The Apothecary is a poor man who sells Romeo the rat poison, he should accept a little bit of responsibility, but not much, as at this stage, Romeo would still have taken his own life. He really didn’t want to sell the poison but his status and poverty forced him to
‘My poverty but not my will consents.’
Friar John is the reason why Romeo didn’t receive the letter, because fate is seen working against Romeo and Juliet again. He makes a slight detour on his way to Mantua to visit a sick Friar, and unfortunately the town is suffering due to plague, which was common at the time. So the Friar or the letter wasn’t allowed to leave the town because they might have contracted the disease and carry it to another town.
Mercutio and Tybalt are very impulsive and argumentative characters; they are both alike in their personalities. They aren’t afraid to fight for what they believe in, which eventually leads them to their death.
Mercutio is a kinsman to the prince and dear friend to Romeo.
Shakespeare uses Mercutio as the joker, he adds a bit of humour to a rather sombre and tragic play. Mercutio is rather foolish, but also is surprised because Romeo is backing out from a fight, and he thinks that he is a coward
‘ O calm, dishonourable, vile submission.’
The foolish side of Mercutio is evidenced when he accepts the proposition to fight Tybalt that was originally aimed at Romeo. He doesn’t take responsibility for his own actions, and in turn he curses both households and the long-standing family feud for his death:
‘A plague o’ both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me. I have it,
And soundly too. Your houses!’
Tybalt is the nephew to Lady Capulet. Tybalt is a fiery character and throughout the play is used as the troublemaker. He swears revenge against Romeo, after he gatecrashes the Capulet ball,
‘I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.’
Towards Romeo he is rather insulting he is taken aback when he refuses his challenge and tries his utmost best to provoke Romeo, by using the vilest insult used at the time:
‘Thou art a villain.’ He is seen as very persistent to exact upon his reason to be there, he also embarrasses Romeo; he holds no remorse to killing Mercutio and fights with Romeo assured that he can defeat him. The language he uses reflects his personality clearly, it gives us an indication that he feeds on trouble, and likes to make a situation worse.
They are both at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, as their pride interrupts the plans of Romeo and Juliet. If they didn’t fight and walked away they both wouldn’t have ended up dead, and Romeo wouldn’t have been banished. Mercutio and Tybalt are two of the characters being considered to shoulder the blame, what do you think?
Friar Lawrence is a Franciscan, and is seen by others in Verona as authoritive.. Everyone goes to him for advice, especially Juliet. He is very urgent to marry Romeo and Juliet as he thinks that if the only son of Montague married the only daughter of Capulet, then the parents will end the feud. Friar Lawrence is very wise and persuasive. He is surprised that Romeo loves Juliet, as just the other day he was speaking of his love for Rosaline; he describes him of being shallow. He also stops him from thinking about the negatives in the situation. He clearly indicates that he can take control of situations and turn them around this is shown when he manages to assure Romeo that being banished isn’t the end of the world as he seems to think. Instead, it could result as a good omen, because it gives them the chance to live together away from the trouble that would be caused in Verona:
‘Be patient, for the world is broad and wide.’
In his language the Friar is very eloquent, and uses it to great effect, it matches his figure of authority perfectly he is persuasive and he is a resourceful man and towards Romeo he speaks convincingly.
‘Hold thy desperate hand!
Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art:
Thy tears are womanish, thy wild acts denote
The reasonable fury of a beast.’
Later on he is seen as the pacifier, as he tries to delay the marriage between Juliet and Paris. He comes up with a plan and tries to solve the situation. In some ways he is rather weak because he doesn’t’ use the power he has to confront both families and face the consequences of the marriage, and instead tries to cover his contribution to the marriage. The most cowardly act that he commits is in the final scene when he leaves Juliet alone to face the dead body of Romeo, this act is the final blow, as he loses total control and is very selfish he doesn’t try to force Juliet to get away from the tomb. In this scene his language is very subdued and selfish, he isn’t perceptive of Juliet and her needs and leaves her on her own unaware that she is willing to harm herself. He proposes that she go with him and work in a convent, for once he isn’t as persuasive and effective as earlier in the play, and also begins to sound desperate, especially in fear for his own welfare.
