Banishment In Romeo And Juliet

In Act 3, Scene 3 of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s reaction to the death of Mercutio and Tybalt and his banishment from Verona to Mantua show his selfishness and pessimism. Mercutio and Tybalt are enjoying themselves in a friendly brawl, until Romeo comes in between them and Mercutio is stabbed. Romeo is appalled, knowing that his best friend has died, so he takes his anger out on Tybalt and kills him. The Prince arrives to the scene of the fight, curious to see what all of the chaos is about, and comes to find that two people in his city have been murdered. He had earlier promised death penal to anyone who fought on his streets, but decides to give Romeo the benefit of the doubt. He decides to banish Romeo from the city of Verona, rather than killing him. Once Romeo is informed
Calling death 'banished'/Thou cut'st my head off with a golden axe,/And smilest upon the stroke that murderers me," (Shakespeare 3.3 19-23). This shows the drama behind Romeo's emotion. He is not being realistic and is comparing this banishment to death, which displays how he is negative and is only thinking about himself. Romeo is shocked by the news of his banishment although he could have faced a much worse consequence, and was actually fortunate to receive this punishment. After Friar Lawrence attempts to comfort him, the Nurse approaches, curious about Romeo's situation involving Juliet. She explains Juliet's sorrow towards Romeo's banishment and Romeo is so mentally weak, he threatens to kill himself. Once he is informed of the heartache he has caused Juliet, he responds by exclaiming, "Murdered her kinsman. O tell me, Friar, tell me,/In what vile part of this anatomy/Doth my name lodge? Tell me that I may sack/The hateful mansion," (3.3.105-107). Romeo is so upset, he feels ashamed of his own name, and claims that he will stab himself. Through this, Romeo shows how irrational he can be and is only thinking about his own self-pity, not the others