The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet A simple decision can prove more fatal than death. In the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, characters have evidently not solved their conflicts very wisely because their decisions are based on their impassivity. One of the main characters in particular, Romeo Montague, seems to rely on his impulsiveness to resolve his conflicts. Throughout the play, Romeo makes very hasty decisions, which result in unnecessary negative consequences. Three conflicts that Romeo solves recklessly are: his struggle with love; the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues; and the forcefulness of love.
To start, Romeo’s struggle with love is introduced. The first conflict introduced in the play is Romeo’s impulsive behavior towards his inner struggle with love. In the beginning, Romeo’s obsession over a woman named Rosaline displays his ‘hopeless romantic’ persona. It also initiates his inner conflicts with women and falling in love. However, when sneaking into the Capulet’s ball and laying eyes on Juliet for the first time, his impulsive attitude is viewed when he states, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night. (I. v. 59-60). This reflects that Romeo does not solve his conflicts wisely when he immediately decides that he has fallen in love all over again with someone he has not even exchanged names with yet. In turn, Romeo does not solve his conflicts properly because he allows love to control his actions, proving that he acts out impulsively. Romeo’s impetuous actions towards falling in love with Juliet result in him marrying her within the day, despite the consent of others such as her parents. Likewise, the rivalry is another key conflict.
Romeo’s impulsive behavior influences him to make unwise decisions such as Tybalt’s death, a result of the rivalry between the Capulets and Montagues. Even though Romeo is extremely non-violent, the same cannot describe the other males of both families. When Tybalt Capulet kills one of Romeo’s best friends Mercutio, he acts out of anger when yelling, “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. ” (III. i. 31-34). Overcome with loathing and anger when he saw Tybalt stabbing Mercutio, Romeo proceeds to tabbing Tybalt to avenge his good friend. Because Romeo let his angry and impulsive emotions overcome his logic and peacefulness, he is the cause of his own wife’s cousin’s death resulting in his banishment from Verona. Yet again it is shown that Romeo solves his conflicts recklessly because he allowed his hatred for the Capulets to get the better of his judgment. Finally, Romeo’s last conflict involves the forces of love. The final conflict that influences Romeo’s impulsive and foolish actions is the forcefulness of love when he kills himself for Juliet.
The night before Juliet’s wedding to Paris, Friar Lawrence tells her to drink a potion that will make her appear dead and once she is put in the tomb, Romeo will come to save her. However, there is a big setback when the wedding is moved to the day before and word gets to Romeo that his sweet Juliet is dead. Upon hearing this, Romeo decides he cannot live without her and visits an apothecary where he impulsively purchases a fatal poison. He proceeds to her tomb where he mourns, “O, here/ Will I set up my everlasting rest. ” (II. iii. 109-110).
He takes one last look at Juliet and drinks the poison which quickly kills him. Soon after, Juliet wakes and finds her husband dead. Love compels Romeo to take his own life so he does not have to spend the rest of his without Juliet. Although this may seem sweet and romantic, it is another significant example of how Romeo recklessly solves conflicts. After all, his impulsive behavior proves extremely unwise because his suicide led to his sweet Juliet’s suicide as well. To conclude, characters in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet clearly do not solve their conflicts wisely.
This is proven immensely through Romeo Montague’s impulsive character. Romeo’s inner struggle with love mixed with his impulsive attitude causes him to fall in love way too fast. The rivalry between the Montagues and the Capulets sparks Romeo’s hatred along with his impulsive attitude which results in murder where he is the blame. The forces of love compel Romeo to impulsively kill himself when he sees Juliet lying in her grave. One thing is for certain, when romance falls inconveniently between two young lovers, the outcome is seldom a happy ending for all parties involved.
