Essay On Impulsiveness In Romeo & Juliet

Essay on Impulsiveness in Romeo & Juliet


"Wisely and slow: they stumble that run fast"(Pg 91, Line 97) those
words spoken by Friar Laurence.   Words we must listen too.   Impulsiveness leads
to downfall, and therefore people must strike a balance between being impulsive,
and being pragmatic.   Time and time again Shakespeare showed us how
impulsiveness leads to tragedy.
First off, Capulet was a prudent, well-balanced person most of the time.
When Paris told Capulet that he wanted to marry Juliet, Capulet said "Let two
more summers wither in their pride/Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride"(Pg
27, Lines 10-11) because he wanted to look out for Juliet and wanted to make
sure she was ready.   Though he did tell him to "woo her, gentle Paris, get her
heart;/My will to her consent is but a part" because he was still not passing up
this opportunity for his daughter.   Capulet was also practical when Tybalt
spotted Romeo during the Capulet feast, Tybalt wanted to do the impulsive thing
and kill Romeo, but Capulet thought for a second about the consequences.   Tybalt
said "I"ll not endure him" and Capulet told him emphatically "he shall be
endur"d"(pg. 57, Lines 77 & 78).   In this scene Capulet prevented a huge
Montegue and Capulet confrontation by thinking first and not doing the impulsive
suggested by Tybalt.   Through thinking these actions through, problems were
prevented.
However, Capulet was at times, a very rash person, and that lead to much
of the misfortune in this play.   Hours after Romeo killed Tybalt, Capulet acted
on haste in Act III, Scene 4 and told Paris "I will make a desperate tender/Of
my child"s love:   I think she will be rul"d/In all respects by me; nay more, I
doubt it not....And bid her, mark you on me, on Wednesday next-" and then
continued to sound delirious saying "Wednesday is too soon;/ O" Thursday let it
be:...She shall be married to this noble earl" and at this point Capulet has
become selfish and impulsive.   His daughter does not love Paris,...