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Lo-Ruama Iellimo
Iellimo 1
Mr. Ahumada
ENG2D1-11
22 February 2008
Infatuation and its Consequences
According to Teen magazine: “Crushes are as common as colds” in young
society. However, during a crush, youths are convinced that the temporary obsession they
feel is real love. It seems, teens cannot distinguish between a fleeting infatuation and
genuine love. In addition, their lack of experience prevents them from controlling this
strong feeling. Shakespeare explores this conflict in his famous teenage play. The play
Romeo and Juliet shows that teenagers’ powerful but uncontrolled love leads to foolish
and unwanted results.
Romeo and Juliet start a relationship and marry in a few hours, without even
knowing each other. They are attracted to one another, not because of who they are as
individuals, but because of their looks. For instance, as soon as Romeo sees Juliet he is
shocked by her beauty, and compares her to a “rich jewel” (I. v. 51-54). Romeo asks
himself: “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight, / for I ne’er saw true beauty till
this night” (I. v. 59-60). This means that it is not Juliet who he loves, but her beauty. The
same thing can be said about Juliet. Specifically, during the famous balcony scene she
calls Romeo her “Lord” (II. ii. 151-155). Again, Juliet has only seen Romeo’s physical
appearance, which is what she adores. Of course, it is the interior beauty that should be
loved about someone, not the exterior one. Romeo and Juliet are both foolish to fall in
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love with each other only because of their looks. On the one hand, it is normal at first to
like someone’s physical appearance, yet on the other hand, this should never be the
reason for marrying that person. One should get to know the other person intimately
before taking such a big step. Unfortunately, this is not what Romeo and Juliet decide to
do. In fact, they plan their marriage the same night they meet. These ridiculous and
flighty decisions end up bringing them a troubled and tragic life.
Romeo and Juliet also break many rules because of their uncontrolled emotions. It
progresses to the point where they cannot see any of the consequences of their behavior.
After the party scene, Juliet calls down the balcony:
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.
(II. ii. 36-39)
Juliet is suggesting Romeo to give up his name and if not she will do so. Romeo agrees to
Juliet’s decision and states:
I take thee at thy word.
Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized.
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
(II. ii. 53-55)
Juliet and Romeo are both ready to marry each other even though they are from enemy
families. They do not care about the problems of marrying someone from the hated rival
families. They also do not think about the possible consequences of their behavior. They
are ready to clear any obstacle that might get in the way of their love. This behavior is
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foolish since at some point they will be discovered and punished for their disobedience.
Instead of finding another way to solve their dilemma they decide to act in secret, which
creates more trouble and horrible consequences. The outcomes of their actions are
contrary to what they had hoped. Their uncontrolled love is more detrimental than
beneficial to their well-being.
Romeo and Juliet are ready to do anything for love. During Juliet’s drug induced
sleep, Romeo comes to see her thinking that she is dead. As a result he feels lost without
her and decides to poison himself and die for his love, as he states: “Here’s to my love.
(Drinking). O true apothecary, / thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (V. iii. 116120). Even though this may seem a gesture full of love, it is actually a foolish decision. If
he did not act on impulse and commit suicide he would have realized that Juliet was not
really dead. After Juliet awakens, she realizes what has happened and is upset because
Romeo drank all of the poison and did not leave her some, as she says:
What’s here? A cup closed in my true love’s hand?
Poison, I see, hath been his timeless end.O churl, drunk all, and left no friendly drop
To help me after! I will kiss thy lips.
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them,
To make me die with a restorative.
(V. iii. 166-171)
Ironically, she calls Romeo’s kiss a “restorative” medicine instead of a dangerous
weapon which will in actual fact kill her. Unable to kill herself with a kiss, she decides to
commit suicide by stabbing herself with a knife. Clearly, we can see how such infatuation
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overpowers every other feeling and emotion causing everything, including life, to appear
unimportant. As such, teens’ uncontrollable romantic emotions result in foolish and
short-sighted actions, which cause dangerous and lethal consequences. In this case both
deaths could have been avoided.
To summarize teenagers’ short sighted passion causes rash actions and negative
results, as it is based on external attraction, it renders the teen unable to see possible dire
consequences, and it is impulsive. Is this fleeting infatuation with its negative results
really worth it? Do we not all dream of a happy ending? The story of Romeo and Juliet
can only teach us that it is unwise to fall in love with someone’s physical beauty. Instead,
one should take the time to develop a real relationship that is dependant on genuine love
and not the initial infatuation.