Examples Of Bad Decisions In Romeo And Juliet

Callie Butash and Grace Nealon Ms. Kallman EIH7
Romeo and Juliet Thematic Essay 4/26/23

Teenage love is a delicate, pure, and rash thing. Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet are two lovebirds who, once they met, became immensely infatuated with each other. Throughout the play, impulsive decisions were made by Romeo and Juliet based on their affection for each other. Various characters did not talk about events that truly happened or feelings that were truly there. The immaturity and miscommunication of the lovers and other people in their lives led to unfortunate events throughout the tragedy. Firstly, Romeo and Juliet’s young love reflects their rashness and lack of maturity. This led to their abrupt decisions to ultimately kill

One example of this is when Romeo avoided fighting Tybalt. Tybalt was angry with Romeo and threatened him with a duel. “Tybalt, the reason that I have to love thee / Doth much excuse the appertaining rage / To such a greeting” (III.i.56-59). Romeo claiming that he loves Tybalt has no meaning, because he doesn’t explain his marriage to Juliet and simply refuses to fight. Tybalt is confused and just thinks Romeo is a coward. This leads to both Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths, as well as Romeo’s banishment. Soon after the fights, there is temporary miscommunication between the Nurse and Juliet. “Alack the day! He’s gone, he’s killed, he’s dead!” (III.ii.38). The Nurse arrives back and tells Juliet someone is dead—what she doesn’t say is who. For a minute, Juliet thought Romeo died and was devastated, but soon learned that Tybalt had died and Romeo was exiled. The miscommunication made Juliet even more upset, because not seeing Romeo was worse than him dying. Capulet and Lady Capulet’s miscomprehension of Juliet’s sorrow prompted them to move the wedding date closer, once again creating a domino effect of ill-fated events. One of the latest examples of miscommunication in the tragedy is when Friar Lawrence is trying to share his plan with Romeo. He sent a Friar to deliver an explanation letter to Romeo, but the Friar was never able to enter Mantua due to fear of disease. “Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo? / I could not send it—here it is again— / Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, / So fearful were they of infection” (V.ii.13-16). Romeo did not know Juliet was alive, and that caused him to go see her “dead” body in the tomb. Consequently, Paris, Romeo, and Juliet all died in one night, leaving their families in shock and grief as they found out the truth. The only positive outcome of their miscommunication was the Capulet and Montague families making