Consequences of Chocies

In life, there are many times when people are forced to make tough decisions. These decisions are not always easy to make, and it is possible to say, that life is all about choices. With every decision made, comes a consequence. Consequences are not always a negative or a positive. But, greater choices lead to greater consequences. Once the choice is made, it cannot be altered. There are many reasons why people make decisions. They can act in a matter of love, or their hatred for someone can drive them to act in a way they never would have before. People also do not realize the consequences their choices can lead to. In Romeo & Juliet, and its modern counterpart West Side Story, the choices the characters made, lead to their pain and suffering. Many of the choices that lead to negative consequences were because of characters in both Romeo & Juliet, and West Side Story acting out of love. Their love for someone made them act out in a way that kept their life at risk. Love can force someone to do things they would never even think of to do. In West Side Story, when Tony hears that Maria was murdered by Chino, he runs out in the open, calling out his name and asking Chino to kill him too. Tony knows that Chino can come out with a gun and kill him. But, because of his love for Maria, he risks his life to see if this news was true. His choice risked his life, and in the end, he was shot by Chino. In Romeo & Juliet, when Romeo hears of Juliet’s death, he rides back to Verona to see it for himself. In the Capulet’s grave, he sees Juliet “dead”. He does not have anything to live for because of his love’s death. Due to this, he drinks poison and kills himself. “Here’s to my love. [Drinking] O true apothecary, / Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (Shakespeare V, 3, 119-120). Because of Juliet’s death, Romeo believes that there is no reason to live anymore. His love for Juliet forced him to drink the poison. It was a choice that he made, but an event that could have made both, Romeo and Juliet alive. The act of love is not the only emotion that can cause someone to make a wrong choice. The emotion of hatred can also cause someone to react in a way they would never do. Hatred can also make someone act in a way they never would. The hatred for someone or a group of people can lead someone to act out, without thinking. Their choice will lead to a great consequence. A grudge can also lead to a bad decision. With a bad decision, comes a major consequence. In Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare writes about when Tybalt demands to fight Romeo, even when the Prince warned both houses, if anyone causes a commotion, they will be executed. Tybalt’s hatred for Romeo and the Montague’s for their appearance at the Capulet’s dance caused him to require a fight. “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries/ That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw” (Shakespeare III, 1, 67-68). Emotions can make someone act in ways that are absurd. The emotion basically takes over them, and makes them make terrible choices without even thinking about it. Generally, people make decisions based what seems the most reasonable or most ethical. A bad choice comes with a negative consequence. If that choice seems reasonable, he/she will pursue that choice, without going over the consequence that is unavoidable after making the decision. People don’t think about the consequence their choices will create. In Romeo & Juliet, Shakespeare writes about when Tybalt kills Mercutio with his sword. When Romeo finds out that Mercutio was murdered by a Capulet, it greatly angers him and he runs to where Tybalt and the Capulets are. Romeo draws his sword and demands a sword fight with Tybalt to avenge his cousin’s death. “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain!/ 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 III, 1, 127- 134). Romeo definitely did not think this over, and he did not think about the outcome of his decision. Because of his decision to fight Tybalt, he ended up murdering Tybalt and getting banished from Verona. Ultimately, all bad decisions come from people not thinking the decision through. Because of not thinking decisions through, the main characters of Romeo & Juliet, and West Side Story suffered. The character’s choices led to negative consequences and to their deaths. Emotions of the characters forced them to act in a wrong way and not realizing the consequence of their actions brought them to their deaths. Life is definitely made of the choices people make in their lives.