Romeo and Juliet's Deaths

Romeo and Juliet's Deaths

Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare in 1599 and is

classed by many critics as a tragedy. There are a few reasons why they

class it as a tragedy and these factors are:

There are a lot of reasons as to why Romeo and Juliet's romance was

doomed. Firstly, the lovers' families were feuding and had done for a

long time before this is backed up by a quote that Shakespeare says,

"ancient grudge". This tells us that the feud has gone on for a long

time and that there must be a lot of hatred towards one another.

Secondly, Romeo turns up at the Capulet's party, where he is trying to

see the lady he loves (Rosaline), instead he meets by chance Juliet.

It is here that they fall madly in love and declare their vows before

they even know each others' true background. A few days later, they

decide to get married in secret and tell no-one. Tybalt, Juliet's

cousin decides to fight Romeo, but Mercutio steps in and gets killed

instead. Romeo, upset by the death of Mercutio, takes revenge on

Tybalt and kills him, thus getting banished from Verona and to Mantua.

Meanwhile, Juliet, depressed at Romeo being banished from Verona, is

being told by her mum and dad that she has to marry Paris. Distraught,

Juliet goes to visit Friar Laurence who gives her a potion that will

stop her breathing and give her a death like appearance for forty two

hours. Friar Laurence sends a letter to Romeo, but he does not receive

it and hearing that Juliet is dead goes to a pharmacist and buys a

potion. He takes this potion and dies just as Juliet arouses from her

death like state. Seeing that Romeo is dying, she stabs herself and

dies with him.

I agree with the statement that has been made, for a number of

reasons. Firstly, they were the ones who physically killed themselves.

They were not murdered by anyone and they did not kill each other,

"Here's to my love.