Romeo and Juliet
Romeo and Juliet: Haste Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, said to be one of the most famous tragedies of all time, is a play filled with haste. Although the haste plays as a dominant role in the tragedy, the revealing character of Romeo, Tybalt, and many other individuals are displayed through the numerous amount of haste shown in the play. As the play progresses, each of the characters are developed further more through their impetuous actions at specific events and times.
During the course of the play, Romeo acts in an extremely hasty, impulsive fashion and his actions revealed much of his personalities. When Shakespeare first introduces Romeo, he was deeply infatuated with Rosaline who is, in his eyes “too fair, too wise, wisely too fair” (1.1.215) and he said, “thou canst not teach me to forget [her]” (1.1.231). This was quickly proven false however when he fell in love with Juliet at the party. “O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear- / beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear /…Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” Romeo has already forgot all about his “fair” Rosaline in just a few minutes after he saw Juliet, awed by her beauty. This shows the audience that Romeo is a fickle but also romantic young man. Romeo is also shown as an affectionate and loyal friend to Mercutio when he says, “Now Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again / That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul / Is but a little way above our heads, / Staying for thine to keep him company: / Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.” (3.1.121-125). After hearing the news of Mercutio’s death from Benvolio, Romeo rushes up to Tybalt and challenges him to a fight. His affection for Mercutio leads him to his thoughtless action and caused him to later be banished from Verona. Romeo, once again, has shown his impulsiveness after
During the course of the play, Romeo acts in an extremely hasty, impulsive fashion and his actions revealed much of his personalities. When Shakespeare first introduces Romeo, he was deeply infatuated with Rosaline who is, in his eyes “too fair, too wise, wisely too fair” (1.1.215) and he said, “thou canst not teach me to forget [her]” (1.1.231). This was quickly proven false however when he fell in love with Juliet at the party. “O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! / It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear- / beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear /…Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” Romeo has already forgot all about his “fair” Rosaline in just a few minutes after he saw Juliet, awed by her beauty. This shows the audience that Romeo is a fickle but also romantic young man. Romeo is also shown as an affectionate and loyal friend to Mercutio when he says, “Now Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again / That late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul / Is but a little way above our heads, / Staying for thine to keep him company: / Either thou or I, or both, must go with him.” (3.1.121-125). After hearing the news of Mercutio’s death from Benvolio, Romeo rushes up to Tybalt and challenges him to a fight. His affection for Mercutio leads him to his thoughtless action and caused him to later be banished from Verona. Romeo, once again, has shown his impulsiveness after
Cited: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001.