Monday, October 14, 2019

When is Romeo spontaneous in the play Romeo and Juliet?

A great example of Romeo's spontaneity can be seen in the speed with which he changes the object of his affections from Rosaline to Juliet. Romeo is initially convinced that Rosaline is the only girl in the world for him. Yet no sooner has he fallen head-over-heels in love with her than he's already making eyes at Juliet. Little wonder, then, that his good friend Mercutio teases him mercilessly about how quickly he falls in love.
Romeo's spontaneity, however, also has less happy results. Later on in the play, when Mercutio is fighting with Tybalt, Romeo enters the scene, trying to act as peacemaker. But once Tybalt kills Mercutio—by stabbing him to death under Romeo's arm—Romeo's impulsiveness soon gets the better of him, and in a fit of rage, he kills Tybalt, thus ensuring his exile, which will have tragic consequences for both himself and Juliet.

No comments:

Post a Comment

What is the theme of the chapter Lead?

Primo Levi's complex probing of the Holocaust, including his survival of Auschwitz and pre- and post-war life, is organized around indiv...