Tragedy has tormented the world since Pandora needed to appease her curiosity; Nowhere is this more evident than in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Romeo's role as a harbinger of the tragic events that occur in Verona is painfully clear through his nature, his hubris, and his tendency to blame fate for his actions. Ultimately, Romeo's impetuosity is undoubtedly responsible for his death and that of Juliet. It is this fatal flaw in his nature that marks him as a tragic hero, rather than the pawn of destiny he claims to be. As a character, Romeo embraces the concept of romance, delighting in satisfying his emotions without truly understanding the consequences that come with it. can follow. In a way, his impetuous nature acts as his tragic flaw, setting him on a path that dooms him and Juliet. This is established when Romeo immediately proclaims his love for Juliet after merely seeing her at Capulet's party: "Has my heart loved until now?" Give it up, view! / For I never saw true beauty until this night. (1.5.51-52) The fact that Romeo's love for Rosaline, something that caused him much grief, is so quickly overshadowed by Juliet sings of his impetuous and romantic nature. His thoughtless actions towards Juliet throughout the rest of this scene further establish this fact and hit the first metaphorical domino essential to the two lovers' demise. Romeo's impulsive decision to avenge Mercutio's death, despite its inevitability, signals the point of no return that all tragic heroes face and, once again, indicates his impetuous nature. This is seen most clearly when Romeo actively threatens Tybalt after Mercutio's death by saying, "And fiery-eyed fury be my conduct now!" Now, Tybalt, take back your wicked What you gave me late, ...... middle of paper ...... is an illusion created for the sole purpose of hiding the truth and explanation of its nature impetuous; once again, he is found guilty of his and Juliette's deaths. The evidence is overwhelming; Romeo's impetuosity is undeniably responsible for his death and that of Juliet. It is this tragic flaw in his nature that marks him out as a tragic hero, rather than the pawn of destiny that he declares himself to be. Throughout Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, his reckless, impulsive nature and hubris are highlighted, revealing the consequences of his hasty actions and how they influenced both his own and Juliet's decisions. His tendency to blame fate to atone for his actions is directly related to his nature and which ultimately classifies him as a tragic hero. “Man is only chained by himself; thought and action are the jailers of destiny. –James Allan