Isabella Danon
804    
                                                           Romeo and Juliet

                          In the story of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, two young people fall in love at first sight.  Their families, the Montagues (Romeo) and the Capulets (Juliet) are known all throughout the city to be rivals.  The story takes place in Verona, Italy. Over time, the plot darkens.  In the end, the two lovers take their own lives.  Although it is thought to be a romance, many people think that the characters are being naive, especially Romeo.
                      One reason why Romeo was being naive is that he got over Rosaline unsually easily.  Rosaline had been the woman that Romeo had previously been madly in love with, but she rejected him.  At first he was heartbroken, and he insisted that he wouldnt be able to function without Rosaline.  It escalated to the point where his cousin had to give him something of a pep talk as an attempt to cheer him up and lighten his spirits.  It made a very small difference.  Later on, Romeo attended a party at the house of the Capulets.  It was there that he saw Juliet, and any acknowledgement that he had for Rosaline completely vanished.  It was as if he had never loved her.  This is quite abnormal.  For the average person, it takes at least a couple of days to get over someone, especially when they love that person endlessly.  This might make the reader think that what Romeo felt for Rosaline wasn't actually love.
                         Another reason to back up the fact that Romeo was being shallow was that he fell in love with Juliet without even hearing her voice.  As said in the story repeatedly, it was "love at first sight".  Unfortunately, love at first sight is not a real thing.  To fall in love, one must know the person they are in love with.  One can't say that they're in love just by looking at someone.  It says a lot about a person if they say something as ignorant as that.
                         Overall, this is why Romeo needs to think twice about what he is doing.  Later on in the story, Romeo and Juliet end up getting married.  Keep in mind that at that point, they had only known each other for several days.  It's obsurd and a waste of time for Romeo to devote his entire life to a girl he just met.  This may have contributed to the problem that resulted at the end.