In the story, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet have a great love that is forbidden by both of their feuding houses. It has long been debated whether Romeo and Juliet have a great love or if it was just rash behavior. I feel that their behavior was rash and lead to extreme actions by both. Many of Juliet’s actions were to just go along with Romeo because she felt obligated as his wife. I feel that is Juliet had this following advice she would have a different perspective on her short lived love with Romeo.
In the book, I feel that Juliet completely contained herself to only Romeo and that’s what she revolved around. In act 2, scene 5, lines 10, Juliet impatiently waits for Nurse to tell her Romeo’s news. This shows how completely infatuated Juliet was with Romeo after only knowing him for a day. Juliet’s emotional state in this scene is naive and foolish to wrap herself up in his life without even knowing who he is. This fact clearly does not help Juliet in the end, not knowing who Romeo is and what kind of person contributed to her death. Possibly if she wasn’t so witless, Juliet could of kept her life.
When Juliet meets Romeo, it’s written that they fall into deep into love. I question how they could love each other that much in such a short time span without really knowing each other. In scene 2, act 6, lines 16-35, Juliet and Romeo get married. Romeo and Juliet were very fast to get married and were encouraged by Friar Lawrence who thought the marriage could end their houses feud. Since they were married so fast, the couple didn’t really think about how their actions could affect others because. Juliet was too simpleminded about the marriage, going along with Romeo who needed to be in love and to prove it in any way.
Perhaps in that time that shakespeare wanted to set the scene in, it was natural to get married after meeting each other only a couple days ago. Though there are problems with this arrangement, because you really don’t know what kind of person is the one that you marry. In scene 3, act 2, lines 80-110, when Juliet hears that Romeo killed her cousin Tybalt, she verbally attacks him, but when the Nurse says something she defends him. This scene shows how incoherent Juliet was being in regards to Romeo’s actions. She first couldn’t understand how someone she thought was such a genuine person could be heartless with someone she loves, but then she defends him, as if Juliet cannot speak ill of her husband. Her actions support the fact that she knows very little of Romeo’s character.
These scenes all contribute to the idea that Juliet was rash in her behavior towards Romeo. She let their love control her actions and that led to Juliet’s foolish behavior. Juliet needed to be her own person and lead her own life. She was constantly persuaded by everyone and never really made her own decision except for the fact that she ended her own life. I feel that her suicide might be her way control of her life.
