Violence Stems from Animosity Brutal violence and impulsivity are used in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare to demonstrate how violence can quickly arise from animosity and how the characters using violence should be held accountable for their actions, even if they were impulsive. Shakespeare’s famous work Romeo and Juliet contains brutal violence with the purpose of portraying how brutal violence stems from prejudice. Sampson, a Capulet servant, says, “'Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I / have fought with the men, I will be cruel with the / maids, and cut off their heads” (1.1.19-21). Sampson and Gregory use violence against Balthasar and Abraham, fighting in a quarrel that isn’t theirs, but their masters. The hatred …show more content…
Romeo professes his love for Juliet after knowing her for less than a day, “Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear / That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops--” (2.2.107-108). Romeo acts spontaneously, without considering the possible consequences of his actions, but instead acting on his emotional impulses. Romeo’s impulsive actions can not simply be ignored, he is responsible for his actions. Dr. David Fassler, a psychiatry professor at the University of Vermont College of Medicine with extensive knowledge on brain development, said that, “Research doesn’t absolve teens [From their actions] but offers some explanation for their behavior” (Ritter 1). The characters in Shakespeare’s famous work should not be vindicated of their crimes, but rather should be sentenced to punishment to help them understand how to make rational decisions and the consequences of not doing so. The characters should have to be faced with proper punishment so they can learn to become less likely to act on their volatile emotions. Even though their maturing juvenile brains are to blame for their impulsivity, they should not be exonerated of their crimes because of