Romeo and Juliet Different Loves

In the course of one day, we have to make many decisions. It we are completely consumed by love, then we could make decisions that could seriously affect our lives negatively. In “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare says that love can cloud a person’s mind, and cause that person to make rash decisions. This can be shown through Romeo’s romantic love and Tybalt’s love of his kin.
Romeo’s romantic love for Juliet overwhelms his mind and causes him to act rashly. One example is when Romeo says, “Farewell. Thou canst not teach me how to forget” (Act 1, scene 1, 246). Romeo loved Rosaline and thought that she was the only girl that he would love. His love for Rosaline had completely invaded his body and compelled him to act rashly. He said that he would never forget Rosaline, but when he sees Juliet he quickly replaces Rosaline with Juliet in his mind. “Do thou but close our hands with holy words, Then love-devouring death do what he dare, It is enough that I may but call her mine “ (Act 2, scene 6). Romeo wants to marry Juliet a few hours after they met. Juliet has completely overrun his mind and that forces him to think that they should get married. His mind is so full of Juliet that he cannot think straight. This results in rashly getting married which leads him to his death. “Here’s to my love. O true apothecary. Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (Act 5, scene 3, 119). In this scene Romeo takes a drug which will kill him. He does this because he thinks that Juliet is dead, and Romeo says that he cannot live without Juliet. If he had not been so keen to drinking the potion, then both his and Juliet’s lives could have been spared. This shows that if Romeo had tried to make a decision logically then he could have saved lives. Romeo’s extreme love for Juliet leads him to make rash decisions. Those rash decisions ultimately lead him to his grave.
Tybalt’s love of his kin compels him to loathe all Montagues and so he acts rashly towards them. One example is when he says, “What drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward” (Act 1, scene 1, 71). Tybalt walks in on Capulets and Montagues holding swords out and Benvolio talking of peace. Due to his extreme love for the Capulets, he says that he hates all Montagues. This love forces him to not think about his actions and it gets him in trouble a few times. This love also forces him to dislike all Montagues even though he hasn’t met all of them. “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, A villain that is hither come in spite To scorn at our solemnity this night” (Act 1, scene 5, 69). Tybalt hears Romeo at the mainly Capulet party and immediately wants to kick him out because of his name. Tybalt completely and wholly loves the Capulets, and by default this means that he has to despise all Montagues. He judges people on their names and not on their character. “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me. Therefore turn and draw” (Act 3, scene 1, 67). Tybalt sees Romeo and wants revenge for when Romeo went to the Capulet party without being invited. He reacts rashly because his love for his kin forces him to automatically hate all Montagues. This scene leads him to get killed by Romeo after he killed Mercutio.
Romeo’s romantic love for Juliet and Tybalt’s love of his kin forces them to make many rash decisions and ultimately ends their lives. A recurring theme in “Romeo and Juliet” is that love can cloud a person’s mind and compel that person to make rash decisions. If Romeo and Tybalt would have put their emotions aside when thinking of future actions, then they could have lived longer and in peace.