Preview

Tragic Flaws

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
449 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Tragic Flaws
Inconsiderate Impulsiveness
One of the most well-known proverbs is curiosity kills the cat; however, a more relative saying concerning the tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, is impulsiveness kills the protagonists, Romeo and Juliet . The main characters of Shakespeare’s tragedy are constantly swayed on emotional feelings which are their personal tragic flaw. Juliet, Romeo, and Lord Capulet make hasty actions that result in the upcoming tragedy of the play.
To begin with, there is no doubt that Juliet portrays strong characteristics of impulsiveness. Juliet finds herself deeply love-struck by Romeo after only meeting him a few hours ago, “If that thy bent of love be honourable,/ Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,/’’ (II.2.149-150). Asking him to marry her, without even knowing each other for twenty-four hours exemplifies that Juliet does not think through her actions. She knows they are rival families yet she feels a passionate emotion that urges her to act on the spur of the moment. Juliet’s tragic flaw leads to a road of lying, confusion, and death. Equally important, Romeo exemplifies his tragic flaw throughout the whole play. One can see by Romeo’s actions that he is still a young teenager who does not think about the consequences. Romeo goes to the Capulet’s party hoping to pine over Rosaline, instead he falls in love with Juliet and cannot bear to leave, “Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy centre out,” (II.1.1-2). Romeo impulsively decides to go back for Juliet because he believes he has to go back where his heart is. Rome quickly forgets about the girl he has been pining over not long ago and impetuously moves onto Juliet and thoughtlessly risks going back to her. The high risk of getting killed by Juliet’s family would stop most people who thought about it, yet Romeo does not care and continues on his spontaneous emotion.
Finally, Lord Capulet, Juliet’s overbearing father exhibits

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    His spontaneous nature is seen in all his emotions. Romeo goes from obsessing over Rosaline and nothing in the world being able to replace her to being madly in love with Juliet in mere minutes because of his impulsive nature. A few minutes after seeing Juliet for the first time in his life, Romeo decides to marry her that very day. He does not want to wait at all and he would marry her right there if he could. His hastiness then leads him to Friar Lawrence to beg him to marry them. Throughout his conversation with Friar Lawrence, the Friar brings up many good points as to why Romeo and Juliet should wait to get married but Romeo does not care about what anyone else thinks and keeps telling the Friar that he wants to get married to Juliet as soon as possible, which we can see when he says “... but this I pray, That thou consent to marry us today.” (II, iii, 59-60). Romeo’s impulsiveness is evident throughout his relationship with Juliet and we can also see it in many other aspects of the…

    • 812 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The theme of fate in the lives of Romeo and Juliet is shown in Scenes 3, 4, and 5. Romeo was persuaded by Benvolio to attend the ball. He consent to go only to watch Rosaline, not knowing that he will meet his only true love, Juliet. Both Romeo and Juliet fall instantly in love with one another. It is also fate that Lord Capulet refuses to allow Tybalt to vent his anger against Romeo, and even allows Romeo to remain at the ball. Romeo is awe-struck by her grace and beauty, and he completely forgets Rosaline. His signs of maturity seem to fade and the fact weather he really knows what love is. One glance of another woman makes him forget about the one he grieved and believed was the most beautiful in the world.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    My Stuff

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Romeo shows impulsiveness in several instances in Romeo and Juliet, proving that his impulsiveness is a very large part of him as a character, for example when he sees Juliet for the first time at the Capulet party. As soon as he sees Juliet, he pleads out “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” (I.V. 50-51) Romeo says all of this almost immediately after swearing that Rosaline is the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen and that Rosaline was his one and only true love. If he wouldn’t have ever been drawn in my Juliet’s beauty, he would’ve never been through everything that happens in the play. Also, when Romeo jumps the Capulet’s fence, Juliet demands that Romeo leave before her parents find him. He says to her, “With love’s light wings did I o’perch these walls/ for stony limits cannot hold love out, / therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.” (II.ii.66-69). Romeo doesn’t care if Juliet’s guards hurt him. Even though he could’ve easily died right then and there if the Capulets would’ve caught him, he wanted to be with Juliet.…

    • 590 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    In William Shakespeare's play, Romeo and Juliet, both Romeo and Juliet are tragic heroes with tragic flaws. They both share the same tragic flaw, which is immaturity. This is illustrated when they "fall in love" before even getting to know each other. Also, their immaturity is shown when they fail to think their situation through before getting married without their parents' consent. Romeo's immaturity is what caused him to kill Tybalt; Juliet's immaturity is what caused her father to push her wedding to Paris ahead. If Romeo and Juliet had maturely thought about Romeo's banishment before going to extreme measures to see each other again, they most likely would not have had such a tragic ending.…

