall Romeo bear thee hence to Mantua” (Shakespeare, IV.ii.70). Friar Laurence instructs Juliet to take this vial that will fake her death, while he sends a letter to Romeo telling him of this,

Romeo is very impulsive, which is shown as he kills Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, after Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. When Tybalt returns after killing Mercutio, Romeo says, “Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him”, inviting him to a duel that ends in Tybalt's death (III.I. 124). If only Romeo would have let the law take care of Tybalt, that would have prevented him from being banished and he would

In contrast, Mercutio attempts to stop Tybalt’s thirst for vengeance when he tries to duel Romeo but ultimately gets killed in the process of trying to save his good friend from being killed by Tybalt which causes Romeo to take vengeance upon Tybalt by killing him.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is one of the highest commended love stories of all time. Many can take away life lessons and morals about how one should not allow their fatal flaws shine through to cause grief and destruction to those around them. One of the two main characters, Romeo, has the tragic flaw of impulsivity; and because of this, is predestined to cause woe in the hearts of those whom he loves the most. The author, William Shakespeare, uses syntax and diction to create a melancholic tone, which conveys that, while one may try, they cannot escape their tragic flaw that will ultimately cause their demise.

As a friend of Romeo’s, Mercutio supports the Montague’s in the ancient feud. An example of Mercutio defending the Montague’s is when Tybalt, a member of the loathed Capulet family, abuses Romeo and Mercutio intervenes on Romeo’s behalf. Attempting to restore peace, Romeo gets between the two combatants and Mercutio “hath got his mortal hurt” (Page 149; Act 3, Scene 1) on Romeo’s account. In spite of his “life shall pay the forfeit of peace” (page 17; Act 1, Scene 1), Romeo seeks revenge on Tybalt as he loves his murdered friend. As Romeo kills Tybalt out of love for Mercutio, Shakespeare suggests that love conquered the thought of being penalized with death.