The Unethical Aspects of Love in Romeo and Juliet

Crystal Pham

Classics 9

Inquiry Project
 The classical play Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare around 1597.
The story was inspired by Aurthur Brooke’s poem, The Tragicall Historye of Romeus and Juliet;
the 3,020 poem was written around the 15th-16th century. Shakespeare’s revision is based in
Verona, Italy; narrates the romance of two teenage star-crossed lovers from rival families of
Capulet and Montague, which sadly end in both their deaths from a mutual suicide. Although
many readers and lovable fans of Shakespeare interpret Romeo and Juliet as a romantic tale;
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet’s portrayal of young adult romance was immoral. There were
flawed aspects of both characters and unjustifiable actions committed, that made this story an
unromantic tragedy.

William Shakespeare is known as a brilliant English playwriter, poet, and actor who lived
during the Renaissance era. He was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England (modernly known as
Stratford, England) on April 23, 1564, and deceased, at his birthplace, on April 23, 1616, at age
52. He was the son of John and Mary Shakespeare, née Arden, they had three younger sons after
Shakespeare (Gilbert, Richard, and Edmund) and two elder daughters (Joan and Judith), whom
of which died during infancy. In Shakespeare's primary and secondary years, he attended
“King’s New School” (Biography 2) in his hometown; which he was taught to read classical
literature and written fundamentals. During his career, Shakespeare wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets,
3 long lengthened narrative poems, and “other projects without his authorship” (Brown et al. 1).
His plays consist of comedies, historical events, tragedies, and romances; one of the best written
English literatures by Shakespeare is his play Romeo and Juliet. This play is based in Verona,
Italy about a tragical romance, written around 1597; following a three-day relationship between
two teenage love interests from enemy households, Capulet and Montague.

The play introduced Romeo, son of Montague, who arrived at his enemy’s royal
masquerade party with his friends, Benvolio and Mercutio; where he met Juliet, daughter of his
father’s rival, Capulet. They both instantly fell in love with each other and planned a secret
marriage the next day under Friar Laurence’s supervision. Unfortunate events later occurred
leading to Tybalt’s (Juliet’s cousin) murder committed by Romeo, and his banishment from the
town. Juliet, who was heartbroken by the news, desired to run away from her toxic household
with Romeo; created from her refusal to marry Count Paris. With her attempt to escape Verona,
she received a sleeping potion from Friar Laurence to fake her own death, where Romeo’s kiss
would awaken her. Unexpectedly, Friar’s messenger failed to deliver Romeo the news and made
him believe that his wife was deceased. Consumed by his emotions, Romeo committed suicide
after kissing Juliet, which left her to wake up to witness his laying corpse, and sadly stabbed
herself in the process. The play ends with the grieving families of Capulet and Montague finally
ending their feud, which cost the lives of their children.

The relationship between Romeo and Juliet should not have been viewed as romantic. It
narrates the story of two teenagers who had a three-day relationship, leading to their deaths from
a mutual suicide. As well, there were many unethical aspects of their relationship, which were
caused by their personal problems and the concern of their undeveloped brains. Since the
characters all act impulsively without consideration of their consequences, mainly Romeo during
the final Act of the play. Still acknowledging the Renaissance period, where serious child
marriages (Juliet and Paris) with large age differences were modernized; this essay will analyze
Romeo and Juliet as characters of the play through the modern perspective of the 21st century.
Therefore, presenting an alternative viewpoint on their relationship, where the two love interests
only pursued each other for their personal benefits and revenge.

A reason to believe Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was not as romantic as it seemed,
was how Romeo’s intentions with Juliet were not truthful and only used her as a rebound
relationship against Rosaline. Shakespeare’s play introduced Romeo, in Scene I of Act I, as a
hopeless romantic teenager in love with a Capulet family member, Rosaline. Although Rosaline
did not return his love, unlike how Juliet did; his portrayed desire for both girls were both vastly
different. During Scene I of Act I, Romeo was met by Benvolio to express his sadness about
Rosaline’s unawareness of him. "she'll not be hit / With Cupid’s arrow, she hath Dian’s wit, /
And in strong proof of chastity well-armed / From love’s weak and childish bow she lives
unharmed.” (Rom. I, I, 203-206). Romeo made a metaphoric speech that Rosaline is protecting
her chastity (virginity) from him, and she would not take a hint from his flirting. He was upset
that Rosaline’s external beauty could not be shared with future generations if she does not lose
her virginity to him. Throughout the scene, Romeo was villainizing Rosaline, until met Juliet at
the Capulet’s masquerade ball, where he developed a deep love for her. Romeo never had the
heart to mention that the only reason he was at the ball, was because he needed a distraction from
Rosaline, by finding other “beauties” (Ben. I, II, 86). His romance with Juliet was forced since
she was his rebound relationship. Juliet appealed to Romeo because of her appearance, which is
the reoccurring theme of his treatment with women. Their marriage was planned within seconds
after their few encounters with another.

