Buchanan 1 Gwendolyn Buchanan Ms.

Emmette English 09 Honors 13 October 2009 Tragic Flaws and How They Kill Us A tragic flaw is a term for a flaw that ultimately kills a character in a play. In real life, people have tragic flaws, but these flaws are most evident in playsspecifically tragedies, and especially in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. In William Shakespeares play, Romeo and Juliet, several characters have inherent flaws that ultimately lead them to their tragic doom. In Romeo and Juliet, the character Tybalts tragic flaw is that he is too hot tempered and belligerent. This is evident right from the beginning, when he says What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word,/ As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee in Act One, Scene One (Shakespeare 1.1. 72). This shows his temper, and how he gets piqued over nothing. In this instance, Tybalt is ready to duel with two servants over nothing more than one of the servants claiming a better master than the other servant. The other servants master happens to be one of Tybalts relations, and it seems as thought Tybalt would consider it a blight on his honor to let the servant live. Another time, Tybalt is at his unclesLord Capuletsparty. Tybalt sees Romeo at the party, and immediately is ready to duel with Romeo. Fortunately, Lord Capulet intervenes. Lastly, Tybalt sees Romeo in the streets of Verona one day. He walks up to Romeo, and insults him with Romeo! The love I bear the can afford/ No better name than this: thou art a villain! (3.1.61-62). When Romeo does not defend his honor, Romeos friend

Buchanan 2 Mercutio steps in and fights Tybalt himself. Unfortunately, when Romeo comes between the two, Tybalt manages to kill Mercutio. Then Romeo is finally inspired to kill Tybalt, because Romeo and Mercutio were best friends. Thus, Tybalts tragic flaw brings about his own doom. Juliet also has an important tragic flaw: she is too impulsive, and does not think about her decisions. First of all, Juliet agrees to marry Romeo after having known him for less than twelve hours. Her love for Romeo leads her to make other impulsive decisions. Another example of Juliets impetuous behavior is when, after Romeo is banished, Juliet runs to Friar Lawrence for help. She suggests suicide, and lists all the things she would do to have Romeo back. She says O bid me leap, rather than marry Paris,/ From off the battlements of any tower./ Or walk in thievish ways, or bid me lurk/ Where serpents are; chain me with roaring bears and more (4.1.77-80). So when the friar suggests a madcap scheme, Juliet readily goes along with it. Juliets last reckless action, however, has a far greater effect on her life than anything elsethough all the aforementioned deeds are monumental. She kills herself. When she is down in the tomb, she sees Romeo lying dead, and out of despair commits suicide, saying, Yea, noise? Then Ill be brief. O happy dagger!/ This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die. So finally, Juliet, too, dies due to her own flaw. The last victim of tragic flaws is Romeo. He is way too passionate and foolhardy. First, he wants to marry Juliet after knowing her less than twelve hours. As Juliet says, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow (2.1.144). He proposes to marry Juliet the day after they have been introduced, and she accepts. The second rash and

unreasonable thing Romeo does is to kill Tybalt. When Tybalt kills Mercutio, that incites

Buchanan 3 Romeo to kill Tybalt, therefore getting Romeo banished. So by taking care of something himself that should have been left to the law, Romeo has a big impact on his life. Then, Romeo kills himself. First, while he is still in Mantua, he buys A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear/ As will disperse itself through all the veins/ That the life-weary taker may fall dead (5.1.60-62). Then he goes back to Verona to visit Juliets grave. When he sees that she really is dead, he kills himself with the poison. Ultimately, Romeos tragic flaw leads to his demise, also. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, many characters have tragic flaws that bring about their death. However, the play would not be the same without the tragic flaws. Flaws are an important part of everyones life. They change how we think and what we do, and, sometimes, they change whether we live or die. The world, too, would be drastically changes without tragic flaws.

Buchanan 4 Works Cited Page Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Prentice Hall Literature. Eds. Kate Kinsella et al. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice, 2007.