Romeo And Juliet Decisions Essay

The tragedy Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare tells a story of Romeo and Juliet’s love. They are both children of the enemy families in Verona during the 1300s, the families are the Capulets and Montagues. The two lovers go through many obstacles throughout the play. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses a tragic pattern of risk and quick decisions it is shown through actions and decisions.Specifically, Friar, Juliet, and Romeo make quick decisions that put both themselves and others at risk. Throughout the play Romeo takes many risks with his choices. His risky choices begin with Juliet. “If any of my kinsmen find thee here.../If they do see thee, they will murder thee” (2.2.70-75). Romeo is risking getting Juliet in trouble and

Romeo then continues this pattern with the next step of his love with marrying Juliet. Romeo tells Friar Lawrence, “I have been feasting with mine enemy” (2.3.53). By this Romeo is risking telling Friar and is quick to love and marry Juliet. This puts the strength of their love at risk as they just met. As the play progresses Romeo becomes more willing to take risks. For example he gets between Tybalt and Mercutio which leads to the death of Tybalt, Mercutio, and his banishment. As one thing leads to another, it becomes too hard when Romeo finds that the love of his life is dead he is quick to choose death. At this point for Romeo it is the final stage of the tragic pattern. When Balthasar informs Romeo of Juliet’s death he says, “Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight” (5.1.37). Romeo’s immediate reaction is to go to Juliet in the tomb and “lie with thee” meaning kill himself so they can be together again. By jumping to the extreme decision of killing himself he puts his life in danger without checking with Friar who was supposed to be sending him news of Juliet and Verona. On his way to Verona he goes to an apothecary, he says, “Let me have/A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear/As will disperse

The first time the pattern is shown in context with Friar is when Romeo tells him of Juliet. Friar disregards the warnings that surround the confession such as the fact that it is a secret love. He says, “For this alliance may so happy prove / To turn your households’ rancor to pure love” (2.3.98-99). Although he is doing this with the thought of helping he doesn’t think to check with either families. By marrying them he risks being punished and potentially killed. This is the first time Romeo has brought up Juliet to him and he is quick to make a decision. Friar officially puts himself in grave danger when he marries the two lovers, up until then he had been all talk. If the families were to find out their reaction choses his life path. To Romeo and Juliet he said, “you shall not stay alone/Till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (2.6.36-37) directly before he marries them. Again Friar puts himself at risk for Romeo and Juliet. For Romeo he helps him see Juliet after his banishment and is devising a plan for the two to be together. He says, “Go hence, good night—and here stands all your/state:/Either be gone before the watch be set/Or by the break of day” (3.3.176-179). He tells Romeo to go see Juliet then leave to Mantua. This puts both himself and Romeo at stake because Romeo is supposed to be banished and if he is found in Verona he will be killed, also everything could lead