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Who's To Blame In Romeo And Juliet

Decent Essays

Who is to Blame? “The fault, dear Brutus, is not in the stars/ But in ourselves, that we are underlinings” (Cassius Act 1, Sc 2, 140-141). The play, Romeo and Juliet, by playwright William Shakespeare implies that the death of Romeo and Juliet is caused by fate; however fate is not the killer. The individuals fully accountable for the shortcomings and misfortunes in the play are Romeo and Juliet, the nurse, and Friar Lawrence. Romeo and Juliet contribute the most to their own demise because they are foolish, rash, and immature. In the beginning of the play, in Act 1, scene 2, Romeo exhibits his foolishness when he agrees to go with Benvolio to the Capulet party. He is fully aware that the two families are feuding. Yet he still agrees to go as he will see Rosaline, whom he thinks he is in love with. This is another display of his foolishness as he has only just met Rosaline. This is a critical moment in the play because if Romeo had not agreed to go to the Capulet party, he would have never met Juliet in the first place. Furthermore, if Romeo and Juliet were not so rash and decided that they were in love when they first met at the party in Act 1, scene 5, they never would have got married. Clearly, their rash decisions greatly cost them. Additionally, Juliet’s immaturity is …show more content…

Immediately, Friar Lawrence makes a rash decision when he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in Act 2 Scene 3. Friar Lawrence is hesitant at first, but he agrees to do so as he thinks that marrying the two only children of Verona’s feuding families might end the rancour. He clearly does not carefully consider the consequences. The marriage then causes even more problems and eventually leads to the death of Romeo and Juliet. Another instance of the Friar’s recklessness is when he gives Juliet the potion to make her appear dead. After Juliet threatens to kill herself Friar Lawrence hastily responds

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