Booth 1

Gracie Booth

Ms. Price

English Honors 1

30 May 2018

Tybalt vs Intermittent Explosive Disorder

In everyday life over 16 million americans are affected by Intermittent Explosive

Disorder. This disorder makes it were the person has the inability to resist aggressive urges

which most of the time leads to serious assaults, property destruction, or frequent verbal

aggression in the form of temper tantrums. This disorder is seen in one of the main characters in

Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt. Tybalt is the cousin to Juliet Capulet

and is a loyal and angry character whenever he encounters a Montague. Not to mention Tybalt

also normally shows more than one sign of the disorder whenever he comes upon the specific

Montague, Romeo.Tybalt has Intermittent Explosive Disorder because he shows impulsiveness,

aggression, and verbal and physical assaults throughout the whole play, which are all symptoms

this disorder.

Tybalt at the beginning of the play it was clearly seen that Tybalt expresses signs of

Intermittent Explosive Disorder. Tybalt shows the symptoms of having this disorder when he

shows verbal aggression and impulsiveness. Tybalt expresses this when he confronts

Capulet,”Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe, a villain that is hither come in spite to scorn at our

solemnity this night”, (Shakespeare 1.5.683). This quote conveys Tybalt’s impulsiveness as well

as his aggression towards Romeo on the spot ad his resentment to follow through with orders

from Capulet to not engage. He shows the first symptom, verbal aggression when he is arguing
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with his uncle over getting rid of the Montague and he shows impulsiveness by his rash thinking

of taking care of the Montague by himself. These symptoms are proven by the article,

Intermittent Explosive Disorder by Psychology Today ,” Intermittent explosive disorder falls in

the category of impulse control disorders. The condition is characterized by failure to resist

aggressive impulses, resulting in serious assaults, property destruction, or frequent verbal

aggression in the form of temper tantrums or tirades. Examples of this behavior include

threatening to or actually hurting another person and purposefully breaking or damaging an

object of value.”(Intermittent Explosive Disorder). This website backs up the fact that Tybalt is

showing signs of suffering from the effects of Intermittent Explosive Disorder. This showing of

temper tantrums only leads to more signs of Tybalt’s unnecessary lash outs of rage. Tybalt

expresses having both symptoms of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, aggression and

Impulsiveness.

Tybalt shows more symptoms of intermittent explosive disorder as the play continues. Tybalt

goes on to make extremely impulsive decisions proving even more that he has IED. This was

revealed when Tybalt instigates a fight with Benvolio, starting off with shouting,”What. Drawn,

and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee, Have at thee,

Coward!”(Shakespeare 1.184). This quote expresses Tybalt’s hostile actions to urge on a fight

between himself and the Montagues. When he was confronted with peace he refused because he

is impulsive as well as bloodthirsty. His impulsiveness shows when he is the one to strike first

which leads the reader closer to the conclusion that Tybalt does in fact have IED. He also

expresses verbal aggression by calling Benvolio a “Coward”. Verbal aggression is an assault on

another person’s self concept, rather than their position. All of these are a part of intermittent
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explosive disorder. Tybalt has all clear signs of having this disorder with expressing all of the

symptoms as well as his show of rash actions and temper tantrums.

It could be said that Tybalt has the passive aggressive disorder based on the way he is

always so aggressive, however he does not show the other side being passive. Despite the

evidence against Tybalt having passive aggressive disorder, many people believe that because of

how much aggressiveness he express that it would be obvious he has this disorder, but they fail

to see that their is a passive part to that disorder that Tybalt does not express. People may use the

quote,”It fits when such a villain is a quest. I’ll not endure it.”(Shakespeare 1.5.698). This

conveys resentment to follow through with orders to not confront Romeo. So it is easy to believe

that it was thought passive aggressive disorder could be what Tybalt has because one of the

symptoms of that disorder is resentment. Those who believe that Tybalt has Intermittent

Explosive Disorder think his verbal aggression towards Romeo is clear proof of him having the

disorder. It is seen when he shouts out at Romeo,”The love I bear thee can afford No better term

than this: thou art a villain.”(Shakespeare 3.1.1558). The quote states that he only sees Romeo as

a villain and that is a example of verbal aggression. He is truly saying he sees through Romeo’s

facade to what he truly is, a villain. Verbal aggression is one of the symptoms that Tybalt

expresses throughout the play. Although aspects of this argument are enticing,it ultimately fails

to be a stronger argument because not once does Tybalt reveal any signs of being a passive

character. He only shows impulsiveness and aggression. A passive character would not verbally

state their feelings or opinions they would use their physical actions to speak for themselves.

Passive aggressive disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder are very similar but it is obvious

which one is better chosen for Tybalt.

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Tybalt in Shakespeare’s play shows clear signs of Intermittent Explosive Disorder. He

expresses this disorder through his actions of lashing out with impulsiveness and aggressiveness.

This disorder makes the person that has it explode with anger at any time when it is unessaccery.

Tybalt is seen doing the same whenever he encounters a Montague. Tybalt’s actions towards

Romeo brought out this more rash, aggressive,and impulsive side to Tybalt. Tybalt clearly

through his actions of verbal, physical, aggressive, and impulsive assaults that he has Intermittent

Explosive Disorder.
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Works Cited

“Intermittent Explosive Disorder.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 14 June 2017,

www.psychologytoday.com/us/conditions/intermittent-explosive-disorder.

Ploskin, Daniel. “What Is Intermittent Explosive Disorder?” Psych Central, Psych Central, July

2016, psychcentral.com/lib/what-is-intermittent-explosive-disorder.

Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Elements of Literature, Houghton

Mufflin Harcourt, 2005, 788-910.