This proves that their feuding has been going on for a long time. In the quote Prince Escalus is saying about how the families fighting is getting too bad and disturbing the peace. If there was anymore fighting, than they would be sentenced to death. The quote ‘where civil blood made civil hands unclean’ describes the hatred between the families.
Another force that was beyond the control of the characters was bad luck. This can be described as fate. I believe that this force is stronger than the families’ feuds as the feuds can be changed but luck cannot be changed. One example of bad luck is when Romeo did not receive Friar Lawrence’s letter explaining what happened. Friar Lawrence says in Act 5 scene 3 from lines 151 to 153:
‘I hear some noise. Lady, come from the rest of death, contagion and unnatural sleep. A greater power than we can contradict.’
The death of Romeo was also caused by bad luck as he had just killed himself seconds before Juliet woke up. He had killed himself as the only thing that mattered to him in life was Juliet. When Juliet had woken up she saw Romeo dead and knew the only thing that mattered to her in life was dead so she killed herself as well. This meant that Friar Lawrence’s plan didn’t work as he says in Act 5 scene 3 on line 153:
‘A greater power than we can contradict.’
I think believe Friar Lawrence having to leave the tomb was also bad luck because if he had stayed there, he could have explained to Romeo what was happening.
I believe that the behaviour of some of the characters did contribute to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. I think that if Tybalt had not acted so jealously because of what happened between Romeo and Juliet. If he did was not so jealous, then Romeo and Juliet’s marriage would have had a chance of lasting and this might have brought the two families together. Tybalt had said these quotes in Act 1 scene 5 lines 63 and 81:
‘Tis he, that villain, Romeo’ and ‘Why uncle, ‘tis a shame’
These quotes show how much Tybalt hates Romeo and he is jealous that Romeo and Juliet are getting together. Tybalt also tried to persuade his uncle Capulet to hate Romeo. He also tried to get Romeo angry by killing his friend Mercutio. I think Tybalt was the most to blame as his actions were all of his own choice and he probably would have known what the result would be with his interference.
Another character whose behaviour contributed to the death of Romeo and Juliet is old Capulet. If he had not been so stubbo/rn about Juliet’s marriage, Juliet would not have drunk the poison. He says this in Act 3 scene 5 lines 160 to 163:
‘Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what get thee to church o’Thursday. Or never after look me in the face. Speak not; do not answer me in the face.’
This shows how stubborn Capulet is by not giving a chance for Juliet to explain what’s going on. He thinks that this plan is great and wants to work, if he would let Juliet explain what’s going on, such as Montague agreed with the marriage, the deaths of Romeo and Juliet could have been avoided.
Another character who also contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet was Paris. He had said many things to annoy Juliet to try and persuade her to marry him. