The Deaths of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeare's Play

The Deaths of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeare's Play

Romeo and Juliet are portrayed as innocents stuck between two warring

families. Through studying the play we have looked deeper into the

relationships between characters and therefore the part played by each

character in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. From this I have been

able to decide that Friar Lawrence, Nurse and the parents of the two

lovers have most blame.

Lord and Lady Capulet have a large part to play in the deaths of the

children because they didn't have a close relationship with Juliet.

"Thou knowest my daughter is of a pretty age."

Here Lady Capulet enquires as to her daughter's age. Nurse on the

other hand replies "Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour."

Nurse knows Juliet much better than her own mother does. When Tybalt

was killed Juliet was distraught because Romeo was banished. Neither

of her parents knew her well enough to know or thought to talk to her

about what was wrong. Instead Lord Capulet demands she marries

Parisand threatens to disown her if she does not:

"Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!

I'll tell thee what: get thee to church a'Thursday,

Or never after look me in the face."

Her mother does not defend her either:

"Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word.

Do as thou wilt, for I've done with thee."

He does this because he believes Juliet to be acting ungratefully. He

does not know why Juliet is upset, he assumes, wrongly, that it is for

the death of her cousin. Juliet doesn't feel able to tell her father

of her marriage to Romeo therefore he tries to do his best based on

what he believes to be correct. This was clearly intended as an act of

kindness and as a result of Juliet's reaction Lord Capulet could be

forgiven for reacting the way he did but we must then ask why Juliet

had such a bad relationship with her father that she didn't trust him