Rivalry In Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Romeo And Juliet

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"Young men's love then lies/ Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes" (II.iii.67-68). "The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet", written by William Shakespeare, presents how a rivalry between two family factions causes a pair of star-crossed lovers to hurt both themselves and others. Due to the multiple deaths and acts of love, some believe the protagonist known as Romeo is doomed by fate. However, the reality of the story is that Romeo has a major character flaw which ultimately leads to his eventual downfall. Romeo has a hamartia or character flaw which is the fact that Romeo is very impulsive. Towards the beginning of the Capulet's party Romeo is completely destroyed and heartbroken, because of a woman named Rosaline. However, Romeo completely drops all feelings he had for her when he sees Juliet. "With Rosaline, my ghostly father? No./ I have forgot that name and that name's woe" (II.iii.45-46). The following day after the Capulet's party, Friar Lawrence asks Romeo if he was out with Rosaline. However, Romeo says that he doesn't care about Rosaline and has moved on. Likewise, when Romeo realizes he can't see Juliet because of his banishment. Instead of moving on, Romeo tries to commit suicide. …show more content…
It is this impulsiveness that often prevent Romeo from wisely thinking about his actions. After receiving the news that he is banished for killing Tybalt, Romeo says that he would have rather died. Even after Frair Lawrence explains how the original penalty was death, and all Romeo got was banishment. "Tis torture, and not mercy. Heaven is here,/ Where Juliet lives;" (III.iii.29-30). Romeo begins to whine and complain about how he will never get the chance to see Juliet again. If Friar Lawrence hadn't proposed the idea of Romeo leave for Mantua and having Juliet runaway, Romeo would have most likely tried to commit