‘Come, come away.
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns.’
He is one of the strongest characters contributing to the deaths; beside Romeo and Juliet he plays a huge part in the outcome. He marries them both and plays a large role in the deaths. He also concocted a plan that failed and so Romeo wasn’t informed. So the Friar should accept some blame, is there is enough to make him take on some responsibility.
Would you hold Friar Lawrence responsible?
The Parents are the main cause of the deaths, they are involved in a family feud that has gone on for so many generations, and they can’t even remember why they are bitter enemies! What type of feud is that? It’s just a farce. The Montagues aren’t involved as much as the Capulets, because they are more lenient with Romeo, on the other hand Juliet’s parents are strict and more overprotective with her because the daughter usually has her marriage arranged by her parents. Lord Montague, is responsible, because he is prepared to fight with Lord Capulet and further the feud:
‘Thou villain Capulet! – Hold me not, let me go.’
Where Lady Montague isn’t so keen and stops Lord Montague from fighting with the Capulets:
‘Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.’
As their involvement in the play is limited, they don’t appear in the play as often as the Capulets. At the end they change their attitude towards the Capulets as they realise that such a tragedy was caused by the childish feud and actions that they have continued to carry out for years. They decide to end the feud, but at what cost? They also praise Juliet.
‘But can give thee more;
For I will raise her statue in pure gold.’
The Montagues deserve to be blamed, because they have been involved in a feud with the Capulets for years, which has had a dire effect, the death of their only son Romeo’ they were slightly involved in pushing Romeo and Juliet further away and forcing them into making decisions they made, because of the background and the loathing between the two families.
Lord and Lady Capulet, are more involved than the Montagues, as they try to arrange for Juliet to get married. The language Lord Capulet uses is strong, he is very determined and is proud of himself and his reputation, but Lady Capulet, seems more sensible and aware than Lord Capulet, even though she is not fond of the Montagues she doesn’t try to fight or cause trouble, she uses persuasive language to stop her husband to join in the fight at the start of the play, even though she does plead for Romeo to be killed. At the end you notice a difference in their language, unlike before where it was full of hatred and determination, it was suddenly filled with guilt and praise:
At the beginning of the play, Lord Capulet is seen as willing to fight with the Montagues, he is very determined and keen which his language clearly denotes:
‘My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,
And flourishes his blade in spite of me.’
When he hears of Paris’ proposal to marry Juliet he appears to be a loving and caring father, by clearly making her age known, and asks Paris to wait for a few more years:
‘ My child is yet a stranger in the world;
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years:
Let two more summers wither in her pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.’
In the banquet scene Lord Capulet seems very sensible and tells Tybalt to let the fact that Romeo is attending go. When Tybalt questions his judgement he quickly loses his temper, this shows he doesn’t like his actions to be questioned.
He decides that Juliet should marry Paris as he thinks this great opportunity will never arise again he takes the decision into his own hands and decides to over-rule Juliet. When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, he loses his temper and immediately turns violent and powerful because his authority decisions were being questioned. He hits Juliet to let her know he won’t back down, this shows that he is violent. His language during this scene is very abusive and direct, saying he won’t reverse his decision and Juliet should either accept the proposal or he will disinherit her:
‘An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
For by my soul I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good:
Trust to ‘t; bethink you; I’ll not be forsworn.’
When Juliet accepts the proposal, he is easily convinced and is delighted. He probably thought it took her some time to accept the proposal, and she responded after thinking it through. During the scene where he is jubilant that Juliet is accepting the marriage to Paris in his language there is some irony as he praises Friar Lawrence for persuading Juliet to marry Paris when in fact he is trying to help her in her bid to not marry Paris:
’Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,
All our whole city is much bound to him.’
