Romeo’s banishment brought out many feelings from Romeo and Juliet which caused them to make some similar and different reactions and decisions driving the play forward. Romeo and Juliet’s reaction were almost mirror to each other, but there were some ways they acted that were the polar opposite. Romeo and Juliet was both angry, worried, and had suicidal thoughts after just thinking about their future after Romeo got banished. They also had other various thoughts such as Romeo blamed himself, while Juliet believed if anything he did what he had to do. While Romeo was trying to figure out what to do about his banishment, Juliet at the moment was crying and weeping. Finally, Juliet is not sure which side she is on, is she on the side of Romeo who killed her cousin or her family.
Romeo and Juliet acted very similarly when they found out about Romeo’s Banishment. After hearing about the news Juliet was angry at Romeo for killing her cousin she called his looks deceiving when she said: “O serpent head, hid with a flow’ring face!” (3.2.73) how his beauty hid his true looks. Romeo was angry because he got banished from verona where his future lies, where Juliet lives. He could not imagine living without Juliet. You see his anger when he saysHa, banishment? Be merciful,say ’Death’:For exile hath more terror in his look,Much more than death. Do not say ‘banishment’! (3.3.12-14).He rather be dead than be banished. They were both also worried, they were worried about their future with Romeo being banished. Romeo says how his life lies in Verona with Juliet. Juliet is also worried for the same reason as Romeo, her future is with Romeo and Romeo only. Now that he has been banished from Verona she is worried her future is over. Ultimately, they both had suicidal thoughts, they start looking for ways to kill themselves.
Romeo says right after hearing about his banishment from Friar LawrenceAnd sayest thou yet that exile is not death?Hadst no poison mix’d, no sharp-ground knife,No sudden mean of death, though ne’er so mean,But ‘banished’ to kill me? ‘Banished’? (3.3.43-46).Romeo is asking if Friar Lawrence has a way Romeo can end his life quickly. Juliet also has suicidal thoughts later on in the play when she goes to visit Friar Laurence with Paris to ask for help, she saysIf in thy wisdom thou canst give no help,Do thou but call my resolution wise,And with this knife I’ll help it presently (4.1.52-54).Meaning if Friar Lawrence can not help her with this problem she will help herself by killing herself. Romeo and Juliet’s reaction are alike in these manners.
Even though there were many feelings Romeo and Juliet went through that were alike they also had thoughts that were individual. Romeo blamed himself for what he did and regretted it. Romeo saysWert thou as young as I, Juliet thy love,An hour but married, Tybalt murdered,Doting like me, and like me banished, (3.3.65-67).Romeo is rethinking what he has done and if it was right or wrong, and the truth slowly dawns upon him of what he has just done. At the same moment Juliet is thinking about this and is sure Romeo did what is right because if Romeo did not kill Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed Romeo as she expressed My husband lives that tybalt would have slain,And Tybalt’s dead that would have slain my husband:
All this is comfort, wherefore weep I then? (3.2.105-107).Another way they acted differently was when Romeo after asking about Juliet to the nurse which nurse responded saying “O she says nothing, sir, but weeps and weeps, and falls on her bed, and then starts up,” (3.3.99-100) Romeo asked Friar Lawrence to help him or he’ll stab himself. The final way they acted differently was Juliet was not sure which side she was on, was she on; Romeo’s side, her husband or Tybalt and her family’s side? The first thing Juliet did after hearing about Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment was talk bad about Romeo but shortly after thinking about what had transpired says “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?”(3.2.97) here we saw her debating which side was right or wrong.
Ultimately picking Romeo’s side. These are the reasons why Romeo and Juliet’s thoughts and reactions were different. In conclusion, Romeo’s Banishment did bring out some similar and other various reactions and decisions driving the play forward. They both being angry for their own reasons, worrying about their future, and having suicidal thoughts. Also, some differences, such as Romeo’s regret, Juliet believing he did nothing wrong. Romeo looking for help and fixing his wrongs while Juliet wept. Finally, Juliet debating which side should she be on; Romeo her husband whom she loves and wants to spend her whole life with, or Tybalt her beloved cousin and her family? These are the reasons why Romeo and Juliet both had alike and different reaction to the news of Romeo’s banishment.