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Ava Bradley

Meyer

English I

15 January 2020

Romeo Montague Displays Borderline Personality Disorder

In Shakespeare’s ​Romeo and Juliet​, Romeo’s behavior in the play can be attributed to his

mental illness, borderline personality disorder. Symptoms of borderline personality disorder can

include frantic efforts to avoid abandonment, identity disturbance, impulsivity, suicidal behavior,

emotional instability, intense anger, and paranoid thoughts(PsychCentral). Romeo Montague

shows signs of borderline personality disorder throughout the play, which explains his actions

and how he behaves.

During the play, Romeo displays frantic efforts to avoid abandonment and

impulsivity(Mayo Clinic). In Act II, Romeo says to Juliet, “​How camest thou hither, tell me,

and wherefore? The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death,

considering who thou art, if any of my kinsmen find thee here”(2.2.71-74). When Romeo

meets Juliet, he professes his love for her almost immediately, and runs to find her not

long after they part. Romeo rushes into marriage with Juliet, claiming that she is his

soulmate only hours after meeting her. In Act III, during an altercation between Tybalt

and Mercutio, Romeo says, “Gentlemen, for shame forbear this outrage! Tybalt!

Mercutio!
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The Prince expressly hath forbid this bandying in Verona streets. Hold, Tybalt! Good

Mercutio!

Romeo attempts to beat down their rapiers. Tybalt stabs Mercutio”​(3.1.88-92). He

impulsively steps between the two men, allowing Tybalt to stab and kill Mercutio. After

Mercutio dies before him, Romeo kills Tybalt. Both actions by Romeo came from being

impulsive, and Romeo did not consider the consequences of his actions.

Romeo also displays suicidal behavior and intense anger throughout the

play(PsychCentral). In Act V, when Romeo believes Juliet is dead, he says, “Come, bitter

conduct, come, unsavory guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing

rocks thy seasick weary bark! Here’s to my love.​ Drinking.​ O true apothecary, thy drugs

are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” to her as he drinks the poison(5.3.116-120). After

believing she is dead for only a few minutes, he commits suicide because he believes he

cannot live a life without Juliet. This also shows impulsive behavior(Mayo Clinic)

because he drinks the poison so quickly, without realizing that Juliet is still alive. In Act

III, Romeo gets angry and says, “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain! Away to heaven,

respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now.—now, Tybalt, take the “villain”

back again that late thou gavest me, for Mercutio’s soul is but a little way above our
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heads, staying for thine to keep him company. Either thou or I, or both, must go with

him” to Tybalt(3.1.127.134). Romeo becomes very angry that Tybalt has killed Mercutio,

gets into a heated exchange with him, and kills him. Romeo has become so angry that he

takes it out on Tybalt, and doesn’t take time to consider how it will harm both parties. On

many occasions during the play, Romeo has displayed frantic efforts to avoid

abandonment, impulsivity, suicidal behavior, and intense anger.

Despite the evidence demonstrating Romeo has borderline personality disorder,

others may believe he has generalized anxiety disorder. However, the only symptom of

GAD that Romeo shows is anxious thoughts, while he shows many symptoms of

BPD(PsychCentral). Those who believe Romeo has generalized anxiety disorder think

that he demonstrates anxious thoughts. It is more likely that Romeo has BPD rather than

GAD because he consistently shows more severe symptoms of borderline personality

disorder. A main trait of BPD is impulsivity, which is a trait Romeo shows throughout

the entire play with most of his actions. Romeo shows that he has anxious thoughts, but

they are not as severe as his signs of BPD and not as persistent. He is most likely to have

borderline personality disorder as he regularly displays severe symptoms of the mental

illness.
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Romeo Montague shows signs of borderline personality disorder throughout the play,

which explains his actions and the way he behaves. Someone who has been diagnosed with BPD

or a similar mental illness may be able to relate to Romeo’s actions and way of thinking. A

mental illness, such as borderline personality disorder, shows why Romeo reacts to his

surroundings the way he does.

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Works Cited

“Borderline Personality Disorder.” ​Mayo Clinic​, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education

and Research, 17 July 2019,

www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/borderline-personality-disorder/symptoms-c

auses/syc-20370237.

Bressert, Steve. “Generalized Anxiety Disorder Symptoms.” ​Psych Central,​ 3 Mar. 2017,

psychcentral.com/anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-symptoms/.

Grohol, John M. “Borderline Personality Disorder: Symptoms & Treatments.” ​Psych

Central​, 19 Mar. 2019, psychcentral.com/disorders/borderline-personality-disorder/.

Shakespeare, William, and Daniel Fischlin. ​The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet​. OUP

Canada, 2013.