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What comes to mind when you hear the names Romeo and Juliet? I think of love, hate, and most of all tragedy. It is a tragedy because their love led to their deaths and because Romeo and Juliet were responsible for their own destiny. From the start to the end of their love affair they knew they were going against their parents’ wishes. Romeo and Juliet also made selfish and immature decisions. And as we all know, it was Romeo and Juliet who chose to kill themselves. All of these things contributed to their premature deaths.

From their first meeting, Romeo (a Montague) and Juliet (a Capulet), knew that they were both from feuding families. Shortly after they first met Juliet said, “My only love sprung from my only hate.” [Act I sc.5 ll 145]. Juliet is saying that her love (Romeo) has come from her hate (the Montague family). Seeing as how she had just met Romeo it is very premature to call him her ‘only love’. Shortly after meeting Juliet and learning that she was a Capulet, Romeo said, “My life is my foe’s debt” [Act I sc5 ll125]. Despite knowing that they were from feuding families, Romeo and Juliet decided to pursue their love. They were conscious that they were going against their parents wished. The fact that they chose to keep their relationship a secret proves that. How did Romeo and Juliet expect to live ‘happily ever after’ if their parents did not know about their relationship? Surely Romeo and Juliet knew their parents would find out eventually. Romeo and Juliet seemed to have paid no attention to their families. They ignored their families and did not think about the consequences of their relationship. This was just one of the selfish decisions Romeo and Juliet made.

Romeo and Juliet’s relationship was plagued with selfish, irrational decisions. They chose to get married without telling their parents or friends, the only people who knew were the nurse and the friar. Romeo and Juliet rushed into the marriage without really...