Theme Of Mental Illness In Romeo And Juliet

In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Romeo is an emotional person overwhelmed by anguish. For instance, when Romeo discovers the time during his conversation with Benvolio, he exclaims, “Ay me! sad hours seem long” (1.1.159). It is commonly observed that time goes by quickly when someone is having a good time, but the opposite is also true. Time passes slowly for Romeo because he spends his time miserably, thinking about his problems. The surprised interjection also reveals how his sadness diverts his attention from everything else, including time. Furthermore, Romeo refers to his love as “madness most discreet” (1.1.193). “Madness” suggests that his love is similar to a mental illness. Just like some people with mental illnesses, Romeo