Romeo might have genuinely loved Juliet and never meant to use her as a rebound
relationship. Of course, he was head over heels for Rosaline for the first couple of scenes during
Act I, but he immediately forgot her presence after his encounter with Capulet’s daughter.
Truthfully, Romeo attended the party to forget his eagerness for Rosaline’s love, and to find
other girls to talk to. Teenagers often have crushes that last for an extended period of time, but
once they find someone better, they would forget about their crush in a split second. Everyone
comes and goes in Romeo’s reality; he is eager for love from young beautiful girls and only their
physical appearances capture his attention. Although his treatment of both girls was extremely
different, his objectification towards Rosaline was not justifiable; he was disrespectful towards
her. “This love that thou hast shown / Doth add more grief to too much of mine own” (Rom. I, I,
184-185). He treated his love for Rosaline as an obtained disease, with effects of grief and
suffering; since Romeo had an extreme emotional attachment towards her. “Love is a smoke
made with the fumes of sighs; / Being purged, a fire sparkling in lover’s eyes; / Being vexed, a
sea nourished with lovers’ tears. / A madness most discreet, / A choking gall, and a preserving
sweet” (Rom. I, I, 185-189). Romeo’s poetic speech described how love is a smoke created from
his sighs, and a spark of fire erupts from within. When that spark is passed alongside his eyes,
tears overflow. With mention of how that spark is Rosaline, and never had a young woman made
him feel that sort of way. For the duration of his relationship with Juliet, he did only fell in love
with her for her beauty; the longer they were together, a bond and connection develop. His
relationship with Juliet continued without suffering and pain, because she shared the same
mutual love with him; Romeo was happy with Juliet. He adored her more than he did with
Rosaline, and maybe he never intended to use Juliet, but rather he escaped from his severe pits of
anguish.

Romeo is not the only one who mistreated his partner, Juliet’s pursuit of Romeo was an
act of rebellion against her arranged marriage with Count Paris. Juliet was first introduced in the
play in Scene III of Act I, as a requested bridal for a wealthy man, Count Paris. Under Capulet’s
consideration, he hosted a masquerade ball for his daughter to meet Paris. Juliet, who was not
ready for marriage and rather resumed as a child; she was still unsure of the thought of meeting
Paris. “It is an honour that I dream not of.” (Jul. I, III, 66), when Lady Capulet asked her about
marriage. Having heard of Juliet’s opinion, her mother chose to ignore her. “Here in Verona,
ladies of esteem, / Are made already mothers. By my count / I was your mother much upon these
years / That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief: / The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.”
(Lady Cap. I, III, 72-76). Juliet had no choice but to follow her parents' wishes, as they are
authority figures to her. Teenagers act under the influence of their amygdale, located in the brain;
are responsible for immediate reactions, often used as a frontal cortex substitute. The frontal
cortex is only functionally used during adulthood, where teenagers are still developing. The
amygdala simulates aggressive, erratic behaviours along with fear; actions are influenced by
emotions. Juliet, under the effect of her amygdale, disobeyed her family’s orders by pursuing
another man; becoming a bonus as Romeo is the son of their rival household, Montague. In a
rush, Juliet pressureed Romeo into a committed relationship with her, because she was worried
about her wedding with Paris being arranged. They undergo a marriage at Friar Laurance's (their
paster) cell. The friar knew if he once marries the two wealthy children, it will end the feud
between their households, causing the lives of many other villagers. The Capulets arranged
Juliet’s wedding the following day; after Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris, Capulet raged at her and
threatened to disown her. “Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch! / I tell thee what – get
thee to church a Thursday / Or never after look me in the face.” (Cap. III, V, 160-162). Juliet had
to beg on her knees so her father would not banish her from their home. This situation caused
emotional pain towards Juliet, where she mentioned her suicidal thoughts with Frair Laurence. “I
long to die” (Jul. IV, I, 67). She expressed her wishes to die than to have a second relationship
with Paris, which led to her death alongside Romeo.

