Romeo acts impulsively throughout act one which takes place at the Capulet’s party. The entire day Romeo is gloomy and sad about his unrequited love for Rosaline. He conveys his heavy heart saying, “I have a soul of lead/ so stakes me to the ground I cannot move” (1.4 15-16). However, not even an hour later, Romeo has lost all interest in Rosaline and is mesmerized by the Capulet’s only heir, Juliet. Romeo compares her beauty to a holy shrine only after one glance upon her innocent face, “I profane with my unworthiest hand/ this holy shrine” (1.5 102-103). Impulsive acts often can be the reaction of a broken heart or rejection. Romeo demonstrates this at the party by quickly switching his affection from Rosaline to Juliet.
Following the Capulet party, Romeo again reveals his impulsive nature. Romeo overhears Juliet on her balcony confessing her love for him. Although he saw her for the first time just hours before, Romeo responds with words of love for Juliet, “With love’s light wings did I o’perch these walls;/ for stony limits cannot hold love out,/ and what love can do, there dares love attempt./ therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me”( 2.2 73-77). The new and inexperienced lovers hastily make plans to marry the following morning without seeking counsel from anyone about their plans. Romeo and Juliet marry one day after meeting each other and must keep their wedding a secret from their families. Romeo’s refusal to act deliberately and consider facts, not just emotions, leads to a very poor, impulsive decision.
In the days immediately following their secret wedding, events occur that cause Romeo and Juliet much heartache. Mercutio and Tybalt die; Romeo is banished; and Juliet is being forced to marry Paris. These events all lead to Romeo’s final act of impulsiveness. As Juliet appears dead in the tomb, Romeo drinks a vile of poison that will kill him saying, “Eyes, look your last!/ arms, take your last embrace! and, lips, O you/ the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss/ a dateless bargain to engrossing death” (5.5 115-118). Romeo takes his life without thinking through the huge decision that he his making. Henry Louis Mencken once said, “Love is the triumph of imagination over intelligence.” In this scene, Romeo abandons all intelligent reasoning, and in a passionate moment, his gives up his life. Once again, Romeo’s impulsive personality dictates his actions, and the result is the tragic and unnecessary death of two teenagers.
In Romeo, the reader sees wistfulness, passion, and idealistic optimism. These are admirable traits, but impulsiveness is the driving force of Romeo’s personality which, in the end, proves to be irrevocably dangerous and sad.
