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Causes Of Death In The Death Of Romeo And Juliet

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Frequently labelled as one of the greatest and most tragic, love stories of all time, Romeo and Juliet features two youths from dueling families whose abrupt, yet robust, love ultimately resulted in their deaths. However, it was not just their whirlwind romance that led to their demise, but also the actions of many characters who had tried to aid the two lovers. One such character is the Nurse, who acted as a messenger to arrange Romeo and Juliet's wedding. Despite the Nurse’s interference, which helped fester Romeo and Juliet infatuation for each other, which eventually led them to killing themselves; Friar Lawrence bears the most responsibility for Romeo and Juliet’s death because he was the one who married them in the first place, sent …show more content…

At the end of Act 2 the Friar warns the Romeo about falling in love too quickly, especially in their situation, through the quote: “These violent delights have violent ends/ And in their triumph die, like fire and powder.”(Shakespeare 2.6.9-10). This states that he knew the risks of marrying them, yet he was too blinded by his own ambitions, of uniting the two families, that he didn’t act responsibly. Instead he married them at the end of Act 2 after saying, “Come, come with me, and we will make short work./ For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone/ Till holy church incorporate two in one.” This seemingly insignificant lapse in judgement ultimately led to Romeo and Juliet’s demise, through the events that …show more content…

By my brotherhood, The letter was not nice but full of charge, Of dear import, and the neglecting it May do much danger... (Shakespeare 5.2.17-20) Demonstrating how the friar failed to complete the one action that may have saved both Romeo and Juliet’s lives, these lines further prove his guilt as it portrays him complaining to the inefficient messenger, Friar John, about his negligence. The following lines further cement his guilt as it states that he had not one but two chances to deliver the letter to Romeo, and yet again disappointed: “ But I will write again to Mantua,” (Shakespeare 5.2. 27). As briefly explained above, Friar Lawrence was the one who produced and mobilized the plan which directly led to Romeo and Juliet’s suicide. Once Juliet heard the news of the engagement she fled to the friar’s cell, and once again, he informed her of the rapidly formed plan as follows: Hold, daughter. I do spy a kind of hope, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilled liquor drink thou off, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sha1l, stiff and stark and cold, appear like

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