Tragedy in Romeo And Juliet Essay

What comes to mind when you hear the names Romeo and Juliet? I think of love, hate, and most of all tragedy. It is a tragedy because their love led to their deaths and because Romeo and Juliet were responsible for their own destiny. From the start to the end of their love affair they knew they were going against their parents wishes. Romeo and Juliet also made selfish and immature decisions. And as we all know, it was Romeo and Juliet who chose to kill themselves. All of these things contributed to their premature deaths.

From their first meeting, Romeo (a Montague) and Juliet (a Capulet), knew that they were both from feuding families. Shortly after they first met Juliet said, My only love sprung from my only hate. [Act I sc.5 ll 145]. Juliet is saying that her love (Romeo) has come from her hate (the Montague family). Seeing as how she had just met Romeo it is very premature to call him her only love. Shortly after meeting Juliet and learning that she was a Capulet, Romeo said, My life is my foes debt [Act I sc5 ll125]. Despite knowing that they were from feuding families, Romeo and Juliet decided to pursue their love. They were conscious that they were going against their parents wished. The fact that they chose to keep their relationship a secret proves that. How did Romeo and Juliet expect to live happily ever after if their parents did not know about their relationship? Surely Romeo and Juliet knew their parents would find out eventually. Romeo and Juliet seemed to have paid no attention to their families. They ignored their families and did not think about the consequences of their relationship. This was just one of the selfish decisions Romeo and Juliet made.

Romeo and Juliets relationship was plagued with selfish, irrational decisions. They chose to get married without telling their parents or friends, the only people who knew were the nurse and the friar. Romeo and Juliet rushed into the marriage without really thinking about it. They were not ready for marriage. This is shown by another irrational decision; when Romeo killed Tybalt. This happened right after he had married Juliet. Romeo did not think of Juliet or what would happen if he killed Tybalt. After he was banished from Verona for killing Tybalt; Romeo said, Heaven is here, where Juliet lives [Act III sc3 ll 30-31]. He was starting to feel the consequences of his choice to go after Tybalt. Romeo thought about Juliet and how he could not live without her. However, he failed to think about how Juliet was feeling having just lost a husband and a cousin. When the nurse came and told Romeo that Juliet could not stop crying, Romeo offered to kill himself. This was irrational of him and a little selfish. Romeo felt bad so he wanted to kill himself without thinking of the people he would hurt if he did. It was also irrational of Romeo to think his life was over just because he got banished. Romeo said, There is no world without Verona wallsbanished is banished from the world, and worlds exile is death [Act III sc3 ll 18-20]. It was through an irrational act that Romeo got banished. Romeo thinking that is life was over because he got banished was immature. Juliet also acted immaturely when she learnt of Romeos banishment and her impending marriage to Paris. She went to the Friar for help saying, Come weep with me. Past hope, past cure, past help. [Act IV sc1 ll 46]. Juliet was in despair. She went along with the Friars plan without really thinking it through. The Friars plan was for Juliet to fake her death and then when she wakes up Romeo will be there to take her to Mantua so they can live together. Juliet agreed to this plan too quickly she did not think of the consequences. How would her family have felt when they thought she was dead? How would she and Romeo live? This was yet another selfish, irrational decision.

Romeo and Juliet made a huge decision when they chose to kill themselves. This decision was incredibly selfish of them. They both had families who loved them and would miss them if anything happened to them. Also neither Romeo nor Juliet would want the other to kill themselves if something happened to them. They both saw death as the solution to a problem, as a way out. After being told she was to marry Paris with Romeo having been banished, Juliet said, If all else fails, myself have power to die [Act III sc5 ll 254]. Juliet was saying that if she could not find a way to be with Romeo then she would kill herself. This is immature of Juliet. She had reason to live even if Romeo was banished. She told the Friar, With this knife Ill help it presently [Act IV sc1 ll 55]. Juliet was again talking about killing if she could not be with Romeo. By killing themselves, Romeo and Juliet ended their chances of future happiness. They did not know what the future held for themselves. Because of their decision to end their own lives, they had no future.

From the beginning to the end of their relationship, Romeo and Juliet made many selfish, irrational decisions. From deciding to go against their families, to choosing to kill themselves; Romeo and Juliet made fateful decisions. They were responsible for their own destiny. The story of Romeo and Juliet is one of great tragedy, but a tragedy that Romeo and Juliet created themselves.