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A hamartia is a fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a hero or heroine. Romeo’s hamartia is how impulsive he is. When Mercutio is killed, Romeo is very distraught and angry. Romeo says, “‘Away to heaven, respective lenity, and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now’” (3.1. 128-129). Before Tybalt killed Mercutio, Romeo’s impulsiveness was driven on kindness and love. Once Mercutio is killed, hate and anger is fueling his impulses. He kills Tybalt, which leads to his banishment and the eventual downfall of himself. Impulse lead to Romeo’s downfall because he made many rash decisions and did not think of the future consequences. When Romeo hears about Juliet’s apparent death, he is distraught and immediately wants to kill himself because he can’t be without her. If his impulsiveness had not been driving his actions, then Paris, Lady Montague, Juliet and himself may have lived. Shakespeare uses Romeo’s impulsiveness to show think before doing an action that could result with