impulsively
moves from being the courtly lover to becoming the impetuous, impulsive lover and fighter, and
then the depressed lover.
Act I
Early in the play Romeo reacts emotionally to the news that his beloved Rosaline is
going to a convent as he speaks dramatically in oxymorons: "O heavy lightness! serious
vanity!" (1.1.168). But in a few scenes, he is excited again, and becomes instantly in love
at his first sight of :
Oh, she doth teach the torches to
burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in
an Ehiop's ear--
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear! (1.5.43-45)
After seeing Juliet at the Capulet masque, Romeo rushes toward her
when he finds a chance to speak with her, recklessly disregarding the fact that she is of the
opposing family:
If I profane with my unworthiest
hand
This holy shrine,... (1.5.87-88)
and he
even boldly asks to kiss her:
Then move not while my
prayer's effect I take.
Thus from my lips by thine my sin is purged. (1.5.
102-103)
Act II
After his passionate meeting with Juliet, Romeo rushes in the night to be able to see
her, and, perhaps, again speak with her. Risking death if the Capulet guards see him, he scales
the wall of the orchard and stands beneath her balcony. And, when Juliet comes out and speaks
about Romeo and his name being their only impediment, Romeo boldly and impetuously declares that
he will gladly change his name for her:
I take thee at thy
word.
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized.
Henceforth I never will be
Romeo. (2.2.50-51)
Then, after exchanging their vows of
love for one another, Romeo rushes toto ask him to perform the marriage ceremony for Juliet and
him. Although the priest warns Romeo about being so impulsive--"These violent delights have
violent ends" (2.6.7)--he feels that marrying the two may help to end the feuding of the
two families. So, after knowing each other for only hours,are married.
Act III
When Romeo finds his
friendsandengaged in a heated exchange with , he rushes to stop the aggression between Mercutio
and Tybalt. Unfortunately, he rashly thinks that his words of good will can soothe Tybalt, even
though Tybalt has no knowledge of any change having taken place in this Montague. Unfortunately,
Mercutio is stabbed because Romeo impulsively steps in the way, preventing Mercutio's sword from
defending him.
Rashly discarding his good will after Mercutio dies, Romeo attacks
Tybalt, crying out:
Away to Heaven, respective
lenity,
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
Now, Tybalt, take the
"villain" back again (3.1.85-87)
In his frenzy,
Romeo kills Tybalt, an impetuous act which causes his banishment from Verona.
Act V
When Romeo is misinformed bythat
Juliet is dead, he rushes to an apothecary, demanding poison. Becauseis poor, he gives Romeo the
poison he wants. Then, Romeo hurries to the Capulet catacombs. Shortly thereafter, he encounters
, "Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee"(5.3.70), and he kills the count.
Finally, when Romeo discovers Juliet and believes her dead, he does not think things
through at all. For, even though he notices that her face does not have the appearance of
death--"Why art thou yet so fair?"(5.3.111)--he does not hesitate before he decides to
join her in death.
Amidst the whirlwind of his emotions, Romeo acts
impulsively, thinking himself driven at times by Fate. But, more than his being "Fortune's
fool," in his rash decisions and actions, Romeo himself seems to work against his own
well-being and good fortune.
yty
ReplyDeleteThis helped me understand the scenes more!
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