"A flower cannot blossom without sunshine, and a man cannot live without love.
German philologist and Orientalist, Max Muller, states that "as a flower needs sunshine for nourishment, a man needs love in order to grow, even if the love lowers their overall quality of life." This quote describes the thoughts going through Romeo's head with an uncanny similarness. His lovesick attitude toward life results in unwise decisions, and his mood is directly controlled by his state of mind concerning love. In "Romeo and Juliet," William Shakespeare proposes that love and desire control much of human lives. Romeo's recklessness, continuously dulling senses, and Juliet's willingness to kill herself rather than marrying Paris all represent this mindset. .
Romeo displays his impulsiveness, a primary character trait which is only intensified by his passionate response to finding love, throughout the entire play. Romeo's recklessness is introduced early on in the play. When confronted by Friar Lawrence, Romeo affirms this mentality by saying: "With Rosaline, my ghostly Father? No / I have forgot that name and that name's woe" "(Shakespeare 2.3.45-46). Evidently, Romeo has just abandoned a girl he has shed so many tears for in pursuit of someone he has just met. Later on in the play, Romeo's recklessness is further established through his murder of Tybalt. Romeo's calm disposition is shattered by Mercutio's death, and his quick mood change is shown in the line: "Away to heaven, respective lenity / And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now" "(3.1.85-86). Romeo's rapid mood change is undoubtedly caused by his intuition, not by careful thought and consideration. Even the play's most explicit plot elements reveal that Romeo is an impulsive and unpredictable character. .
Romeo's continuously lowering judgement threshold, triggered by his obsession with love, is a theme shown throughout the entire play. Romeo's judgement baseline is set in act one when he decides to go to the Capulet party even though there is an enormous risk of starting a skirmish.
