The Deaths of Romeo and Juliet

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The Deaths of Romeo and Juliet

At the end of the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ the Prince blames the two

parents for the deaths of the ‘two star-crossed lovers’ death:

‘See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,

That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!’

(Act V, Scene III Lines 292-293)

But the parents are not entirely to blame for the tragic deaths of

Romeo and Juliet. Everyone who comes into close contact with either

Romeo or Juliet contributed to their deaths. Both the friends and

family, even the two lovers themselves can be partly to blame for the

deaths. Although these characters donated something to make the young

couple slay themselves, it could also be said that fate; ‘Inevitable

destination or necessity destined term of life; doom,’ had a part to

play. In the prologue at the beginning of the play it states:

‘A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their live.’

(Prologue Line 6)

This shows that the couple met by fate and destiny led their lives.

Friar Lawrence holds more responsibility than most as he meddles with

others affairs to benefit himself. Friar Lawrence marries Romeo and

Juliet even though he forebodes that this hasty marriage may lead to a

catastrophic outcome. When Romeo informs Friar Lawrence about his

marriage to Juliet the Friar hesitates because their love emerges too

sudden and too unadvised that it may end just as quick:

‘These violent delights have violent ends

And in their triumph die like fire powder,

Which as they kiss consume.’

(Act II, Scene VI Lines 9-11)

The Friar questions Romeo’s temperament towards love. The love that

Romeo to Rosaline shows th...

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..., Tybalt, Benvolio and

Mercutio can be blamed but Romeo and Juliet must be to blame more then

others as they themselves can make the decisions. It is said that

fate leads the lovers to death, but each character has his/her

freewill and is responsible for his/her actions. The hasty marriage,

wrongful use of potion, failure to send the letter, hatred,

selfishness, lust, revenge, intolerance and rivalry are causes for the

deaths. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet should be designated as the

failure of human responsibility or human error rather than fate. Who

should be blamed for this tragedy may remain long controversial, but

the story of the two star-crossed lovers will remain timelessly in the

world of literature. ‘For never was a story of more woe, than this of

Juliet and her Romeo’ (Act V, Scene III, Lines 309-310)

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