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Suicide In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

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Today’s world, 2016, an average of 1 person every 15 minutes commits suicide a day in the United States. When someone loses a loved one they ask, why that person did such a grand action. Was it work, school, or family that caused such emotional trauma? Even with direct reasons pointing to those close to a depressed person, people always blame the one who physically did the killing, the suicidal person. But what if they were pressured to do things they didn’t want to, harassed about choices they made, or ignored for the things they liked? All of these things happened to Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, the Shakespeare play containing two star-crossed lovers, two enemy families, and two suicides that have stood the test of time and has captured the …show more content…

Out you baggage! You tallow face!” (Act 3:5:152-157) Act 3:5:152-157 is a piece of the play that captures the turning point that Capulet has caused Juliet to kill herself. With Capulet calling her ugly, selfish, unthankful and baggage she must have been hurt by those words and wanted to run away with Romeo. With this feeling, she then creates a big plan to do just that but with every big plan, it went wrong and the two ended up dying for each other. All and all, Capulets force of marriage and reaction to Juliet saying no, indirectly made Romeo and Juliet kill themselves because of the amount of pain that he caused Juliet to have. Furthermore, asides throughout the play also give insight to the fact that Capulet is responsible for the deaths. One part within the play shows Capulet leading to the death of Juliet and Romeo happens earlier in the play when Romeo is talking to himself right after he had met Juliet and realized that she was Capulet's daughter. “ (aside) Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” (Act …show more content…

While many like to think that it is fate or other characters that caused the death of the two in the story, Shakespeare includes cause and effect, asides, and the specific character actions to inform the audience that Capulet is to blame for the death of Romeo and Juliet in the play. His argument eloquently tugs at our heartstrings begging the audience to consider why - shifting suicide blame from the victim (Romeo and Juliet) to Capulet’s quiet but yet still bully-like behavior that pushed these young lovers over the edge. We all must question the writing of this play and ask if there was any way to stop these tragic events and in today's society. How can we prevent and change suicide and its social

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