Romeo and Juliet Impulsive Behavior Essay Example

Everyone is impulsive at least at one point in their lives, especially in literature pieces like The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Both Romeo and Juliet were "star-crossed lovers" from rich families but were flawed characters whose impulsive behaviors led to their deaths. They both had a "love at first sight" relationship, forgetting about their other lovers when they saw each other. Romeo quickly changed his undying and passionate love for Rosaline, entered the Capulet party without thinking about it, killed Tybalt without giving a thought about the repercussions, and went wild enough to kill himself when he learned about the death of his beloved Juliet. On the other hand, Juliet demonstrated impulsivity when she quickly fell in love with Romeo, kissed him without knowing who he was, and ended her life when she learned about the death of her sweet husband. The impulsiveness of these two characters led to deadly and fateful consequences. 

Through the actions he took in this play, there is no doubt that Romeo Montague displayed the most impulsivity. He fell in love with Juliet at first sight, quickly changed his undying loyalty to her, murdered Tybalt without thinking about punishment, and committed suicide when he learned about his wife's "death". When he communicated with Friar Lawrence, a kind-hearted friar, Romeo explained his love for Juliet when he said that the friar should "know [his] heart's dear love is set of the fear daughter of rich Capulet; As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine, and all combined, save what thou must combine by holy marriage" (2.3.57-61). Romeo believes that the Friar should marry the pair of them as he thinks that they both love each other, although they only knew each other for a few hours. After Romeo left, the Friar delivers an ominous message to the audience that "wisely and slow, they stumble that run fast" (2.3.94). In other words, he is telling Romeo to go wisely and slowly, as those who rush stumble and fall -- which is what happens to the couple at the end of the play. Romeo's quick and reckless decisions led to his death, his wife's death, and the city in mourning. 

While Juliet at no point had as much impulsivity as Romeo, she still demonstrated impulsiveness and sometimes made quick, reckless decisions. While she was more rational and made more logical decisions than her husband, like her early resistance and suspicions of the marriage, she still switched between the two personalities of rationalism and impulsiveness. Juliet quickly married Romeo without giving it any thought, kissed him without knowing who he was, and killed herself when she saw her husband's dead body. One of her key examples of impulsivity is when she agreed to Friar Lawrence's plan. Juliet asked him to "Give me, give me [the potion]! O, tell me not of fear" (4,1,121). Due to her desperation, she did not appear to care about the risk involved in the Friar's plan. Instead, the only thing that mattered to her was being with Romeo. She was desperate to the point that she was willing to die for love. Juliet also arranged the marriage too soon, only twelve hours after they first met each other. The nurse asked her whether she had permission to go to "confession," which was marriage, and Juliet responded, "I have" (2.5.66). Juliet's decision to marry Romeo after only knowing him for less than a day was both risky and reckless. Her father, Lord Capulet, was already negotiating a marriage with Count Paris, and by avoiding her father's plan, she could risk disownment. In the end, Juliet's impulsiveness led to Romeo's death and her city in mourning. 

In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, simple and reckless decisions led to death and despair. Romeo and Juliet's choice of marrying each other at such an early point in their relationship and their desperateness to stay together had a stunning impact on Verona. Romeo and Juliet taught everybody an important lesson: never embrace impulsiveness; Impulsiveness has consequences.