Zoé Reynolds 10G 06/04/2003
" A pair of star-cross'd lovers"
How far are the deaths of Romeo and Juliet
Due to the family feud, to the actions of the other characters and to the idea of fate?
Many characters in the play must bear responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In addition the family feud and the role of fate may also contribute to the tragedy. Was it the fault of the nurse who drove Juliet to take the potion given to her by Friar Lawrence? Was it the unpredictable plan made by Friar Lawrence, or the ignorance of Friar Lawrence which lead to the tragedy? Or was it simply the tempers or Mercutio and Tybalt who are to blame?
The parents and the family feud in the play made it very difficult for Romeo and Juliet to be together, so this meant they had to meet and marry in secret. Where the two families were involved in a feud and Romeo and Juliet were set enemies, was it fate that brought two enemies to the same gathering in which they could meet and fall in love? Juliet's parents put a lot of pressure on her to marry Paris, "You shall not house with me" Juliet's father says to Juliet when she refuses to marry Paris, threatening to disown her and throw her onto the streets. Juliet's father says that he owns here and therefore he can do whatever he wants to with her if she does not respect his wishes. In the time in which Romeo and Juliet would have lived, children were regarded as to not have any wishes of their own and did not have any rights, they had to respect and follow the wishes of their fathers. Juliet had always been a loyal daughter and had been respectful to her parents, but was the pressure of her parents causing her to rebel against them as she is being told to be unfaithful to her secret husband? When Juliet appeals to her mother about the marriage to Paris and her mother turns her back on her, agreeing with her father, Juliet becomes desperate for a way out of the marriage, so are Juliet's parents to blame for her death and therefore must also bear responsibility for that of Romeo's?
" A pair of star-cross'd lovers"
How far are the deaths of Romeo and Juliet
Due to the family feud, to the actions of the other characters and to the idea of fate?
Many characters in the play must bear responsibility for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In addition the family feud and the role of fate may also contribute to the tragedy. Was it the fault of the nurse who drove Juliet to take the potion given to her by Friar Lawrence? Was it the unpredictable plan made by Friar Lawrence, or the ignorance of Friar Lawrence which lead to the tragedy? Or was it simply the tempers or Mercutio and Tybalt who are to blame?
The parents and the family feud in the play made it very difficult for Romeo and Juliet to be together, so this meant they had to meet and marry in secret. Where the two families were involved in a feud and Romeo and Juliet were set enemies, was it fate that brought two enemies to the same gathering in which they could meet and fall in love? Juliet's parents put a lot of pressure on her to marry Paris, "You shall not house with me" Juliet's father says to Juliet when she refuses to marry Paris, threatening to disown her and throw her onto the streets. Juliet's father says that he owns here and therefore he can do whatever he wants to with her if she does not respect his wishes. In the time in which Romeo and Juliet would have lived, children were regarded as to not have any wishes of their own and did not have any rights, they had to respect and follow the wishes of their fathers. Juliet had always been a loyal daughter and had been respectful to her parents, but was the pressure of her parents causing her to rebel against them as she is being told to be unfaithful to her secret husband? When Juliet appeals to her mother about the marriage to Paris and her mother turns her back on her, agreeing with her father, Juliet becomes desperate for a way out of the marriage, so are Juliet's parents to blame for her death and therefore must also bear responsibility for that of Romeo's?
