Tragic Deaths in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Tragic Deaths in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The deaths of Romeo and Juliet appear tragic, as the people around

them were in a feud. The feud affected their relationship, which

played a huge part in their deaths. Romeo and Juliet tried to keep out

of the feud, but the people around them who were constantly

interfering made their lives extremely miserable and unhappy. Because

they were so deeply in love with each other, they refused to be

spilt-up and took huge risks to stay together, which eventually led

them to their deaths. The Prologue at the beginning of the play

suggests that it could have been mainly fate that was to blame, 'star-crossed

lovers' and 'deaths-marked love' are examples of this. However hatred

between the two families also plays a more important part in the

deaths of Romeo and Juliet, which I will explain below.

Romeo is a young teenager, who is a member of the Montague household.

He unfortunately falls in love with Juliet, a Capulet which was

forbidden, whose family are bitter enemies of the Montague's. He seems

to blame fate or unlucky misfortune for almost everything that goes

wrong after he kills Tybalt, and realises the seriousness of his

action, he prefers to blame fate rather than himself, "O, I am

fortune's fool"

Romeo was banished for killing Tybalt, which could have been the

biggest mistake he made. It therefore meant he could no longer see his

beloved Juliet without the risk of him being caught. Though this was a

huge mistake, I do not think Romeo can be blamed for killing Tybalt,

as Tybalt was determined to fight Romeo until death. When he refused,

Romeo's closest friend Mercutio steeped in and drew his sword. Romeo

intervened to try to stop them from warfare, but according to Mercutio

(who was now dying) gave Tybalt the opportunity to kill him, "I was

hurt under your arm". Romeo then fought and killed Tybalt. Later on,

when he hears from Balthasar that Juliet is dead he says, "Then I defy

you stars.

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