Romeo is a fairly typical teenage young
man.
He is certainly impulsive. He acts before he thinks.
This is evidenced most powerfully and tragically when he hears that Juliet is dead. His
immediate reaction is to return to Verona so that he can commit suicide in her tomb.
This would seem to be rather impulsive. Had he taken time to think about and evaluate
the situation, he would have sought out Friar Laurence to find out what
happened.
In the beginning, he would appear to be
superficial. In Act I, scene 1, he is lovesick for Rosaline. He only has to see Juliet
in Act I, scene 5 to fall out of love with her and into love with Juliet. On the the
surface, this would appear superficial but if one were to look more deeply something
extraordinary happens when they speak. Romeo begins a sonnet which becomes an extended
metaphor and Juliet continues it. Shakespeare is definitely telling us something about
these two young people. They complete each other; they are part of the same
whole.
It might seem to be selfish that he marries Juliet
and puts her into danger, but it must be remembered that Juliet is the one who suggests
marriage in Act II, scene 2.
Romeo is a much more complex
character than he would seem. Where strong emotions are concerned most people don't
behave rationally, so why should a teenage Romeo?
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