Impulsive Decisions In Romeo And Juliet

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The play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare is the story of a girl named Juliet Capulet and a boy named Romeo Montague who fall in love against the wishes of their families. The Capulets and the Montagues have been fighting for years and even the Prince must get involved to try and stop them. Romeo and Juliet are married by Friar Laurence and hide their love from their families in fear of disapproval. All is well until Mercutio, a good friend of Romeo’s, is killed by Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin. In return, Romeo kills Tybalt and Romeo is banished from Verona, which later leads to the deaths of he and Juliet. The fight scene between Mercutio, Romeo, and Tybalt changes the focus of the play from love to death. Shakespeare uses a dramatic reversal to portray his message that impulsive decisions lead to consequential outcomes which is portrayed through the fight scene. Shakespeare’s message appears when Mercutio gets involved in the fight even though he is advised by Benvolio not to. Mercutio says to Tybalt, “‘Good King of Cats, nothing but one of your nine lives that I mean to make bold withal, and as you shall use …show more content…

Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-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 heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.” (Shakespeare 3.1.127-130)
Romeo is saying that he is done being considerate and merciful and he is ready to fight. Shakespeare includes this to show that at first Romeo was ignoring Tybalt’s threats, but as soon as his friend, Mercutio is killed, he becomes infuriated and makes an ill considered, immature decision to kill Tybalt. Shapiro confirms this when he says, “But shortly thereafter, Romeo’s love is transformed into its opposite by Tybalt’s murder of Mercutio--a deathblow delivered under Romeo’s peacemaking arm” (Shapiro

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