When there is news going around about the death of two dearly beloved teenagers, there will be fingers pointed across the way from person to person. Romeo and Juliet is a popular and classic tragic tale made by Shakespeare about two star-crossed lovers who end up taking their own lives for each other. Due with the teens’ deaths, Prince Escalus of Verona leaves off the audience with the most stressed quote, “All shall be punished”. This leaves everybody (from the audience to Prince Escalus, himself) wondering of who is responsible for the unfair deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Who exactly is to be blamed for the deaths? With the rivalry between the Capulets and Montagues and the helping hand of Friar Lawrence, you can already say that these two are already, yet not entirely, to be held responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, however, when you look into the circumstance, you will see that Fate overall is to blame.
The two families – Montagues and Capulets – are to be blamed for their family members’ deaths. The quarrel between these two households is basically the main reason why Romeo and Juliet died. During the prologue, there is obvious evidence of hate and conflict. The fifth sentence of the prologue describes the Montagues and Capulets as having “Fatal loins”, meaning that they may cause the unfortunate end of their children’s lives. The Prologue also states that their children’s deaths will end the strife between the two families, this showing that there must be some sort of connection between the death and feud (Shakespeare). Since the Prologue is a small preview or thesis of what’s to come, it is clear to see that this rivalry is the root of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The Capulets, however, must take more of the b...
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...r Friar Lawrence’s message to Romeo in time. Even Romeo and Friar Lawrence both blame Fate when Romeo says, “I defy you, stars!” and Friar Lawrence says, “Unhappy fortune!” (Shakespeare). Romeo and Juliet were doomed from the start and the audience is constantly reminded of this idea throughout the play. Therefore, Fate is primarily to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Though the Capulets, Montagues and Friar Lawrence are all partly to be held responsible for the deaths of Juliet and her Romeo, they didn’t have the ability to stop the tragedy from happening. Prince Escalus has the choice to punish them, however, he should keep in mind that these characters were just small play pieces in Fate’s game.
Works Cited
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Language of Literature. Ed. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2002. Print.
As these words echoed through the hall of the Globe theatre little did William Shakespeare know that this tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, would be examined and admired by playwrights for decades to come. So does fate play a major part in this tragedy? Or does their blood stain the garments of civil hands? Could it have been the loyal Mercutio, who swore on both their houses?? Tybalt the hated enemy? or was it Friar Lawrence who tried to end the fighting between households. Or does the blame go on the ancestors who began it. Many would agree that the death of these lovers cannot be blamed on anyone but themselves. This question cannot be answered without looking deeply into each characters involvement in the tragedy.
3 Dec. 2013. Kerschen, Lios. A. A “Critical Essay on ‘Romeo and Juliet’. ” Drama for Students. Ed.
While reading Shakespeare's play “Romeo and Juliet” it is easy to see that everybody in the story is at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Personally however, I believe that three of the main characters are more at fault then the other characters. First is Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend. Next is Benvolio, nephew of Lord Montague and Romeo’s other friend. Last is Friar Lawrence, Romeo and Juliet Franciscan Priest. In a story of unorthodox love, family feuding, and violence, many are at blame for the deaths.
“It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden; Too like the lightning, which cloth cease to be Ere on can say it lightens.” Says Juliet in the play written by Shakespeare “The Tradegy of Romeo and Juliet”.In Romeo and Juliet the death of the “star crossed lovers” could be blamed on Friar Lawrence and Romeo because of their rapidity and lack of common sense. Even though, Capulet forced Juliet to marry Paris, Friar Lawrence and Romeo should be blamed because they both acted with haste.
The feud meant that they had to keep their relationship under wraps and tip-toe around their families. The ancient grudge between the two families meant that if one member of either family found out about Romeo and Juliet then they would be killed, ‘If they do see thee, they will murder thee.’ The family feud between the Montague and Capulet families could also be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because they both grew up with people dieing within the families because of the grudge. For instance Mercutio and Tybalt, Mercutio was a very loyal friend of Romeo’s and Tybalt was Juliet’s cousin. The deaths of these characters meant that Romeo and Juliet were both distressed and unhappy, and thus could have given more reason to their own deaths, ‘ A’ Thursday let it be, a’ Thursday, tell her,
So it is likely that Shakespeare meant for fate to be the cause of Romeo and Juliet's death. I think that the family feud is the main cause for the death of Romeo and Juliet. If the families were not so hateful towards each other Romeo and Juliet would not have kept there love for each other a secret, and they would have no need for committing suicide. This also backs up the point that fate could be to blame for their deaths.
In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet two young lovers lost their lives when hate and love collided. From the Montagues came Romeo and from the Capulets was Juliet. The two families were feuding and Romeo and Juliet could not stand being without each other. They both killed themselves because they thought life was not worth living without the other. Though there are many who can be blamed for this tragic ending, there are three that are the most responsible. Mercutio, The Nurse, and Friar Laurence are the three that deserve the most blame.
Throughout time, there have been many tragedies cause by romance. For example, the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is known for its romantic tragedy between two star-crossed lovers. With all the deaths, who is truly to blame for Romeo and Juliet's deaths? Friar Laurence is most to blame for many obvious, yet overlooked reasons.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt et al. The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W. Norton & Company Inc., 1997. Print.
The story people adore; Romeo falls for Juliet and they get married. They are forced into hiding which leads to Juliet pretending to be dead. The love struck Romeo kills him self, when Juliet awakes to actually kill herself, a fantasized love story. However another side to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet tragedy that fans don't look at is who is responsible. The dominant male characters, Friar Laurence, Lord Capulet, and Romeo are most at blame for the story.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. Language of Literature. Ed. Arthur N. Applebee. Evanston: McDougal Littell, 2002. Print.
Shakespeare, William. “Romeo and Juliet.” Literature and Language. Illinois: McDougal, Littell and Company, 1992. 722-842
Shakespeare's play of “Romeo and Juliet” is well known, and leaves the audience asking: Who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Most of the play’s characters closely related to Romeo and Juliet carry some responsibility, but there are three characters or groups who had the greatest influence on the story’s outcome. Friar Laurence could be blamed for marrying them and keeping it secret. Juliet’s nurse encouraged Romeo’s pursuit of Juliet, even helping Juliet sneak out to marry. Last and most deserving of blame, however, are the parents, Lord and Lady Capulet and Lord and Lady Montague. If not for the family feud and hatred, Romeo and Juliet would’ve lived, not tasting the bittersweetness of death.
Good afternoon, my fellow audience. I am here today to persuade you on who I believe to be the character mostly responsible for the death of the two main characters in the play, Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is almost an ironic play because of its open and easily known ending, but yet its ending emerges the controversial question, WHO IS TO BLAME FOR THE DEATH OF ROMEO AND JULIET? I believe every character in the book contributed to their deaths even Romeo and Juliet themselves, but Friar Lawrence bears a monumental deal of the blame because he was the principle and most reliable adult that could have steered the ‘inexperienced’ couple, but his incompetency led Romeo and Juliet to a violent
Works Cited for: Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. New York City, NY: Folger Shakespeare Library, 1992, 2011. Print. The.