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Many women spend a great amount of their time searching for that one perfect mate. In William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet Capulet meets the love of her life—Romeo Montague. However, as true and perfect as Romeo supposedly is, his inability to make rational choices drags him down and prevents him becoming a good or suitable boyfriend. Time and again, Romeo has proven irrational through his hasty suicidal views, shallow love, and vengeful acts. On multiple occasions, Shakespeare foreshadows Romeo and Juliet’s impending death repeatedly to describe Romeo’s brainless decisions.
All throughout the play, Romeo Montague overwhelms himself with emotions, and on numerous instances, threatens to take his own life. The young lovers always prove too quick to his actions; he never thoroughly thought through his decisions. Immediately following Romeo’s banishment, he only thought of suicide, stating “…then mightiest thou tear thy hair and fall upon the ground, as I do now, taking the measure of an unmade grave” (III.iii.71). Romeo suffers greatly in a short time, and only wishes now to be dead. This, however, was not a onetime event. Once again, Romeo proves to be illogical when Balthasar’s confronts him with false news of the fair lady’s death. Jumping to the conclusion that Juliet is dead, Romeo slays himself. If Romeo had used the rational side of his mind, rather emotional, then both would still inhabit this world together, happy, rather heaven. Young Montague’s haste led to his downfall, but not nearly as terrible as his shallow love life.
Romeo’s shallowness plagued his chances in becoming the great boyfriend many readers believed him to be. Romeo, at the beginning of the play, was completely infatuated by Rosaline. He believed no one could replace Rosaline until he met Juliet shortly after. All his felt love shifts off Rosaline and onto Juliet, all in a matter of seconds. And soon afterwards, the two star-crossed lovers run off and marry. “… And she’s fair I love…For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (II.vi.36). Though Romeo’s such actions, it demonstrates his irrational thoughts by jumping loves and jumping into marriage. Romeo is too young and conscious to see beyond a women’s appearance. He did not have enough time to fully understand Juliet, and ultimately will lead to the downfall of their relationship. The shallow personality Romeo possesses, along with his vengefulness, curses his relationship with Juliet.
The irrational killing mentality of Romeo Montague shows that if it has not already, it will soon destroy his relationship. After his good friend Mercrutio perishes before Romeo’s eyes, he fills himself with anger and avenges his fallen friend, simply by slaying Tybalt. “Alive in triumph, and Mercrutio slain! Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now. Now, Tybalt, take the ‘villain’ back again that late thou gavest me, for Mercrutio’s soul is but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with him” (III, i, 127). Near the end of the play, Romeo also attacks Paris, who attempts to stop Romeo from committing suicide. Both occasions, Romeo allows his emotions to overpower him. His vengeful acts and incapability to think rationally presents him as an emotionally unstable and poor boyfriend. Romeo demonstrates that he cannot withstand extreme emotional distress, and when put under it he does treacherous acts. Juliet as a girlfriend, or any girl should not depend on a man like Romeo for closure. The actions he chooses will not benefit the couple’s relationship, but tear them apart. He cannot protect Juliet from dangers until he can protect himself.
All throughout the play, Romeo reveals his irrational mind, controlled only by extreme emotions; this being the only reason why Romeo is a step down from a good boyfriend. Young Montague’s haste places him in constant self-danger, not only threatening his self but Juliet too. The shallow love that Romeo possesses prevents him to see the real Juliet, and build a strong relationship. Of all Romeo’s emotional instability and irrational choices makes him vengeful and unsuitable as a boyfriend. No matter how long women have to spend, they all one day find the one perfect love.