In the last scene he praises Romeo and realises his involvement in the feud was at fault for their deaths:
‘As rich shall Romeo’s by his lady’s lie-
Poor sacrifices of our enmity!’
The language that Lord Capulet uses is strong, violent, slightly abusive and early in the play loving and caring. These descriptions match the different sides of Lord Capulet that can be seen throughout the play, he is also very forceful.
Lady Capulet in seen in the opening scene, stopping Lord Capulet from fighting:
‘ A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?’
She also gives him a stern warning,
‘ Thou shalt not stir one foot to seek a foe.’
When she informs Juliet of Paris’ proposal she isn’t forceful like Lord Capulet, but is very reasonable. Many times she asks Juliet if she could ever grow to love Paris.
‘Speak briefly, can you like of Paris’ love?’
She makes clear that she is keen on Juliet marrying Paris and gives examples of herself at Juliet’s’ age:
‘By my count,
I was your mother much upon these years
That you are now a maid.’
After the death of Tybalt she is out for revenge after her pleas for Romeo’s death falls on deaf ears she is angry and upset but her main aim is to repay Romeo. In the scene when Lord Capulet strikes out of Juliet, she is quite scared of Lord Capulet, and assumes the tears that Juliet are crying are for Tybalt. She speaks again of her desire to repay Romeo and sides with Lord Capulet and dismisses Juliet’s reasons and needs.
‘Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word;
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.’
So I believe that the parents admit some of the responsibility should be passed their way because the childish feuding caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If they had ended the feud as soon as possible and hadn’t been proud of their reputation these deaths would not have occurred. It would not have made Romeo and Juliet marry in secret or cause the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio, Paris and Tybalt. Their lives have been lost because of this ancient feud, so personally I believe this feud is responsible for 5 deaths and the Capulets must shoulder most of the blame without any questions being asked, the Montagues shouldn’t be removed from the equation, as they aren’t totally innocent, because they also were involved in the feud.
Romeo and Juliet are the main characters, did they influence their own deaths?
Throughout the play, Romeo is very determined, but he changes his personality when he meets Juliet. He declares his love for Rosaline in the opening scenes and agrees to gatecrash the Capulet ball so he can prove to Benvolio just how special he sees Rosaline. At the ball he is a charmer even though he shouldn’t be there. He is well behaved and well mannered, even when he finds out who Juliet is. If he were sensible he would’ve left the ball sooner.
In the balcony scene, he is acting very foolishly as he risks his life and it indicates his love for Juliet. He declares his love for Juliet several times. He doesn’t stay around for long as Juliet informs him of the dangers, he knows his love for Juliet is endless and is quite up front about his feelings:
‘Lady, by yonder blessed moon I vow,
That tips with silver all these fruit tree tops.’
He also accepts Juliet’s proposal of marriage:
‘Th’ exchange of thy love’s faithful vow for mine.’
When he visits Friar Lawrence to inform him of the marriage, he is quite persistent. He describes his love for Juliet plenty of times, like he did for Rosaline and ignores the feud and goes ahead and arranges the marriage.
He refuses to fight Tybalt and is seen to be sensible, he doesn’t become provoked by Tybalts insults, and he tries to break up the fight. When Mercutio is killed, he is full of grief and anger and furiously goes in search of Tybalt. When he kills Tybalt and the red mist clears he realises what he has done and immediately regrets it:
‘O, I am Fortune’s fool.’
After he learns that he has been banished, he shows signs of weakness and has lost all of his self-control and relies on the Friar to make decisions for him. Then he begins to realise what life without Juliet would be like, and ponders death to be the only solution. He thinks he will never see Juliet again.
When he learns of Juliet’s death he gives an immediate reaction, he is seen as impulsive and decides to kill himself, he is determined and passionate.
