Romeo And Juliet Decisions

Romeo and Juliet’s tragedy is to a great degree bestowed upon them by those closest to them. However, Romeo and Juliet’s own haste choices and actions also greatly contribute to their misfortune. The feud between the Montagues and the Capulets and Friar Lawrence's poor decisions contributes to the catastrophe that awaits the lovers, yet Romeo and Juliet's own rushed decisions lead to the cataclysm.

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The vendetta that exists between to Capulets and the Montagues greatly contributes to Romeo and Juliet's tragedy. Romeo and Juliet quickly fall in love, but their opposing families stand in the way of their relationship. Juliet's desire to be with Romeo is so extreme that she swears she would ‘no longer be a capulet’ (2.2.36) in order to be with
Friar Lawrence is quick to marry Romeo and Juliet as ‘For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households' rancor to pure love’ (2.3.91-92). He hastily agrees to Romeo's wishes to marry Juliet hoping that it will be enough to restore peace between the two families, but he foreshadows their misfortune by saying ‘these violent delights have violent ends’ (2.6.9). This shows that Friar Lawrence was concerned of the long-term consequences of the marriage and forebode the catastrophe that awaited the two lovers, but still made the impractical decision to perform the ceremony. Juliet is pressured by her parents to marry Paris and realises that she has no choice when Lord Capulet threatens to disown her ‘get thee to church a’Thursday or never look me in the face.’ (3.5.161-162). Friar Lawrence constructs a plan and informs Juliet of it, ‘take thou this vile’ (4.1.96) and tells her that at the risk she takes, ‘shall romeo bear thee hence to Mantua.’ (4.1.120). He shows his irresponsibility by trusting Juliet, who is only fourteen years old with a potion that has the ability to make her appear dead. Had Juliet never been given the poison, she would not have found herself in the situation that lead to both hers and Romeo’s
Amid the play, there are various decisions that Romeo and Juliet make that can be considered ill-informed and irrational. Romeo and Juliet hastily decide to get married, despite Friar Lawrence warning them that ‘Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow’ (2.6.15), meaning that it is dangerous for the two to fall in love so rapidly. Furthermore, Romeo declares that ‘Then love-devouring death do what he dare’ (2.6.7) as long as he is able to be with Juliet. This illustrates that Romeo has lost rational thought, and influences the decisions he makes throughout the remainder of the play that ultimately lead to their tragedy. When Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo acts foolishly and kills Tybalt. He states ‘and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now’ (3.1.86) and allows for his rage to guide his actions. As a result of the murder Romeo commits, he is banished from Verona and unable to see Juliet again. If Romeo hadn’t