Ignorance In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Nowadays, teenagers are blissfully ignorant of the real world. Now imagine what would happen if the modern day teen was considered an adult. This is exactly what is going on in Romeo and Juliet. In the City of Verona reside two feuding families: the Montagues and the Capulets. Romeo, a Capulet crashes a Montague part and falls in love with Montague’s daughter Juliet. Their feelings are mutual, and their love unleashes a volley of comic yet tragic events aided by the sheer foolishness of some of the main characters. Young people in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet are foolish

Tybalt is a foolish person, who allows his anger to get the better of him. This, by his voice, should be a Montague.— Fetch me my rapier, boy. (1.5.61-67). Benvolio

Romeo can hear footsteps coming. Seeing that he is a wanted man, the logical thing to do would be to run and hide. Instead, Romeo refuses, complaining about his banishment. With his banishment, there is a chance he will see Juliet again, but if he is caught, he will hang for his crimes and have no hope of seeing his true love ever again. O my love, my wife, Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, hath had no power yet upon thy beauty. Thou art not conquered. Beauty’s sign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death’s pale flag is not advanced there (5.3.96-97). Romeo notices that Juliet does not look like she is dead but still goes ahead and kills himself. He was so hopelessly in love with Juliet, but he could not take 5 seconds to check to see if she was breathing. There are many ways Romeo could have handled each situation differently, producing a better outcome for all but instead he chooses the fool's’

At this same ancient feast of Capulet’s Sups the fair Rosaline whom thou so lov’st; with all the admired beauties of Verona. Go thither, and with unattainted eye compare her face with some that I shall show, And I will make thee think thy swan a crow (1.2.86-91). Benvolio knows about the ongoing rivalry between the Montagues and the Capulets but still advises Romeo to crash the Capulet’s party. Without this advice, Romeo and Juliet would have never had met, and no one would have had to die. This is the truth, or let Benvolio die (3.1.180). Benvolio, instead of telling a lie or skewing the truth, narrates the story precisely as it happens, knowing that Romeo will be punished. This action by Benvolio leaves Romeo no options and no way to defend or plead his case to the prince. By taking full responsibility for his statement, he is making a foolish decision. With both the Capulets and the prince mad, taking full responsibility, being the only witness, could be a perilous ordeal. Additionally, his connections with Romeo make his story by default suspicious. This could lead to the prince following up on Benvolio's statement and sentencing him to death. Benvolio at times seemed wise and kept a calm head, but in the end, he was foolish like the