Who Was Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Death

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Romeo and Juliet is a fictional romantic tragedy where two lovers were unfortunately born into feuding families. It seemed as if they were destined to be apart, but they met as strangers and it was love at first sight. Following the death of Tybalt and Mercutio, Romeo was exiled just a few days before Juliet’s arranged marriage with Paris. In an attempt to be together, Romeo and Juliet committed suicide to be in the one place neither of their families could bother them: heaven. Juliet’s father, Lord Capulet, should be held most responsible for their death because he used his daughter as a political pawn, he chose not to end their feud with the Montagues out of pride, and he controlled almost every aspect of his daughter’s life.

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“I will make a desperate tender of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled in all respects by me” (3.4.12-14). He threatens to disown his one and only child if she disobeys him and this is one of the instances he rules with an iron fist. He could’ve prevented the marriage of Romeo and Juliet too, if hadn’t thrown the party for her to get to know Paris. He was too worried about the party to care if the Montagues had crashed it, “Am I the master here or you? Go to. You’ll not endure him? God shall mend my soul, you’ll make a mutiny among my guests… You are a saucy boy. Is’t so, indeed? This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what. You must contrary me? Marry, ‘tis time.” (1.5.76-78 & 81-83). He ignored Tybalt’s request and threatened him, just like he had in Act 3 when he said “An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend. An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the street, for, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee” (3.5.191-193). He refers to them each as peasants who were given housing by a god. It isn’t until Juliet tries to stand up to him that he feels his power over his family has been …show more content…

“Where be these enemies?—Capulet! Montague! See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love! And I, for winking at your discords, too have lost a brace of kinsman” (5.3.291-295). The Prince is stating clearly that only the Capulets and the Montagues are to be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The one trigger of hate that started the feud was cancelled out by the two deaths of the youngest children in each family. Despite the sorrow being shared by everyone, the Prince finds a person to blame and uses this to end the feud, which he has been trying to do since he gained control of Verona. It wasn’t enough for Capulet to end the feud after the death of Mercutio and Tybalt because he was too stubborn about being the best. He ignored the wishes of his own daughter when he wanted her to marry Tybalt due to his inability to feel true emotions for others, until it is too

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