Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is one of the most famous tragedies ever written--a tragedy caused by the protagonists themselves. The young couple, Romeo and Juliet, were most responsible for their own deaths. They ignored warnings of others and insisted on doing what they wanted due to their impulsive personalities. Because of the impulsiveness that may have stemmed from their preadolescence stage, everything went wrong and against the couple.

The train to untimely death started its destined trip when Romeo and Juliet insisted on maintaining their forbidden relationship, despite warnings from Romeo's friends, Juliet's Nurse, and Friar Lawrence. Before wedding the young couple, Friar Lawrence specifically said, "Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast." (Act 2, Scene 3). This was one of the best pieces of advice from an adult in the play. The Friar, with that one quote, had already predicted a tragic outcome to their impulsive actions. The couple overlooked the advice and did not put a thought into the Friar's statement. We cannot forget that Romeo and Juliet are teenagers, and teenagers tend to have a rebellious side. This could be seen in Romeo when he decided to crash Capulet's party with friends in Act 1, Scene 4 and once again when they described "kissing" as "praying" in Act 1, Scene 6. Comparing a holy act with such a display of love would have been frowned upon in a Catholic society at the time. Their passion for each other urged them to act without thinking. In fact, the spontaneity and rebelliousness of Romeo and Juliet were some of the biggest character flaws they had.

Romeo and Juliet were also extremely stubborn characters--their defiant side caused them to disregard warnings and go against an ideal solution. It seemed that the fact that their parents were feuding only made the couple more determined to be together. This was proven when Romeo said in the garden, "And what love can do, that dares love attempt. Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me." (Act 2, Scene 3) Repeatedly, they reject divine and rational guidance, following passion as their blind pilot instead until they ultimately take their own lives. Love is give and take, and sometimes decisions need to be considered. The young couple, being so impulsive, naïve and stubbornly in love, were unable to go through a consideration process. It seemed that because of these exact reasons, countless mistakes follow one another in the plot, creating a domino effect--another symbolism of fate.

The lovers were destined to end the ancient grudge between the families, which fit in with the prominence of fate within the plot. Nevertheless, they were free to choose between all means by which they would fulfill what fate wanted them to do. Due to their thoughtless temperaments, they chose one of the worst means--a final act of absurd and inexcusable defiance. Juliet regarded the Friar's sleep