By the next day Romeo has already married Juliet, and Romeo is now related to Tybalt, this being the reason for Tybalt’s challenge to be turned down by Romeo. Mercutio, astonished by this course of action, takes his place, only to be (almost accidentally) killed. Tybalt is then vengefully killed by Romeo. The origins of this small conflict were in fact, the Feud. If there had been no feud, then Tybalt would not have challenged Romeo to a duel; thus avoiding any intrusion at the party because the families would have been friends with one another.
The Church
The character representing the church is Friar Laurence. So to what extent is Friar Laurence responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Consider the relationships he has with Romeo and Juliet and his awareness of the families’ feuding. Consider his actions throughout the play: he performs their wedding ceremony, knowing that if they are caught there will be serious trouble; he comforts both Romeo and Juliet when things go wrong giving them advice; he arranges for Romeo to go to Mantua; he supplies the drug for Juliet and attempts vainly to save her when everything goes wrong. His motives are righteous and innocent - to help his close friend Romeo, to reunite the families and to preserve the marriage. Friar Laurence has a sense of superiority and looks for the regard and respect of others. He genuinely wishes to bring an end to the families’ discord. The Friar is responsible for setting in motion a series of actions which lead to the couple’s marriage, the arrangements for their later reunion, supplying the drug to Juliet and failing to save her from herself. Others contribute to the tragedy to a greater or lesser degree. The events are, however, fated to happen and in that sense the Friar is an innocent, and to some extent a naive,: agent of fate.
The Nurse is Juliet’s closest friend and confidante throughout the whole of the play. The Nurse knows as much about the real events than anyone else but, unlike the Friar, shies away from involvement at a key moment. But the Nurse betrays Juliet: when the Capulets inform Juliet that the marriage with Paris has been brought foward, the Nurse offers a token of defence but is quickly crushed by Capulet with “Peace you mumbling fool”. Now she rapidly changes sides, praising Paris as “a lovely Gentleman”.
Prince Escalus
Like other characters, the prince is a victim of circumstances. He is always just too late to do anything other than to react. He is plainly angered by the families’ feud yet lacks the strength to reconcile their differences. After the first street fight, he threatens the severest punishment if the fighting does not stop: “If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace”. Summoned to the scene of the double murder of Mercutio and Tybalt, he has the opportunity to enforce the death penalty on Romeo, but only banishes him from Verona, making Romeo and Juliet’s love life even more difficult.
Paris
Paris eventually lies in death beside Juliet. This he deserves. He pursues his love for Juliet quite single mindedly but sensitively. He accepts Capulet’s advice about seeking Juliet’s affections, and throughout the play treats her with respect and dignity. Seen from his point of view, it is absolutely right to prevent Romeo who, he supposes, is responsible for Juliet’s death, from doing “some villainous shame...to the dead bodies” and he dies defending her. Characteristically, his last thoughts are of her, “lay me with Juliet”.
Tybalt
In contrast to Mercutio and Benvolio, Tybalt is a relatively one - dimensional character. He is a dangerous man. He appears first when Benvolio is endeavouring to separate the warring factions in Act I, Scene 1. He goes for his sword, rejecting Benvolio’s plea to “keep the peace”. His response sums up all you need to know about his part in the play: “What, drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word/As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee”. His third and final appearance in Act III, Scene 1 sees him in a particularly aggressive mood. He has sent a challenge to Romeo and is happy enough to take on Mercutio instead. He brushes aside Romeo’s attempts at friendliness, needling Romeo until Mercutio steps in. He exits the scene when Mecutio falls, yet returns for one last time unconcerned by the news of Mercutio’s death and happy to see Romeo join him.
Tybalt represents the ugliness that lies just below the surface in this divided society. It is interesting to contrast the consequences of his death with those of Romeo and Juliet. His ensures that more deaths will follow; theirs that the killing comes to an end. If Verona is a divided society, Tybalt is the one man who wishes it to remain so. All of this shows that Tybalt is one of the main Characters who is to blame for at least one of deaths in this play. With his purposely harmful attitude, and his spite towards all Montagues, he is definitely a guilty person.
The Characters that are killed all die as a direct consequence of the hatreds of the society in which they find themselves. Romeo and Juliet’s deaths make them permanent symbols of the power of love which triumphs through all adversity, one that is destined forever to symbolise the wicked waste in all divided societies. Their deaths unite both grieving families.
