Essay Sample on Romeo and Juliet Relationship Analysis

Romeo and Juliet’s Relationship has many highs and lows, but it was the secretive, impulsive, and overpowering lifestyle behind these ups and downs that caused the ultimate failure of their bond. 

Throughout the novel, we see a multitude of high and low points in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship that all play a part in the ultimate failure of their bond, but it was the choice to lead an impulsive, secretive, and overpowering lifestyle that caused these high and low points.

There were specific high and low points that stemmed from the lifestyle that they collectively chose. The first quality that caused a huge portion of problems, but also a few joyous things in this story, was their impulsiveness. This trait alone led to the low points of the story where Romeo was banished from Verona, Juliet recklessly threatened to end her life if the Friar didn’t help her be with Romeo, and when the “star-crossed lovers” actually lay in the tomb together. But amidst this tragedy, there was a sprinkle of delight. Their impulsiveness also led to their meeting and Marriage. Which is always a happy thing in general terms. It was at this point in the story where we were shown the extensive and reckless lengths these two will go to in order to be in love. As Romeo put it so quickly. "but this I pray, that thou consent to marry us today.” (II.III.67-68). These reckless actions may have seemed like an okay idea to them at the time but the inability for both of them to think things through was a disaster waiting to happen. And needless to say, disaster did indeed happen. 

The second quality that was a contributing factor to the successes and failures of their relationship was their secretive way of going about things. This attribute was, in a sense, necessary to the survival of their relationship, since the two houses they belonged to absolutely hated each other, they had to keep their forbidden love in the dark. This deceptiveness made it so that their own parents didn’t know about this love affair. Specifically, Juliet’s parents. Since they were unaware of their daughter’s love for Romeo, they went through with the plan of setting up a marriage for her and Paris. Had Juliet have told them about her affection for another man, maybe, just maybe, even though the Capulets were supposed to hate the Montagues, they would have made an exception for their one and only daughter. If they loved her like that. But Romeo and Juliet decided to keep their love a secret. We see a good representation of this in act two, scene two when Romeo and Juliet were on the balcony together. From the get-go, they were secretive and this quote from Juliet states that very plainly. “And the place death, considering who thou art, if any of my kinsmen find thee here.” (II.II.69-70) This means that if any of her servants were to find Romeo with her, they would kill him. The secrets they kept led to Juliet’s unaware parents setting up the marriage of Paris and her right away. That led to the whole plan to escape together. The inability to carry out this plan because of matters outside of their control led to the ultimate low point: Romeo and Juliet’s death.

Their overpowering love for one another was the third and final quality that caused some highs and lows in their relationship. Since they were so infatuated with each other since the moment they locked eyes, they couldn’t feel anything else besides love. They threw aside all other loyalties, values, and emotions because they were too focused on each other. This looming obsession led to the high point of getting married, but also to the low point of them dying for their lover in an overly-dramatic way. We see an example of this when Juliet asked Romeo to deny his family for her affection. She says: “Deny thy father and refuse thy name, Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” (II.II. 36-38) They put aside even their own family to be with the person they love. Juliet when she disobeyed her parent’s command to marry Paris. And Romeo when he disregarded his Montague rule of not dating a Capulet.  

Based on the logic behind these 3 characteristics and the outcomes of their combined efforts, we can conclude that some critiques of the relationship between Romeo and Juliet include, but are not limited to: They need to slow down and think things through and consider their outcomes. They need to consider being open with substantial people in their life. Specifically, their parents. They need to look inward and question whether or not they are in love or if they are in love with the idea of love. They need to take a step back and question where their loyalties should be. Family? Lover? Friends? Faith? People need a balanced lifestyle and they offset the scale by a considerable amount. Finally, these two need to set their priorities straight and focus on important things such as staying alive.