Fate is seen again working against them both as he has already noticed an apothecary in Mantua.
When he visits the apothecary he pays him a lot of money and says:
‘I pay thy poverty and not thy will,’ and
‘There is thy gold-worse poison men’s souls.’
In the last scene, Romeo speaks very passionately about Juliet; he describes himself as being desperate. He fights Paris with lots of determination; he shows no remorse when he kills Paris. He describes Juliet, then he drinks the poison and before he dies he kisses Juliet for the last time:
‘ Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.’
The type of language he uses during the play is full of passion and love, especially when he speaks about Juliet. He is seen as quite shallow, when the day after letting his feelings of love for Rosaline public, he then falls in love with Juliet. His language and personality changes when he realises he really does love Juliet, so his language matches his personality, when it changes. Early in the play Shakespeare makes him out to be a charmer and the language he chose gives us that impression.
Juliet is the other main character, when she hears about Paris’ proposal, she is rather flattered and accepts to attend the ball to see if she can ever love Paris. Juliet is seen to be totally independent and instead of getting to know Paris she gets to know Romeo instead and she finds out that he is a Montague. In the balcony scene Juliet recites one of the most famous lines, that Shakespeare has ever written:
‘O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?’
She is embarrassed in this scene, as she speaks her true feelings. She proposes to Romeo and is quite quick to act. Before the marriage she is very excited of marrying the man she loves. When she hears of the murders she is stunned and wonders how Romeo can be so cruel, she also sends him a ring as a token of her love. She is seen defending Romeo when the nurse criticises him:
‘Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?’
When she hears of the arranged marriage to Paris, she refuses straightaway; she tries to beg her father to postpone the marriage.
This fails, and therefore asks her mother who refuses to help her, she turns to the last person she could confide in the nurse, who says she should marry Paris. It’s as this point she comprehends that she is alone:
‘ I’ll to the Friar…
If all else fail, myself have power to die.’
In her visit to the Friar she is determined and makes clear she has no intentions to marry Paris. She is independent and manipulative towards the Friar. She forwards an ultimatum; if he doesn’t help her she will kill herself, she’s acting very bravely and takes control of the situation.
‘And I will do it without fear or doubt,
To live an unstained wife to my sweet love.’
She is capable of deceit and is very convincing, when she persuades her father that she wants to marry Paris.
Before she drinks the remedy that the Friar has concocted, she is afraid and nervous, which her language reflects. With disturbing images also creating more fear. It is only her strength of character being strong that helps her quieten the fears and drink the potion. When she wakes up in the tomb, and spots Romeo’s body she ignores Friar Lawrence. Her determination shines through, instantly she decides to kill herself and then she kisses Romeo:
‘I will kiss thy lips.
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them
To make me die with a restorative.’
When there isn’t enough poison she decides to kill herself with Romeo’s dagger:
‘ O happy dagger,
This is thy sheath; there rest, and let me die.’
The type of language Juliet uses is full of determination, which reflects her personality; even at such a young age she is manipulative and independent and can take control of situations.
So can Romeo and Juliet take responsibility for their own deaths? They can take some responsibility because they got married and carried on seeing each other, even though they knew the risks and dangers of doing it were high, they let their hearts lead them to their true love. What can be wrong with that?
I believe that the parents should be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as they had been involved and allowed this childish feud to strive and live on. Their contribution to their children’s well being was the worst thing they could have done; the Capulets deserve more blame than the Montagues. They drove Juliet away into Romeo’s arms, as they forced her into marrying Paris, instead of giving her a choice, they said she has no other options. Lord Capulet is a very violent man and hits his daughter which, whereas Lady Capulet isn’t violent, but doesn’t know her daughter very well and isn’t perceptive of her feelings. The Montagues, carry on the feud to and don’t look as if they care about Romeo’s welfare. The parents don’t fill their roles efficiently and could have shown more love towards Juliet than they did.
What do you think? Who do you perceive to be responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?