Impulsive Decisions In Romeo And Juliet

Professional American football player Lou Holtz once said, “Life is ten percent what happens to you and ninety percent how you respond to it.” In other words, it is necessary to respond in the best way possible. In the play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo was doing things that the average person wouldn’t have done if they chose to think things out before they do them. All of his actions lead to him ultimately being the reason for Juliet dying and for himself taking his own life. In this case, this shows that everything should be thought out before happening. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo is responsible for Juliet and his death because of his impulsiveness, aggressive course of action, and compelling love for Juliet. My first reason is Romeo´s impulsive feelings

To enter in the thoughts of desperate men! I do remember an apothecary…

If a man did need a poison now

Whose sale is present death in mantua,

Here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it to him.

O, this same thought did but forerun my need (Shakespeare 5.1.34-53).

This evidence ties into the fact that Romeo makes impulsive decisions because it shows that just someone telling him that Juliet is dead made him decide to kill himself. He also refers to himself as a desperate man who needs the poison, which shows that he is not thinking of what could happen. Instead, he is thinking of what he has to do to get the poison, which isn’t the most thought-out action. Ultimately, these impulsive reasons lead to his death and the decease of Juliet. My second reason is his aggressive course of action which caused the death of Tybalt and his banishment. After Tybalt had slain Mercutio moments prior, Romeo then furiously said,

Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain?

Away to heaven respective lenity,

And fore-eyed fury be my conduct now!

Now, Tybalt, take the “Villain” back again

That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul

Is but a little way above our