Romeo and Juliet Research Paper

Words: 2085
Pages: 9

Prof.
English
May
The True Hero:
The Superior Character in Romeo and Juliet The play of Romeo and Juliet is different from William Shakespeare’s other tragedies in that there is not a clear distinction of individual heroes. The two protagonists are more passive than active; both are naïve and lacking understanding. The hero is often thought to be the romantic, yet often hysterical, Romeo. But Romeo’s immoral background, emotional outbursts, mishap murders, and foolish actions make him a poor candidate for a hero. Juliet proves to be more innocent than Romeo because she possesses more rigorous moral ethics. Juliet is also more successful in overcoming the obstacles that she is faced with throughout the play. While both characters
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Even before his meeting with Juliet, Romeo says, For my mind misgives Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars, Shall bitterly begin this fearful date With this night’s revels, and expire the term Of a despised life closed in my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely death. (1.4.106-11)
Juliet later has similar notions of foreboding, saying of Romeo, O God, I have an ill-divining soul! Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. Either my eyesight fails, or thou lookest pale. (3.5.54-57)
If the either had heeded the warnings they perceived, there is a good chance that their lives would have been spared. From the beginning, Romeo is shown to be a man of intense passion and has emotional outbursts several times throughout the play. These moments of hysteria progress after Romeo slays Tybalt and is banished from Verona. Romeo’s melancholic behavior is taken to a new extreme when he threatens suicide after he is exiled. This is when the wise friar shouts some practical words to Romeo: Hold thy desperate hand: Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art: Thy tears are womanish; thy wild acts denote The unreasonable fury of a beast. (3.3.108-11)
Romeo’s tantrums portray his ignorance in youth which distorts his mind from thinking more clearly; this may have prevented his and Juliet’s deaths altogether. In the end, “the dangerous fault of the two lovers