Chen-You Wu

February 21, 2017

English 9

Mr. Hartwig

Romeo, the Immoral Youth of Verona

Many of the most famous characters in history, real or fictional, are virtuous. They do

many deeds in the course of their life, bettering society and promoting the greater good. Yet

there are many exceptions, and some greats are not virtuous at all. Romeo Montague, in William

Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, is one such exception. Romeo and Juliet is a play about

two rival families, the Capulets and Montagues. Two children of these families fall in love, go

through a series of unfortunate events, and end up dead. A virtuous person is someone who has

high moral standards, and their behavior will reflect such standards. Romeos actions in the play

clearly demonstrate that his moral standards are quite low. He courts and marries Juliet Capulet

without consent from her father. Romeo also hunts down Tybalt Capulet and kills him in revenge

for killing Mercutio, a friend of the Montagues. The deeds show that Romeo Montague is not a

virtuous and good person, but an immoral one.

When courting, it is standard practice for the male to ask the females father for

permission. In Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet, Romeo does not do so. Instead, he courts

Juliet in secret If that was not bad enough, Romeo marries Juliet without the consent of her

father. In Act III, Lord Capulet, Juliets father, decides to marry Juliet off to County Paris.

Shakespeare writes, Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed; Acquaint her here of my son Paris'

love;[...]. She shall be married to this noble earl (Shakespeare Act III, iv, 15-21). This quote

clearly demonstrates that Lord Capulet is completely unaware that Juliet is in fact already
married. Any father would not marry off their daughter if their daughter was already married.

The fact that Lord Capulet decides to marry Juliet to County Paris show that Juliet and Romeo

went behind his back in their relationship. Romeo never asks Lord Capulet for permission to

court and marry Juliet, which is why Lord Capulet does not know of their relationship. Because

Romeo ignores standard, moral practices when courting, Romeo is not a virtuous person.

In Act IV of William Shakespeares play Romeo and Juliet, innocent Romeo becomes a

cold blooded murderer. After Mercutio is slain by Tybalt, Romeo hunts Tybalt down and duels

him. This duel is fatal, and Tybalt dies as a result. Shakespeares writes, Tybalt, here slain,

whom Romeo's hand did slay (Shakespeare Act IV, i, 148). Romeo kills Tybalt in response to

Mercutios death at the hands of Tybalt. No matter how much someone may want to kill another

person, high moral standards would prevent them from doing so, since killing someone unjustly

is wrong. They would proceed justly and in the correct process, instead of murdering the

murderer. Low moral standards result in a different paradigm about what is right and wrong, and

will influence their decision about whether or not they should slay someone, even if it is in

revenge. Romeo chooses to fight Tybalt and kill him, demonstrating that he does not have high

moral standards, and is therefore immoral and not virtuous.

Virtue is hard to come by, and keeping high moral standards is exhausting. Even so, the

greatest people always hold true to themselves. It is in times of emotional and mental hardship

does one truly show their true self. In these difficult times for Romeo, Romeo is unable to haul

in his emotions and ends up letting his emotions dictate his actions. He courts Juliet in his lust

for her without acquiring permission from her father. Romeo also kills Tybalt in rage and

anguish. These emotional takeovers show Romeos truest self, and that self is one of low moral
standards. Romeo is an immoral youth, as shown by these actions demonstrating low moral

standards. Romeo is most definitely not virtuous, but an immoral and sinful being.