The suicidal impulse in Romeo and Juliet is attributed to their young, desperate love rather than representing the play's theme of the highest form of love. Romeo and Juliet barely knew each other, having met only four times, yet they believed their love could overcome any obstacles and married in haste. Their love was immature and impulsive, blinding them to the differences between their families and consequences of their actions. When faced with separation, their desperation and poor decision-making led them to take their own lives, though suicide should not have been their only option.

1. Suicide Impulse in Romeo and Juliet.
William Shakespeare, in his play, Romeo and Juliet reveal his main theme as the
highest form of love. The play is meant to expound on the real meaning of love, and through
example, show that real love may result in desperate measures to maintain it. According to
Shakespeare, real love is the ideal emotion where lovers are ready to risk everything,
including their sense of being for love (Roberts, 2018). Shakespeare captures the ultimate
emotion in his final scene, where both Romeo and Juliet end their lives when they anticipate
they will never feel such a deep connection and powerful love ever. However, the suicidal
impulse presented in Romeo and Juliet does not portray the play's main theme of the highest
form of love but relates to the theme of desperate young love.
The desperate young love does not relate to the fact that the two lovers are in their
adolescents, but young since the lovers barely know each other since they only had a
relationship for a short period. Throughout the play, the two lovers Romeo and Juliet who
seem to be madly in love with each other only met on four occasions. The first occasion the
two main characters met is at the Capulet’s feast, where it is the first time they first set eyes
on one another. The second occasion is in front of Juliet’s window, and the third occasion is
at the secret garden where the two lovers wedded. The fourth and final occasion they met is at
Juliet’s bedroom, where they made love for the first time. Both Romeo and Juliet have fallen
in the highest form of love by the short conversations they had, and they both feel attracted to
each other right from the first time they met (Andrews, 2015). Despite their age where
Romeo is presented to be in his late teens, probably in the early twenties, and Juliet is
presented as a thirteen-year-old girl, they can be deemed to be exceptional people with
exceptional love.
The main theme in the play Romeo and Juliet is love and more importantly, the young
love of the two main characters. The powerful love of Romeo and Juliet has blinded them not

2. to oversee various concerns such as the differences between their families, the consequences
of their actions, and their true personalities. Their love can be deemed highly emotional, as
well as foolish and immature (Andrews, 2015). The level of immaturity and foolishness is
exposed by the decision to marry in secret only after meeting twice. Romeo and Juliet believe
the powerful love they have for each other will conquer all obstacles, and they are ready and
willing to die for each other.
As presented in act 1, scene 4, Juliet is ready to marry Romeo without even knowing
him. The level of immaturity in Juliet, who is thirteen years old is exposed since she is
prepared to kill herself if she cannot be married to Romeo and spend the rest of life with him
(Roberts, 2018). Considering this is the same night the two had met Juliet’s rash decision to
marry a lover she barely knows, his personality is not ideal. On the other hand, Romeo is
presented to be going through heartbreak. Romeo had unrequited love towards Rosalia, but
on meeting Juliet on the same night, he already claims to have eternal love for her. In act 1,
scene 5, Romeo is seen proclaiming love for Juliet in the best lines. However, the audience
perceives that if there were a more beautiful girl than Juliet, then Romeo would fall in love
again.
The decision both Romeo and Juliet make to marry in secret can be considered a rash
and emotionally driven. The decision proves the young love the two possess. Additionally,
their impulsive love shown throughout the play expounds on the suicidal impulse by both
lovers (Andrews, 2015). The young love they two lovers have, and the fact they are quite
young tend to control them instead of the consequences and reasons for the decisions they
make. Impulsive love is clearly outlined by the leaning of love both Romeo and Juliet
display.
The two lovers may be considered youths who met in vulnerable points of their lives
and were forcibly separated. Romeo was going through heartbreak by Rosaline and had gone

3. to the party with hopes of seeing her. However, he ends up stalking Juliet and falls in love
immediately. In his heartbreak, Romeo is presented to have suicidal thoughts where he
describes his life, “expire the term of a despised life" (Roberts, 2018). It is clear that Romeo
moves swiftly from lovesickness to infatuation.
On the other hand, Juliet, a thirteen-year-old virgin, is set to be forcefully married off
to an older man who she is set to meet at the party. However, she ends up having a quick
conversation with Romeo and ends up kissing passionately. The fact that Juliet is unaware
whether Romeo is married, she is already suicidal when she argues if Romeo is married, “My
grave is like to be my wedding bed" (Roberts, 2018). The events above show the relationship
despite love being involved it not a promising relationship.
Desperation is also a major concern to consider as the leading cause of the suicide impulse in
Romeo and Juliet. Romeo sneaks to Capulet compound only to overhear Juliet proclaim her
love for him. Despite the couple meeting the previous night, Romeo rushes to Friar Laurence
who agrees to wed the couple but is shocked by Romeo’s volatility. Laurence warns Romeo
to move slow and wisely since those who run fast often stumble. Trouble strikes again when
Tybalt kills one of Romeo's friends only for Romeo to revenge and kill him. The action leads
to the banishing of Romeo by the Prince of Verona (Andrews, 2015). The banishing comes
before Romeo and Juliet had consummated in the marriage. News of Romeo banishment
reaches Juliet, and she falls into pieces. Juliet again is suicidal due to desperation after
contemplating life without Romeo. Romeo, on the other hand, shares the same sentiments
claiming life without the Verona walls is like being in hell and is an exile to death.
Notably, Romeo and Juliet were responsible for their deaths. The two were mere
adolescents who were not fully developed. Both Romeo and Juliet allowed emotions to take
over and cloud their judgment. The couple who are presented to be madly in love seems not
to care about anything else apart from being together (Jane, 2017). It was their choice to take

4. their lives since they could not be together. Romeo is guilty of making rash decisions from
wanting Rosaline to fall in love with Juliet and pushing for marriage immediately. Romeo is
not considerate and takes death as an option to the love affair problems. Juliet, on the other
hand, is guilty of rushing to marriage, as presented in act 2, scene 2. Juliet being a young girl,
could be patient and consider knowing Romeo personality rather than rush into marriage.
In a nutshell, suicide is a topic young youth should be engaged. According to Shakespeare
self-destructive tendency, as presented in Romeo and Juliet is a separate issue. However,
young love is attributed to suicidal impulse, especially when the lovers are naïve on the
decisions they make. It is evident suicidal impulse in Romeo and Juliet is attributed to young
love, desperation, and poor decision making. In the modern world, for instance, young love
has been linked to suicidal impulse due to young people suffering from depression (Jane,
2017). Romeo and Juliet, all the same, yielded power in their death. Their death leads to
positivity in the community, and their love will be remembered. The death tragedy is not the
only way they could be together if only they had considered a different path. The death of the
two lovers, therefore, is not justifiable. The play ending with both lovers dead holding arms
proves that suicide is not the answer. In addition, suicide was always a choice for the couple
when things were not working, which should not be the case. Shakespeare’s story is a great
story to communicate to the youth that suicide is not a choice in a struggling relationship.
Lastly, the modern world can borrow from the story that a struggling relationship should seek
better avenues to solve the problems rather than consider suicide.

5. References
Andrews, J. F. (2015). Romeo and Juliet: Critical Essays. Routledge.
Jane, Z. (2017). Narrative therapy: A pathway from Romeo and Juliet into student
lives. Metaphor, (2), 30.
Roberts, S. (2018). Romeo and Juliet. Oxford University Press.