Time: 35.7.09Rough Draft:
One person’s actions can shape the lives of not only themselves, but anyone who interacts with them. In Shakespeare’s classic love story, Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s impulsive actions impact all other events in the story. From free will to fate, his decisions affect not only him, but everyone around him (EDIT). One of the people most affected by Romeos actions is Mercutio. When Romeo becomes depressed because his beloved Rosaline will not sleep with him, Mercutio swoops in to help Romeo out of his lust inspired stupor (Zeffirelli). Romeo makes the conscious decision to fall into a depressed state of mind, and as a feeble attempt to help him, Mercutio peer pressures Romeo into crashing the Capulet’s costume party. But, before this party, Romeo has a dream about “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars… Of a despised life closed in my breast, By some vile forfeit of untimely death” (1. 4. 107-110). Although, he still makes the ultimate decision to ignore the dream, which Mercutio backs up by stating that, “I talk of dreams, which are the children of an idle brain, Begot of nothing but vain fantasy” (1. 4. 96-98). Mercutio, a strong believer in free will, wholeheartedly supports Romeo’s decision to ignore the nightmare. On the other hand, Romeo, who is a strong believer in fate, knows that someone will suffer, yet he chooses to ignore his gut feeling. Later on, when Mercutio dies, he condemns the two families to “a plague o’ both your houses” (3. 1. 91). Although in reality Tybalt is the one who made the final strike, Romeo is the one who ultimately is responsible for the death of Mercutio. Had they not gone to the party, Tybalt wouldn’t have seen them, and Mercutio would still be alive. Mercutio comes to this realization, and this is why he curses both the families. Romeo’s actions affect Mercutio almost as much as they affect Romeo himself. Romeo also begins to realize this as the story progresses. He begins to feel remorse for his actions, and he admits to this when, holding a gun to Tybalt’s head, he proclaims, “Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him” (3. 1. 91). This is one of several climaxes in the story, as it is when Romeo sees himself for the first time as the cause of all of the problems. His actions create an extensive chain of cause-and effect components, which is what Romeo realizes. After Romeo’s original love, Rosaline, refuses to have sex with him, he falls into a deep depression (Zeffirelli). In order to escape this cruel reality, he decides to give up his free will to fate. But, he is willing to risk many lives in order to find an escape from this endless despair that fills his life. To escape from his own life, Romeo (dressed as a knight in shining armor) attends the Capulet’s party with several of his closest friends (Luhrmann). At first glance, Romeo’s costume may look like Romeo is Juliet’s knight; he is purposely dressed this way. Romeo is simply his own knight in shining armor. Mercutio’s drugs allowed him to escape his mind, and the party allows him to recognize that there are other women that can be loved, such as the lovely Juliet Capulet. In the classic love story, Romeo and Juliet, every single action or event can be tied back to Romeo. Any decisions that he made impacted the rest of the story, and molded many people’s understanding of love. More importantly, Romeo and Juliet, can show us that actions have effects and can either help or hinder those involved. REVISED OUTLINE: Rough Draft Thesis –Romeos impulsive actions impacted not only himself, but those closest to him. Body Paragraph #2 Title – Romeo's actions --TS: Throughout the movie Romeo's actions affect everyone, although he does not realize it. --CD #1 Title - Trying to escape from his own reality --CD #2 Title – saving himself --CD #3 Title- seeing his mistakes Body Paragraph #1 Title – Romeo and Mercutio interactions/effects --TS: Romeo's actions have a huge effect on Mercutio, Romeo's best friend --CD #1 Title – a helping hand --CD #2 Title – depression --CD #3 Title- Realization
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Samantha HolmesI'm a Freshman at MSHS! Archives
June 2014
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