    • 775 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    One trait that doomed the couple is Romeo’s impulsiveness. It seems that Romeo doesn’t think twice about his decisions. This is clearly explained by Romeo killing…

    • 821 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Tragic Flaw

    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Stories are told in many styles, through different medias; all which are to entertain or educate its audience. Christopher Booker, the author of the book 'The Seven Basic Plots', introduces the idea of the seven basics categories of any story told. The seven basic archetypes are Over Coming the Monster, Rags to Riches, The Quest, Voyage and Return, Comedy, Rebirth and Tragedy. Tragedy as one of the seven archetypes, are found in any type of stories; from the most recent published novel to the almost forgotten ancient myths of the earth. Tragedy is mostly used to describe when there is a death in the story, but which the term ‘tragedy’ can also be used to describe when the character has fallen into a lower state. It is better defined when there is a downfall of the main character in the story. In all the stories which are categorized under tragedy, has one thing in common. It is that those characters have a tragic flaw; that influences the character to their downfall. The tragic flaw for each character is different. It is influenced by many factors, such as family and the environment they are exposed to. These influences lead to the death of the eternal love of Romeo and Juliet, or even the life of a school girl, Alaska; in Looking for Alaska.…

    • 1322 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Romeo has a habit of falling in and out of love, he tends to have a lack of commitment to one person and exaggerate his feelings and impulses. When Romeo went to the Capulet's party and saw Juliet for the first time he immediately forgot about Rosaline and fell in love with Juliet as he stated, "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night (1.5.59-61). He questioned himself if he had ever loved anyone before that night, and if so, then his eyes must have lied, because he had never seen anyone before that night. Earlier that same day Romeo had been sobbing over Rosaline and soon as he saw Juliet he had completely forgotten about his last love. This depicts Romeo's habit and character of falling in and out of love and having little commitment to one person since his depression over Rosaline was quickly shattered when he saw Juliet. Another part of Romeo's character is that he is illogical and decides too much on instinct instead of sense as he took vengeance on Tybalt for killing Mercutio , "Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again that lay thou gavest me, for Mercutio's soul is but a little way above or heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I or both must go with him. Although Romeo's friend Mercutio was slain by Tybalt, it was no reason for Romeo to justify his reason for killing him out of vengeance. Thus, proving that Romeo killed Tybalt through his spontaneous character and not reason, Romeo's act jus further magnified his tendency to make irrational decisions and exaggerate his reactions and not thinking about the consequences. During the end of the play, in Act 5, scenes 1 -2 Balthasar thought Juliet was dead and informed Romeo. Without stopping to…

    • 1172 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    “Wisely and slow – they stumble that run fast” a wise priest warns one passionate lover, Romeo as he stumbles to share the news of the accepted marriage. Unfortunately for the characters, none of them seem to take these wise words in consideration. Passionate love and passionate hate propel the characters to immediate, and irrational actions. A perfect example of impatience in this play is when Romeo comes to the conclusion that his lover Juliet is lifeless. He hastily takes his life without stopping to think of the consequences. If he had been patient, and rational he and his love could have been together on earth. But because of his drastic measures, when Juliet awoke seeing Romeo partly dead she kills her self as well. The most traumatic scene in the play is because of the young lovers impatience. The second example of impatience is the fact that Romeo is eager to marry Juliet the evening that they meet. He does not think about Rosaline and the connection that they had made, according to Friar Lawrence. He almost seems quite selfish to let himself fall in love with a Capulet knowing that his family detests them immensely. Romeo is too impatient to give the situation a second thought. “Three words, dear Romeo, and goodnight indeed. If that thy dent of love be honorable, they purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow. By one that I’ll procure to come to thee. Where and hat time thou wilt preform the rite, and all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world”. This quote by Juliet is also an example of how the young lovers do not think before they speak. This quote was said the night they had first encountered each other at the party. This proves that Romeo is not the only impatient one in the relationship, but Juliet is as well. She also did not think to ask for her parents’ approval or get to really know Romeo for who he is before enchanting her self within his love. Characters in…

