That "Romeo and Juliet" is the story of a faint-hearted, melancholic young man who cannot control his emotions ...

Essay by LittleBrittleHigh School, 10th gradeA+, September 2004

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'"Romeo and Juliet" is the story of a faint-hearted, melancholic young man who cannot control his emotions.'

Contrary to popular belief, the character of Romeo Montague from the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, was not brave or courageous to sacrifice himself in the name of love. He was actually a faint-hearted and suicidal young man, who was unable to hold control over his emotions and often made drastic decisions without considering the consequences. Romeo was still pining for Rosaline when he laid eyes on Juliet, and was not yet ready to truly feel love. He often spoke of death and suicide, and there were many instances when he could not control himself.

At the opening of the play, there was a melancholy Romeo, depressed because he had been left by his love, Rosaline, but later that very day, he saw Juliet, and fell instantly in love with her.

Half a day is not sufficient time for a person to recover from a broken heart and fall in love again, therefore Romeo was faint-hearted and overemotional, and did not understand true feelings. Before Romeo had met Juliet, he was distressed over his loss of Rosaline, who he believed he loved:

"For beauty starved with her severity

Cuts beauty off from all posterity.

She is too fair, too wise, wisely too fair,

To merit bliss by making me despair.

She hath forsworn to love, and in that vow

Do I live dead that live to tell it now."

(Act 1, Scene 1: 216-221)

How could strong feelings such as these have disappeared within twenty-four hours? After Romeo had first seen Juliet, he said "Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! / For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." His emotion had transferred from self-pity over...