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Who Is To Blame For Romeo And Juliet's Death

Decent Essays

Romeo and Juliet, a play by William Shakespeare, is a tragic story on a pair of two star crossed lovers. Both part of feuding families, Romeo of the Montagues, and Juliet of the Capulets, their love is kept secret in fear of their families finding out. Even so, in the end both Romeo and Juliet die, due to a multitude of factors. In the end, Romeo lead to the demise of him and Juliet by killing Tybalt and rushing to Juliet’s grave. To begin with, Romeo’s killing of Tybalt was a major factor to Romeo and Juliet’s demise. Soon after the killing of Tybalt and Mercutio, Lady Capulet angrily said, “ ‘Romeo slew Tybalt; Romeo must not live’ ‘Romeo slew him; he slew Mercutio’”( III. I. 190-191). This explains that Romeo killed Tybalt in a rage after …show more content…

While Romeo was waiting for a message from someone in Mantua, Balthasar rushed to where Romeo hid, and told him about Juliet’s “death.” In response Romeo said, “ ‘I will hence tonight.’ ‘I do beseech you sir have patience. Your looks are pale and wild…’ ‘... thou art deceived… Hast thou no letters to me from the Friar? ‘No, my good lord.’ ‘No matter. Get thee gone, and hire those horses…’”(V. I. 27-36). This shows, again, a rash decision to be made by Romeo, even Balthasar asking Romeo to think what he’s doing through. Although he asks Balthasar for letters, he doesn’t go and check with Friar directly and just takes Balthasar’s words even with his lack of knowledge for not asking Friar himself. In conclusion, another of Romeo’s bad decisions led further to his and Juliet’s …show more content…

After Romeo rushed to Juliet’s grave it is revealed to the reader that, “The letter… was of dear import, and neglecting it may do much danger. Friar John, go hence…” (V. III. 27-36). This shows that the letter was never sent to Romeo, only to be returned to Friar Lawrence by his brother at the moment. A lot of people say that this makes Friar the main cause of Romeo and Juliet’s demise. However, After the killing of Tybalt, Prince exclaims, “Let Romeo hence in haste, else, when he is found, that hour is his last….”(III. I. 204-205). This shows, again that the fault truly falls upon Romeo. If Romeo didn’t kill Tybalt, then Friar wouldn’t have had to try to solve the problem, which he didn’t have to do but did so out of the kindness of his heart. All the mistakes Friar made was him trying to fix the trouble that Romeo and Juliet got into. Along with that, when Friar tried to stop helping them, they made him force continuing by worrying him of them taking their own lives. In summary, Romeo and Juliet’s threats forced Friar to try to solve problems that were caused by

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