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Shakespeare and Motifs in Romeo and Juliet

 

            One may say that new lovers are too hasty with their love, and therefore often may not think their plans through. This is exactly what happens in William Shakespeare's tragic romance, "Romeo and Juliet." This play demonstrates through motifs how the excess of passion can make a person do crazy, unexpected things; and how acting out of pride or rage is very dangerous. "Cupid," the sonnet form and "Fortune," all play a role in showing these two concepts in what is considered by many to be Shakespeare's masterwork. .
             The motif of Fortune helps convey that the excess of passion will make one do crazy, unexpected things, and that acting out in pride or rage is very dangerous to not only the person acting out, but those who surround him or her. To start, Tybalt is overconfident at the beginning of Act III, and decides to challenge Romeo to a duel. Romeo does not accept, but Mercutio does. After Tybalt kills Mercutio, Romeo duels and kills Tybalt. Tybalt unknowingly sealed his own fate when he challenged Romeo to a duel, all because he acted out of pride. However, Tybalt and Mercutio are not the only ones whose fates are sealed in this act. .
             Romeo acts out of hateful passion and rage when he kills Tybalt to avenge Mercutio's death. He realizes that he had lost control over his own life when he says, "O, I am Fortune's fool!"" (3.1.142) This quotation shows us that he knows that Fortune is in control of his destiny now, and that he has no say in what happens to him. Even more, Lord Capulet acts out in pride when he forces his daughter to marry Paris. He would rather make his only daughter do something she is completely against than make a fool out of himself. This changes Juliet's fate, as she has three options: to go against everything she believes in and marry Paris even though she is already married to Romeo, to run away, or to commit suicide. Moreover, Juliet acts out in rage when she threatens Friar Lawrence.


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