    • 801 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo's Impulsive Nature

    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Romeo takes many chances, putting himself and others into danger. Notably, during Romeo’s conversation with Juliet below her window, she begs him to leave because of the danger he is in; however, Romeo stubbornly decides to stay and attempts to justify “my life were better ended by [the Capulet kinsmen’s] hate/Than death prorogued, wanting of thy love” (2.2.82-83). Romeo’s foolhardy decision to remain in his enemy's territory, even at the warning of Juliet, articulates his impulsive nature, as he does not think his actions through and disregards the consequences, instead following his first instinct, as opposed to Juliet’s realization of the risk he is taking. Shakespeare indicates Romeo’s impulsive nature to prove that desperate lovers lose their senses and act rashly; however, compared to Juliet who retains some sense and acknowledges potential danger, Romeo is more impulsive, ignoring possible repercussions and acting purely on instinct.…

    • 374 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo, still a teenager at 17 years old, didn’t stop to think about his decisions and how it would affect himself and others. “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!/ For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night”(I, V, 52-53). Romeo went to the Capulet’s masquerade ball and saw Juliet. He instantly fell in love with her and forgot about his past love, Rosaline, whom he said he could not live without just recently. Rosaline was the main reason Romeo went to the masquerade ball. If he got over her or she didn’t come, then Romeo and Juliet wouldn’t have met Juliet. Romeo fell in love too quickly with Juliet’s beauty, when he should’ve taken it slow and got married at least a year into their relationship and not a day after they…

    • 1220 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo: The son of Montague, Romeo is first introduced to us as a sad, melancholic, apathetic youth. His reason for sadness is universal; Rosaline his love will not return his affections. Not initially daring, it is his friends Mercutio and Benvolio who suggest he gatecrash or arrive uninvited at the Capulet party to see Rosaline. There he meets Juliet falling instantly in love. From this point on, Romeo no longer is melancholic, but dynamic and courageous, risking his life at the Capulet's house to be near Juliet and later breaking a banishment order which threatens death for him, to see his Juliet again. Well regarded even by Capulet, his enemy, Romeo is a thoughtful man, unwilling to provoke fighting unlike the hot-blooded, adversarial Tybalt, whom he kills. Romeo also kills Paris but in both encounters sought to avoid fighting, winning only to defend his life. At the end of the play, he commits suicide, rather than live without Juliet, the ultimate display of loyalty for his love Juliet since his life obviously no longer had meaning without her...…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Pain and Suffering

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages

    To begin with, Romeo experiences a harsh, one-sided romance with Rosaline. Unfortunately, his love toward her is rejected and Romeo spends a majority of his time moping and complaining about his non-existent relationship with Rosaline and how harsh and unforgiving love can be. [Quote: p. 41, Line 185 or p. 43, Line 218]. Furthermore, Mercutio, Romeo’s closest friend and confidant, dies from a fatal stab by rival Tybalt that was unseen due to Romeo’s interference. Romeo has to deal with the agony of losing someone close, in addition to the guilt of being partially responsible for it. [Quote: Act 3, Scene 1]. Thirdly, he is banished from Verona and becomes unable to be with his true love, Juliet. Later on he receives information that she passed away and grieves for her and wishes to be with her wherever it may be. [Quote: p. 253, Line 17 or p. 255, Line 37].…

    • 320 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Throughout his diverse emotional states, Romeo, a round character, undergoes the emotional changes of love and hate. In early acts of the play, Romeo is depressed due to his overwhelming love for Rosaline, the woman who swore, “that she will still live chaste,” (I. i. 214). Only, he thought that he loved her. To try to diverge his emotional state from this depression, Mercutio takes Romeo to the Capulet’s party. There, Romeo becomes lovestruck by the, “true beauty,” of the daughter of Capulet (I. i. 53). Romeo’s emotional state completely reverses. He becomes this hopeful and positive man full of love. Nothing can stop this man from going back down to the bottom, or so we think. As we make our way into Act III, things start to go downhill.…

    • 264 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    as they falsely make a series of poor and impulsive decisions and that evidently lead to the…

    • 757 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Romeo and Juliet Draft

    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In addition, Juliet’s willingness to partake in Friar’s plan and to kill herself if everything fails shows how impulsive she truly is. As Juliet states on pages 84 and 85 just before she takes the potion Friar gives her to prevent her from marrying Paris since she has already married Romeo, “Come, vial. What if this mixture do not work at all? Shall I be married then to-morrow morning? No, No! This shall forbid it. Lie thou there. Lays down a dagger.” (IV.iii.21-24). Juliet was ready to permanently kill herself if this plan didn’t work. She is so in love with Romeo that being with anyone else would be a tragedy. The potion she takes will make her look dead for 42 hours and…

    • 619 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays