Romeo and Juliet Essay

Submitted By alicetruscott
Words: 541
Pages: 3

Romeo and Juliet:
William Shakespeare’s tragic love story Romeo and Juliet is often said to encapsulate an idea of romantic love. It is displayed throughout the play that Romeo and Juliet have an obsessive infatuation with each other, which leads to them making selfish and hasty decisions, despite the repercussions for them and their families. These destructive forces in their love is what led to the “star crossed lovers” untimely demise.
The two lovers often confused love with obsession, therefore they quickly develop an obsessive infatuation with each other. Their love was an overpowering and fierce force that superseded all other emotions, social values and family loyalties. “Deny thy father and refuse thy name” Juliet asks “Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn by my love and I’ll no longer be a Capulet” (Act II Scene II 34-35) in doing this Juliet is putting her obsession with Romeo whom she had met just hours prior, above her family honour
Romeo and Juliet throughout the play constantly acted rashly and this behaviour ultimately led to their demise. The first time we see the two lovers acting rashly is the immediate declaration of their love for each other and immediacy of their marriage. This shows extreme impetuous nature. Romeo makes the extremely rash decision to purchase poison when he learns of Juliet’s death, before thinking or even following up on the news to ensure it is true. Juliet makes the extreme rash decision when she learns of her impending marriage to Paris, she immediately acts against it. She doesn’t even know Paris but without but she doesn’t even attempt to get to know him nor give him the chance to prove himself to her, she just immediately rejects the idea of marrying him. Romeo and Juliet’s rashness is a destructive force in their love as it lead them to stupid things and eventually lead them to take their own lives, they made these decisions without thinking about how their decisions will affect their families; they simply just act.