Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Were Romeo's Actions an acts of true love or rashness?

In my opinon, I think that Romeo was acting rash. And I understand that this whole play is based on a  tradegy of love. However, digging deeper in this story, and reading it in today's time period makes me  believe otherwise. In addition I have textual evedience to back up this claim. The fact that Romeo was just another fifteen year old teenage boy's actions of rashness.

Romeo was acting as any other youthful rash teenager. For example, just the idea of 'Romeo loving Rosaline'. For instance, the day before Romeo, Benvolio and Mercutio went to the Capulet's party. Romeo was still grieving on the fact that Rosaline didn't love him back. In the actual play, Romeo states (about Rosaline) , "When the devout religion of mine eye maintains such falsehood, then turns tears to fires; And these, who often drown'd could never die, transparent heretics, be burnt for liars! One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sun. Ne'er saw her match since first the world begun." (1.2 87-92) Which makes one believe that Romeo is in love with Rosaline. He talks about how there is no possible way that there is a women on this earth better than Rosaline. However, the second he sees Juliet, he completely forgets that Rosaline ever took a part of his life. When he sees Juliet, he states, "O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night, like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear; beauty to rich for use, for earth to dear! So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows, as yonder lady o'er her fellows shows. The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand, and touching hers, make blesses my rude hand. Did my heart love 'till now? Foreswear it sight! For I ne'eer saw true beauty till this night." In addition, Romeo says to Friar Lawrence, "With Rosaline? No. I have forgot that name and that name's woe." (2.3. 48-49) Which makes me question if Romeo has ever been in love in the first place.

There is a lot more evedience than the one given above. For example, Romeo states, "Come what sorrow can, it cannot countervail the excahnge of joy that one short minute gives me in her sight," (2.6 3-5)which is an example of him being rash. This is because he is saying he would do anything for Juliet. But, doing anything for Juliet would be rash. Because, to do anything major towards someone you better thinnk through. This is because this could lead to many unwanted consequences. Also another act of rashness from both Juliet and Romeo is how they married each other within hours of knowing each other. Usually people get married with atleast a few years. In addition, you can't respond that Juliet was going to marry Romeo because her parents were going to make her marry Paris. This idea wasn't concrete until after they hadn't gotten married. In conclusion, Romeo is a very rash character.

No comments:

Post a Comment