The theme of love is often associated with peace and kindness. However, in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the two lovers’ suicidal impulse shows love as a cause of self-destructive violence, as seen through their thoughts, words and actions. Firstly, Romeo and Juliet’s suicidal thoughts reveal the violence caused by their love. In other words, it is their intense passion for each other that leads to their contemplation of suicide. For instance, when Romeo is told of Juliet’s supposed death, he immediately thinks of killing himself and begins to plan his suicide, as demonstrated by the following quote: “Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight. Let’s see for means.” (Shakespeare, V, i, 34) This shows that his love for Juliet is so powerful that he cannot even consider life without her and sees suicide as his only option. Likewise, Juliet plans to commit suicide if she cannot be with Romeo. Before taking Friar Lawrence’s potion, Juliet realizes that if it were ineffective, she would have no choice but to marry Paris. In order to avert this undesired marriage, she elaborates a plan to stab herself with her dagger. Juliet is so madly in love with Romeo that she immediately contemplates suicide at the thought of facing life without him. Given the above, it is clear that Romeo and Juliet’s love for one another instills violent, suicidal thoughts in their minds. Furthermore, through the lovers’ words, Shakespeare depicts violence as a product of love. Romeo and Juliet both declare that they would rather kill themselves than be separated. For example, when Romeo learns he is exiled from Verona, he begs “'Be merciful,'" say death’” (III, iii, 12). This plea for death rather than being forced to leave Juliet is an example of the violence inspired by his passion for her. Similarly, Juliet states that she would “leap, rather than marry Paris, from off the battlements of any tower” (IV, i, 77-78) This demonstra