Perhaps when analyzing the tragic end to Romeo and Juliet it is wise to take into account many factors as being joint causes, though one in particular stands out: Romeo’s frustratingly idealistic view of life. Without fail he chooses to wear rose-colored glasses in the face of situations where had he stepped back and thought logically, a better outcome may have occurred- perhaps a life may have been saved.

“With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, for stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do, that dares love attempt. Therefore thy kinsmen are no stop to me.” (Act II, Scene II, lines 71-74) ‘I am so very in love with you,’ he says in these lines, ‘that nothing could possibly hurt us, even your family’ (at least one of whom in fact has a vendetta against Romeo). He goes on to profess that as long as Juliet says she loves him, he doesn’t care if they come to kill him. In another scene, Romeo makes the following statement:    “I thought all for the best,” (Act III, Scene I, line 109) after his attempt at resolving a conflict leads to the death of one of his best friends. These are the words of someone who does not think of the consequences before they act- ‘I was just trying to help!’ instead of understanding that a conflict may resolve itself without him, while his interference may only make things worse.

So what does this have to do with his demise? Romeo is so wrapped up in his own intentions that he is incapable of looking at a situation logically and realistically before jumping into it head-first with noble intentions and regrettable results. He jumps over the garden wall and gets in the middle of a sword fight without thinking about the consequences, and he jumps to conclusions which, explored more thoroughly, may have saved his life. “Beauty’s ensign yet is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death’s pale flag is not advanced there-“(Act V, Scene III, lines 94-96) He assumes that Juliet is dead, when blood still shows in her lips, when she doesn’t even look dead. Instead of waiting a few minutes to check whether or not she really is dead, he decides to look at the situation as a very romantic end for the both of them, and kills himself. Had he thought logically he may have been able to awaken her with a good shake, and they could have lived happily ever after. Instead, “Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act V, Scene III, line 120). The theory that the tragedy at the end of Romeo and Juliet is directly resulting from Romeo’s idealistic view of life has, I believe, been supported. This theme shows throughout the entire book, and without it I do not believe the main characters would be who they were, and there would be no story.

~ The tragedy at the end of Romeo and Juliet is directly resulting from Juliet’s practical view of life

Romeo’s idealistic life view may well have had a hand in the tragic double suicide at the end of the play, but the unrealistic views of his lover Juliet may also have been a cause for the disastrous effect.

Although it was Romeo’s idea that they get married, Juliet immediately went along with the plan, which shows that she is just as much at fault as he. Already she knew that her parents’ will was for her to marry Paris (a well-off, kind and apparently visually pleasing gentleman who already was better than most could hope for), and yet… “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name, or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” (Act II, Scene II, lines 36-39) This seems odd, that she who is meant to marry another man would instead daydream about this acquaintance Romeo, an enemy of her own family as well as a man she has just met at a party. This Romeo, by the way, she begins immediately pledging her eternal love to: “My bounty is as boundless as the sea, my love as deep. The more I give to thee, the more I have, for both are infinite.” (Act II, Scene II, lines 140-142) If this is not hopelessly idealistic then I have no idea what is.

This idea of hers is what eventually leads to her death. Had she been practical, she would never have thought twice about the creepy stranger who was so audacious as to actually kiss her upon their very first meeting. Had she been at all logical, she would have looked at the situation for what it really was and chosen to remarry after she was given the news that her murderer husband was banished, rather than to decide that suicide was a better price to pay than feeble adultery. Or if she didn’t jump on that chance, at least she would have gone back once she was sure Romeo was dead. But instead it’s “Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.” (Act V, Scene III, line 165). She lets go of safety, wealth, and even her own life, all because of a daydream, because of her unreal ideas. Instead she chooses to dramatically fake her own death, then to go ahead and attempt to poison herself for real, and when that doesn’t work out, “O, happy dagger, this is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die.” (Act V, Scene III, lines 174-175) And all for a silly fantasy about a boy she hardly knows. This, I believe, is one main reason for why she is so seemingly predestined to die with her lover- she almost seems to prefer to die for the drama of an unreal romantic situation like this than live a drab but solid life. It seems apparent that my original thesis was correct. As stated previously, this theme does show throughout the book, and without it the main characters would not be who they were, and the story would not be what it is.