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Romeo and Juliet's Tragic Flaws

Good Essays

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet ends in tragedy, because of some of Romeo and Juliet’s faults. Romeo and Juliet obviously rush into things. They do not listen to the advice of Friar Lawrence and end up paying the ultimate price. They also ignore the obvious factors that prohibit Romeo and Juliet from ever being happy together. Romeo and Juliet are also very immature and are groomed for social disaster. Romeo and Juliet are also not in love, but in lust. The combination of impatience, immaturity, and ignoring other’s advice leads to the tragedy of these two “star-crossed lovers.” Romeo and Juliet are notorious for their impetuousness. They rush into love extremely quickly, and do not think their relationship through. We see this in their …show more content…

Romeo and Juliet both denounce the feud between their families soon after they fall for each other. As Romeo listens to Juliet on the balcony, he realizes that his name is an issue. So he replies, “I take thee at thy word. Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized. Henceforth I never will be Romeo.” (2.2.49-51) Later Juliet also denounces her family to be with the one she loves. After Tybalt is killed, she has a conversation about her cousin’s death. She says, “Villain and he be many miles asunder. / God pardon him! I do, with all my heart, / And yet no man like he doth grieve my heart.” (3.5.81-83) This ability to denounce your own flesh and blood, shows just how much Romeo and Juliet are blinded by lust. But there is serious danger in their relationship. For instance, at the masquerade party, Tybalt wants to kill Romeo and Benvolio just for showing up uninvited. Also in the beginning of the play, the servants of the Capulets, and servants of the Montagues start a huge fight just because one servant “bit his thumb” at another servant. This utter hostility by both sides of the family makes it extremely difficult for Romeo and Juliet to even see each other. But Romeo and Juliet persistently continue their ill-advised romance. It can thus be concluded that lust is powerful enough to cause two people to risk their lives to see each other. But it is not a good idea for Romeo and Juliet to pursue their relationship. By ignoring the serious dangers surrounding their

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