Romeo and Juliet was written during the Renaissance period where child marriages were
normalized and every household was participating in it, as the term “adolescents” was not yet
defined. Past societies had different social standards, laws, and especially the world’s treatment
of women. The importance of acknowledging the past can support one’s understanding of the
past’s perspective on how child marriages were justifiable; since young women were determined
as “adults” once they first start menstruating. Arranged marriages were organized to maintain
upper class wealth, financial security, and “monetary worth” (Medieval Times 4). The Capulet
family was written as a wealthy upper-class household who had strong influences among Verona
villagers. They had good intentions with Juliet and wanted their daughter to maintain a wealthy
lifestyle; they cared about her future dearly. Though, Juliet refused to marry a stranger during the
time she had eyes for another young man, Romeo; who she may deeply love, to the point where
she risked her life for him. “To live an unstained wife of my sweet love.” (Jul. IV, I, 88-89).
Juliet’s first encounter with Romeo made her worried of his feelings towards her since she
immediately asked for his vows. She valued Romeo’s opinions more than her own because Juliet
asked him if she’s too quickly won over, which projects her true love and dedication towards
him. In Scene III of Act V, when Juliet is awakened next to Romeo’s laying corpse, “O happy
dagger.” (Jul. V, III, 169) was spoken as her last final dialogue before her death. Juliet expressed
her words in a graceful manner; indicated that she never intended to continue a life without her
lover and made a commitment to follow him to their grave.

During Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, Romeo was never a good romantic partner, since
he only objectified women and created an environment where his friends would justify his
actions. Shakespeare presented Romeo as a romantic male figure, who adored young female
attention, and captured the heart of Juliet Capulet. Any dialogue spoken by Romeo constantly
expressed objectification regarding women, only cared about his feelings. Rosaline, of Capulet
house, was a victim of his objectification; in Scene I of Act I, Romeo was met by Benvolio to
discuss his unbearable emotions towards Rosaline. Throughout Romeo's dialogue, he had spoken
of Rosaline’s body and how beautiful it was; he could not differentiate between compliments and
objectification, especially sexualization.“But beauty starved with her severity / Cuts beauty off
from all posterity.” (Rom. I, I, 214-215). Women have been extremely objectified and sexualized
throughout history, and Romeo and Juliet was written during the Renaissance where women did
not have rights and were not viewed as people. Romeo villainized Rosaline because she refused
to return the same love he gave her and continued to stay as virgin. He called her selfish for
participating in any sexual activity and he worried that future generations would not be able to
obtain her beauty; he mentioned how her virginity (chastity) is “well-armed” (Rom. I, I, 205).
Rosaline was never impressed by Romeo’s charms or his loving intentions for her, since she is
independent and never vulnerable, like he thought she would be.
 Mercutio may have had the greatest influence on Romeo, for him to adapt to Mercutio's
manners; since his actions were obnoxious and disrespectful against everyone, especially
women. He encouraged Romeo to sexualize Rosaline alongside him, “Rosaline’s bright eyes, /
By her high forehead and her scarlet lip. / By her fine foot, straight leg, and quivering thigh, /
And the demesnes that there adjacent lie” (Mer. II, I, 17-20). This was not an excuse for
Romeo’s behaviour towards Rosaline, but it is an important acknowledgment that he was
influenced by Mercutio. If there were an alternate version of Romeo and Juliet, then maybe
Romeo would have treated Rosaline and Juliet differently. He was a young boy, and most of his
behaviour and decision making were formed with his undeveloped amygdala; without use of his
frontal cortex, he can easily act under the influence. Most young men during Romeo’s age never
consider the consequences of their actions or understand how harmful their words can be. There
were also good traits of Romeo that made him a good partner to Juliet. An example was when he
heard from Benvolio that Juliet was “dead,” his first instinct was to commit suicide to be
alongside his wife. Although his desire was foolish, he showed a deep connection with Juliet and
could not bear the thought of living a life without her presence.

William Shakespear’s 1587 literary play, Romeo and Juliet, was a romantic tragedy about
two teenage star-crossed lovers who took their own life because of their families’ conflict.
Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was never romantic as it seemed and was very unethical; due to
both parties suffering from their parents' feud and from their personal problems, which led to
their immediate deaths. They were both very young and their brains were still developing,
making them act under impulse throughout the story. Juliet had an arranged marriage that
conflicted with her relationship with Romeo and with the Capulet house; Romeo had to choose
whether he wanted to continue loving his first love interest, Rosaline, and if he would every love
Juliet the same way he loved Rosaline. Along with his attitude towards women throughout the
play, caused Rosaline to reject his love for her, which caused him immense pain. Though, the
Capulet daughter was never innocent as she seemed to be; she used Romeo to rebel against her
controlling household. Juliet knew how sinful it was to love her sworn enemy, a Montague boy,
and how it will cause immediate corruption in her family. After Capulet verbally abused Juliet,
she knew what she desired most, to leave her home with Romeo, or die before her marriage with
Paris. These problems from both protagonists pursuing each other immorally, caused poor
inevitable decision making, leading to their deaths.