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Molly Beckett

Meyer

English I

15 January 2020

Does Romeo Have Depression?

Depression is a condition that many live with, though it might not always be exactly

understood. According to Mayo Clinic, “​depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent

feeling of sadness and loss of interest” ​(Depression Major Depressive Disorder). At the

beginning of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo is saddened by his love, Rosaline, telling him that she

doesn’t love him anymore. From that moment on, Romeo showed signs and symptoms of

depression. Romeo’s actions and change in behavior such as low moods, sleep disturbance,

agitation, and difficulty concentrating, all reveal his depression.

After the loss of his first love Rosaline, Romeo’s depression becomes noticeable largely

through his symptoms of low mood and sleep disturbance. While walking alone, Romeo mutters,

“Ay Me, sad hours seem long,... Not having that which, having make them short… Out of favor

where I am in love” (Shakespeare 21). Romeo truly seems to be in such a low mood in this scene

and is saddened at the thought of love and loneliness. He feels like he is broken, as his whole

world has collapsed. He doesn’t know how to react or feel. Romeo has not been able to sleep and

while he was awake he pronounces, “Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already

sick and pale with grief ” (Shakespeare 69). Romeo exemplifies his sleeplessness in this scene,

as he wants the sun to come faster so he can be in a new day where being awake is acceptable.
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He doesn’t want to sleep, he just wants the sunlight to come out faster. Romeo’s low moods and

sleeplessness gives much evidence to support the claim that Romeo has depression.

Other symptoms of depression, as described by Mayo Clinic, that Romeo possesses

throughout the story is agitation and difficulty concentrating. Romeo’s mood changed throughout

the play and towards the end it turns more angry and agitated. He gets really angry at Tybalt

when Tybalt kills Mercuitio, even though Romeo knows it was kind of his own fault too. Romeo

gets furious at Tybalt and shouts, ‘Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fury be my conduct

now. Now, Tybalt, take the “villain” back again that late thou gavest me, for Mercuitio’s soul, is

but a little way above our heads, staying for thine to keep him company’ (Shakespeare 123).

Romeo is so mad that he wants Tybalt dead. He loved Mercutio, as they are family friends, so

Romeo was very enraged at the murder of another one of his loves. Romeo’s quick and sudden

anger at Tybalt is also evidence that he is depressed. On top of that, he also shows that he is

having difficulty concentrating. While he is walking alone in the night, all he can think about is

Juliet, so he asks “Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy

center out”. This proves how Romeo is having trouble focusing, because all he can think about is

Juliet. He ponders about the past, and he ponders about his new love, even after he lost previous

loves. The symptoms that Romeo exemplifies in these scenes help convey his depression.

Despite the evidence demonstrating Romeo having depression, many people believe

Romeo has bipolar disorder. What these people fail to see is that Romeo has more symptoms that

present depression. Those who believe that Romeo has bipolar disorder think Romeo has mood

swings. Although aspects of this argument are enticing, it ultimately fails to be a stronger

argument, because Romeo doesn’t have mood swings throughout the play as a whole. At the
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beginning of the play, Romeo did not have mood swings. That proves that he couldn’t have

bipolar disorder during the whole play. Another point that people who believe Romeo is bipolar

fail to see is that depression is much more than sadness; it is prolonged sadness, loss of interest,

and distress. Depression has many different psychological and physical symptoms. According to

Very Well Mind, “ The word depression is often casually used to describe symptoms ranging

from sadness to irritability”(Overview of Depression). Depression isn’t casual, though many

throw out that word on a whim, as explained by Very Well Mind. Depression is more than being

sad. It is also being irritated or being angry, which are symptoms Romeo shows throughout the

play. There may be some evidence that supports Romeo having bipolar disorder, but there is

more evidence to prove that he has depression.

In the end, it is evident that Romeo has depression. This is due to his low moods,

agitation, sleep disturbance, and difficulty concentrating. Romeo’s mood and personality change

throughout the story due to depression, which is also visible in millions of people throughout

their lifetimes. There are many, many people present day who suffer with depression, and it is

something to take seriously. Lastly, one thing that truly reveals Romeo’s depression is how he

attempts to hide the essentially obvious signs and symptoms from Juliet, his new love. Hiding

these aspects of depression only caused him to change his mood and personality more, only

adding to his mental state and demonstrating further that Romeo in fact has depression.
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Words Cited

Library, Folger Shakespeare, and Michael Witmore. “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.”

Romeo and Juliet,​ Folger Shakespeare Library,

www.folgerdigitaltexts.org/html/Rom.html​.

“Depression.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 5 Feb. 2018,

www.verywellmind.com/depression-4157261​.

“Depression (Major Depressive Disorder).” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical

Education and Research, 3 Feb. 2018,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/symptoms-causes/syc-20356

007​.