The theme of haste in Romeo and Juliet
The Theme of Haste in Romeo and Juliet
"It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden." Juliet's words here reflect herself and the play as a whole. Haste is one of the overarching themes in the play, chiefly observed through the ill-considered actions of the characters in response to various situations, within or beyond their control. Juliet's words apply to the play as a whole to a large extent as can be seen from the rashness of Romeo, Juliet herself and the Friar that contribute to the fast-paced flow of the tragedy. The speed at which events occur "too sudden" is largely exemplified in Romeo's impetuous haste. His recklessness in committing himself to his passion for Juliet and marrying her the day after they meet is an important catalyst in creating a sense of rushed decisions and lack of planning. Despite being cautioned by Juliet for being "too rash" and the Friar that "they stumble that run fast"
The play itself takes place over just four days, this is compared to the original poem by Arthur Brookes that spans nine months. Critics such as G. Thomas Tanselle support the view that time was "especially important to Shakespeare" in this play, as he used references to "short-time" for the young lovers as opposed to references to "long-time" for the older members of the play" to highlight "a headlong rush towards doom".
Romeo is obsessed with the concept of love, and emotion that can often produce eratic ideas and actions. Romeo Montague is no exception. Romeo is the first character in the play that is seen to act foolishly. Even before being he has met Juliet, Romeo makes an unwise decision attend Capulet's party in an attempt to find Rosaline, "I'll go along, no such sight to be shown, / but to rejoice in splendor of mine own". Romeo decides to go the party because of a few simple words from Benvolio, this already tells us that Romeo is easily influenced and persuaded . At the party itself Romeo, without thinking, grabs Juliet's hand, kisses it, and then kisses her.
"Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged"
Romeo, is obviously aware of the feud between Montagues and Capulets, and that any relationship between him and Juliet would be fatal, but his impulsiveness and Romantic tendancies means he does not consider this. What actually precipitates the tragedy itself is the death of Mercutio and Romeo's murder of Tybalt which follows it - and it's perhaps the impulsiveness of Romeo which causes him to murder Tybalt, as Benvolio says, before anyone could draw a sword to stop it
"Tell me that I may / sack ...
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"Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged"
Romeo, is obviously aware of the feud between Montagues and Capulets, and that any relationship between him and Juliet would be fatal, but his impulsiveness and Romantic tendancies means he does not consider this. What actually precipitates the tragedy itself is the death of Mercutio and Romeo's murder of Tybalt which follows it - and it's perhaps the impulsiveness of Romeo which causes him to murder Tybalt, as Benvolio says, before anyone could draw a sword to stop it
"Tell me that I may / sack the hateful mansion (draws dagger)"
Impulsive behaviour rarely ends well. We also see impetuosness in Juliet. Juliet is slightly more cautious than Romeo, however she still often acts without thought. When she meets Romeo at the Capulet's party, she is alone on her balcony cursing her family. "Deny thy father, and refuse they name. / Or if thou wilt not, but be sworn my love, / and I'll no longer be a Capulet". She does no think who might hear her, and unintentionally confesses her love for Romeo. Juliet is too young to know what love is, and is now foolishly and brashly professing her love.
Later in the scene, Romeo leaps from the bushes and puts his life at risk to talk to her. This is where Juliet suggests that the two should get married. "Well, do not swear. Although I joy in thee, / I have no joy of this contract to-night". The word "contract" suggests that, after their few lines of conversation, she feels they have committed themselves to one another.
What actually precipitates the death of the two "star-crossed lovers" is the death of Mercutio and Romeo's murder of Tybalt which follows it - and it's perhaps the impulsiveness of Romeo which causes him to murder Tybalt, as Benvolio says, before anyone could draw a sword to stop it.
Obviously Juliet's final decision in the play is her most hasteful and foolish. She was quick to drink the potion, without considering the damage she would cause to her own family. She wakes up to find her lover dead in her tomb, and like Romeo ignores the advice of the Friar. Friar Lawrence tells Juliet she should flee the city and go live among a sisterhood of nuns, however she picks up Romeo's dagger
"This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die"
She takes her own life because she does not think she can ever be happy without Romeo.
Shakespeare seems to be emphasising the ideas of foolishness and haste; this is demonstrated in the opening scene.
Sampson: I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them, if they bear it.
Gregory: Go forth! I will back thee!
Abra: Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?
Sampson: I... I do bite my thumb, sir.
This conflict could have easily been avoided, however Sampson and those around him are careless because of the passion that they feel for their families. This is not dissimilar to the passion that Romeo and Juliet feel for each other.
Romeo and Juliet aren't the only ones acting with haste. Many of the supporting characters act similarly and make moves that have a significant impact on the other characters in the play. Aside from Romeo and Juliet, it is Old Capulet that has the largest impact on the play. In act IV, Old Capulet makes the decision to change the wedding date of Juliet to Paris one day sooner due to his daughter's change in mood. "Send for the County; go tell him of this: / I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning" . This is radical decision to make, and effects the play dramatically. Friar Lawrence had originally been given more than sixty hours to set his plan into motion; now he is left with twenty four hours less.
Friar Lawrence's decision to aid Juliet is also an impetuous one. Juliet visits the Friar in his cell after Romeo has been banished and when she is being forced into marrying Paris. She pressures the Friar to either give her a good idea to get out of this second marriage or to help her commit suicide. The Friar, acting under duress and anxiety, aids her, "Hold, daughter! I do spy a kind of hope, / which craves as desperate an execution / as that is desperate which we would prevent". Everything about the Friar's idea is desperate and done in haste. He comes to the quick decision to supply her with a potion, which contradicts himself and his god, and as made obvious by the ending of the play, is a poor decision to make.
Finally the character of Mercutio is another that we see acting abruptly and without thinking. Mercutio was always talking too much for his own good, without even meaning half if what he said, but one time he just went too far and didn't think to back down. When Tybalt appears looking for Romeo, Mercutio quarrels with him, but Tybalt only wants Romeo. "Couple it with / something, make it a word and a blow". Mercutio is the first to suggest fighting on the streets; he knows that he was warned before, and just because he's in the mood to fight, he should have thought about the consequence. When Romeo does appear, Tybalt challenges him, but Romeo does not want to fight, for he loves Tybalt's cousin, Juliet. Mercutio, acting on impulse, challenges Tybalt in Romeo's defense. Mercutio gets stabbed by Tybalt, when Romeo gets between them, and dies unexpectedly. Even though they are supporting characters, they move the play quickly and hurriedly along by their actions.
In the events of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the characters make decisions in such hurriedness, hastiness, and impetuous ways. Romeo, Juliet, and many of the supporting characters acted hurried, hasty, and impetuous. The complex developments of events that take place in the few days of the most excellent and lamentable tragedy of Romeo and Juliet can certainly seem to take place over a time span much longer than the one it actually occupies. But, when Shakespeare condensed the play's events to that of a few days, he added weight and heavy consequence to every movement, and gave the sense that the action is happening so quickly that characters barely have time to react, and, by the end, that matters are careening out of control. The audience are left to consider the proleptic words of Friar Lawrence, "Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast"
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