1. “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.” In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows us that young people act impulsively and selfishly. Do you agree?
Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragic tale of love and misfortune. Readers feel a sense of haste and urgency as they are rushed towards the tragic death of the young couple. Shakespeare shows this haste and urgency through the young people in the play who act impulsively and selfishly. There is a great deal of impulsiveness as the “star-crossed lovers” meet, marry and die within four days. Both Romeo and Juliet act impulsively and selfishly in the play, which eventually leads to their deaths. However, the play shows that impulsiveness and selfishness is not limited to young people. The older and mature characters such as Capulet and Friar Lawrence can also display this behaviour.
The impetuosity and selfishness of the young Romeo pushes the events of the play to a tragic outcome. These qualities that Romeo has make him ignorant to the advice of others. He is in such a rush to get married and live a life with Juliet that he misses the small and important warnings from other people. One of these people is the Friar who wisely advises Romeo to “love moderately…” The Friar believes that their love is too enthusiastic and strong and will not hold out to the end. However, Romeo does not listen to this crucial piece of information acting on impulse and loving Juliet with absolute passion. This love is so intense that if Romeo only has one minute to marry Juliet he doesn’t care what happens to him, even if “love-devouring Death do what he dare.” All he wants is to be able to call Juliet his own. In a period of four days the young couple meet, marry and are laid to rest in their death-beds. The impulsive behaviour of Romeo made him act before weighing up the positive and negative outcomes of his actions. When in Capulet’s Orchard speaking to Juliet for only the second time Romeo says “Call...