How can a thesis statement be written on how the theme of bad decisions plays a role in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?

Since poor (bad) decisions are usually ones made without forethought and planning, the impetuous acts of both Juliet and Romeo are essentially the cause of their tragic choices. So, a thesis statement could point to the impulsive behavior of Romeo and Juliet as the cause of their tragic ends.

Perhaps, then, the thesis statement, which needs three points if it is being written for a five-paragraph essay, could state that Romeo and Juliet meet their tragic ends because they have made their impetuous decisions of (1)_________(2)_________, and (3)__________. 

Here are some ideas to consider---

• Romeo hastily declares his love for Juliet when he first meets her; then, he scales the walls of the Capulet orchard and watches for Juliet. When she steps out onto her balcony (Act II, Sc. 2), he declares his love. They exchange sentiments, and agree to marry.

Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow

By one that I’ll procure to come to thee

Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite,

And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay

And follow thee my lord throughout the world. (2.2.144-148)

• Romeo rushes to Friar Laurence in order to ask him to perform the marriage ceremony. Neither Romeo nor Juliet has considered fully the consequences of a marriage between feuding families.


• After they are secretly married, Romeo goes to a public place where he encounters a heated argument between Mercutio and Tybalt. With good intentions, but too impetuously and with poor judgment, Romeo tries to intervene and diffuse the situation. However, his hasty words of love for Tybalt are misunderstood and serve to only anger both Tybalt and Mercutio. Romeo gets in the way of Mercutio's escape from a lunge of Tybalt and is gravely injured. Then, Romeo irrationally retaliates and kills Tybalt. Of course, this terrible scene leads to much tragedy, as Romeo is banished and the grieving Juliet is later ordered to marry Paris by her father. 


• After Romeo's banishment and Lord Capulet's demand that Juliet marry Paris, Juliet takes the potion that Friar Laurence gives her to make her seem dead for forty-two hours while Friar Laurence will contact Romeo. Unfortunately, the priest's message does not reach Romeo in Mantua, and, instead, he is told by Balthasar, his servant, that Juliet is buried in the Capulet tomb. Romeo declares, "Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight" (5.1.36). Hastily, he purchases poison and rushes to the Capulet tomb. There he kills Paris, who tries to arrest him and prevent Romeo from going any farther. Then Romeo finds Juliet, who does not appear dead: 

Beauty’s ensign yet

Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks,

And death’s pale flag is not advancèd there. (5.3.103-105)

Hastily, Romeo takes the poison. This haste in doing so causes Romeo to die right before Juliet's awakening. Friar Laurence soon arrives and discovers the bodies of Paris and Romeo.

Juliet then awakens from her morbid sleep and asks, "Where is my Romeo?" Friar Laurence urges her to come with him, offering to put her in a convent, saying, "go, good Juliet, I dare no longer stay" (5.3). But, when she sees the bodies of Romeo and Paris, she is adamant about remaining in the tomb. When the priest runs out because he has heard the guards, Juliet finds Romeo's dagger and impulsively kills herself.