Sullenger 1

Camilla Sullenger

McDonell

English 9E - 6

7 February 2017

Romeo, a role model for true love?

This quote, “We are shaped and fashioned by what we love.”, from Johann

Wolfgang von Goethe conveys the idea that you are influenced by what you love.

People change their character and values to please someone else. In the story of

Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare, Romeo is impatient and loses track

of himself when caught up in his idea of love. Romeo’s actions will lead to his own self -

destruction. Undeniably, Romeo is a negative role model for loving truly and deeply

because he lacks the temperance that is necessary for true love.

To begin, the absence of temperance in Romeo is what demonstrates why he is

a negative role model for true love. Romeo is impatient and at times loses self - control.

This excerpt shows a time when Balthasar is speaking to Romeo and pleading to him to

just wait a minute and think. “I do beseech you, sir, have patience. Your looks are pale

and wild, and do import some misadventure” (Shakespeare 5. 1. 27 - 29). Balthasar is

saying that Romeo does not look like he has good intentions and this could lead to

misfortune. He also states that Romeo needs to be patient. Romeo is missing self -
 Sullenger 2

control because he is not thinking about the outcome of his actions. Self - control is the

ability to monitor one’s behavior in the presence of temptations and instincts. Romeo’s

instinct is to go to Juliet no matter what the consequences may be. Another aspect of

self - control is not letting the love overtake your goals and morals. To elaborate on this

concept, an excerpt from The Love Motivator by Meg Selig explains what true love can

do for you. “True love is consistent with your higher values and goals, expands your

sense of self, and helps you function in this world.” Meg Selig is saying that when your

own goals are steady with love, it allows you to see yourself in a different light and helps

you to find purpose in this world. This does not mean you need to be selfish and put

your values before your love but don’t let them slip away. Therefore, Romeo can not be

a positive role model because he does not have the self - control needed for true love.

On the other hand, some would say Romeo is a positive role model for loving

truly and deeply. They believe that Romeo has temperance when it comes to loving

Juliet and the ability to control his emotions and temptations when the situation

concerns her. While it may be true that, at times, Romeo has the self - control to love

truly and deeply, it is clear that he lacks the strength to control himself. It is evident that

Romeo is deficient in moderation because he can’t control his affection for Juliet.

In conclusion, because he lacks the temperance that is necessary for true love,

Romeo is a negative role model for loving truly and deeply. It is indisputable that Romeo

does not have self - control which is advising your own emotions when you have
 Sullenger 3

impulses. From this, take the meaning behind loving truly and deeply; have temperance

and do not let the love overpower your goals.

 Sullenger 4

Works Cited

Selig, Meg. The Love Motivator. Psychologytoday.com,

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/changepower/201008/the-love-motivator

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Sparknotes.com,

http://nfs.sparknotes.com/romeojuliet/

Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Goodreads.com,

www.goodreads.com/quotes/23105-we-are-shaped-and-fashioned-by-what-we-

love.