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Impulsiveness In Romeo And Juliet

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William Shakespeare's play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, truly fulfills its tragic title. A tragedy is a piece of literature that has a sad ending usually resulting in the death of a main character. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo Montague falls in love with Juliet Capulet. Romeo and Juliet marry in secret, while hatred runs between the Montagues and Capulets. Throughout the play, several characters are killed. In the conclusion, Romeo and Juliet both commit suicide. According to Merriam Webster’s Online Dictionary, hamartia is defined as a flaw in a character that brings about the downfall of the hero of a tragedy. Romeo possesses a fatal flaw of impulsiveness that ultimately leads to his downfall. Romeo’s tragic flaw of impulsiveness …show more content…

Yet, instantly after seeing Juliet, Romeo declares that he is in love with her. His quickness to fall in love upon sighting Juliet proves his impulsiveness. Another example of Romeo’s impulsiveness in love is when he visits Friar Laurence, his close religious advisor, to ask if he would marry him and Juliet. Friar Laurence agrees upon the marriage because it would bring peace between the Montagues and Capulets, however, he advises Romeo to not love Juliet too quickly. Romeo responds to Friar Laurence saying, “O, let us hence! I stand on sudden haste” (2.3.93). Through this, Romeo affirms his approval of their sudden marriage and his firm thoughts with it. Romeo wants to move forward in his relationship to Juliet, even though they met that same night. He acts impulsively through this based on his firmness with haste, and considering the time frame of which he knows Juliet. This quote proves his impulsiveness because of him declaring his affirmation with haste and insisting on moving forward with his and Juliet’s relationship. Another example of Romeo’s impulsiveness in love is when he commits suicide next to Juliet’s corpse, after finding out that she herself had died. Romeo’s …show more content…

After Romeo kills Tybalt, he goes to Friar Laurence’s cell to learn his punishment. Friar Laurence is his most trusted Holy advisor. Friar Laurence informs Romeo that he is exiled from Verona, the city in which they live. This devastates Romeo because Juliet lives in Verona, and he will not legally see her again. Holding a dagger to his chest, Romeo says, “O, tell me, friar, tell me, / In what vile part of this anatomy / Doth my name lodge? Tell me, that I may sack / The hateful mansion” (3.3.105-08). In this, Romeo offers to cut the part out of his body in which he lives, killing himself. Romeo is devastated to the point that he considers suicide, not realizing the positivity left in his life. Romeo is aware that according to the law, his action of killing Tybalt is punishable by death. Even though he knows this, Romeo believes that exile is far worse than death. Romeo’s impulsiveness is demonstrated through his quickness to offer to kill himself when he could have already received a death sentence. Another example of Romeo’s impulsiveness through his suicidal tendencies is when he first learns about Juliet’s death. His servant and friend, Balthasar, informs Romeo that Juliet is dead and she lies for the rest of eternity in Capulet’s monument. Immediately after Romeo learns this, he orders Balthasar to leave him alone, and Romeo plans his suicide. He says to

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