Who Is Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Death

In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo kills himself for mistakenly thinking that Juliet is dead when she is asleep in her tomb. Romeo blames his fate over Juliet dying; however, destiny does not determine his and Juliet’s death. Instead, their deaths are caused by Romeo’s tragic flaw which is his impulsivity. Unfortunately, Romeo’s impulsivity is seen when he asks for the letter which accounts for his impatience and lack of judgement. Even though he blames fate after hearing of her death, Romeo’s tragic flaw of impulsivity is the cause of his and Juliet’s death because he irrationally makes the decision to leave Mantua and kills himself in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet written by William Shakespeare.

Romeo’s impatience is seen when he consistently asks Balthasar for the letter from Friar Lawrence. However, when Balthasar informs him that he does not have the letter and incorrectly says that Juliet is dead, Romeo instantly retorts, “Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars! / Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper / And hire post horses. I will hence tonight” (5. 1. 24-26). Romeo does not want to accept his fate and that Juliet is dead.

Romeo’s notices that Juliet is “not conquered [by death]. Beauty’s ensign yet / Is crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, / And death’s pale flag is not advancѐd there” (5. 3. 94-96). Romeo has not realized that Juliet is asleep because he immediately tells Tybalt’s spirit in a soliloquy that he will kill himself (5. 3. 97-100). Romeo is in a frantic state where he is too distracted to realize that Juliet is not dead. Here, Romeo misunderstands that the slight pink, warm coloring in Juliet’s face means that she is asleep. Also, Romeo portrays that he is too distracted with talking to Tybalt’s spirit. If he had not let his impulsivity take over, Romeo would realize that Juliet is not dead and not kill