What are three key aspects of Romeo's personality that lead to his and Juliet's death?

Answer 1

He is impulsive. When he finds that Juliet is apparently dead, he does not take steps to find out from the friar what happened, even though he was expecting some word from him, before doing something irrevocable. The same thing happens with Tybalt's death; instead of taking a breath and realizing that the law can take care of Tybalt better than he can, he acts on his first impulse and attacks him.

He is melancholy. He is in love with the idea of death. When talking to Benvolio about Rosaline he says oxymoronically "And in that vow do I live dead that live to tell you now." His challenge to Tybalt is "You or I or both must go with him." He is quite as happy to face his own death as Tybalt's. His reaction to being banished? "Be merciful, say 'death'!" Is it any wonder that faced with the news that Juliet is dead his first thought is to kill himself?

He is romantic. Of course this makes him very attractive, but it also makes him dangerous. When Juliet wishes that it was not morning so they could cuddle a bit longer, he says, "Let me be ta'en; let me be put to death. I am content if thou wilt have it so." This speech is in part more deathwish on the part of Romeo, but also something else--he will say that day is night if his love commands him to do so. He would do it too. Lots of people would say these silly romantic things, but in the crunch would not act that way. Juliet is such a practical person, but Romeo is not. He is prepared to deny reality if it will please her. Faced with a situation, he will not seek a prosaic practical answer to their problems--his first thought is for something dramatic and fantastic. Unfortunately such people generally get what they are looking for.

Answer 2

Romeo's impulsiveness in falling in love quickly with Juliet, his tendency to act based on emotion rather than reason, and his quick temper that leads to conflict with Tybalt all contribute to their tragic fate.