First and foremost, Romeo’s quickness in forgetting his first love – Rosaline – indicates that he will quickly forget someone, if he has found another. This also shows
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that even if Romeo had not taken his life, his relationship with Juliet would not have lasted very long. In act I, scene I, Romeo says, “Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast. Which thou wilt propagate, to have it prest with more is thine” (). Here, Romeo is telling Benvolio about how sad and sorrowful he is after he departed his love, Rosaline. However, in scene V, Romeo sees Juliet and says, “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night as a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear – beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear” (Shakespeare 788). This scene reveals that Romeo has forgotten about Rosaline and has found his new “true love” Juliet. Romeo’s fickle feelings of love may have caused their relationship to fail, even if they had not ended their lives.
Secondly, since Romeo and Juliet’s love is young, it is also ephemeral and short lasting. Romeo and Juliet’s love was very strong and passionate at first. However, they were still young and are unable to truly tell that they are each other’s true love. For instance, Romeo and Rosaline show a perfect example of this young love. After Rosaline departs from Romeo, he is sad and struck with grief; “Why, such is love’s transgression. Griefs of mine own lie heavy in my breast, which thou wilt propogate, to have it prest with more of thine” (777). This is how Romeo feels before he meets Juliet; he also tells Benvolio that Rosaline was his only true love. However, even though he felt that Rosaline was his one and only true love, after meeting Juliet, everything changed; and soon after, he is married to Juliet.
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Next, Romeo and Juliet would not have been able to continue their relationship, because the two families would do anything in order to cancel the marriage. Throughout the play, it is shown that the two families fight each other with the utmost hatred. For instance, in the opening, the two families are willing to fight to the death. “My sword, I say! Old Montague is come and flourishes his blade in spite of me... Thou villain Capulet! – hold me not; let me go” (773). In this scene, even the elders of each family – who are supposed to be wise and not be foolish – ask for their swords so they can go out and fight. This clearly shows that the two families would do anything to destroy the other. Romeo and Juliet’s marriage is something that both families would be against; thus, Romeo and Juliet would not have been able to continue their relationship.
Lastly, it is revealed to us that Romeo and Juliet would not have been able to pursue a happy relationship even if they had not died, through Romeo and Juliet’s immaturity and inexperience. As we reach the climax. Romeo and Juliet, believing all is lost, act out of the passion of the moment and commit suicide. “Here’s to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die… Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath: there rust, and let me die” (868). This shows their immaturity and failure to act with reason, which may have caused their relationship to die even after they survived. Their love has helped them achieve a level of maturity beyond their years, but it has also caused them to take dangerous risks. Their behavior, as well as events over which they have no control, vernalize their
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relationship, giving it little time to reach full growth. In the end, their overpowering feelings cause them to take their own lives. In addition, the fact that they are too quick to decide to get married also shows their immaturity; “Here comes the lady. O, so light a foot will ne’er wear out the everlasting flint. A lover may bestride the gossamers that idles in the wanton summer air. And yet not fall; so light is vanity… ah Juliet, if the measures of thy joy be heaped like mine, and that thy skill be more to blazon it… Till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (Shakespeare 815). This secret and quick marriage reveals that Romeo and Juliet act in the spur of the moment and that they might not think of what will happen in the future.
Moreover, even if Romeo and Juliet had not taken their lives, their relationships would not have lasted very long. Although Romeo and Juliet’s love for each other was very strong, they are young and therefore, unable to truly love someone, or tell that they are their true love. In this play, Shakespeare shows us that love is ephemeral, and that a teenager is not capable of knowing who their true love is. So, even if Romeo and Juliet had not taken their lives, they would not have been able to continue their relationship and have a mature love. Young people should all learn that at first, it may seem that they have found their true love. However, in the end, it may not be true. Thus, teenagers should not act foolishly, and think logically reasonably before they act.
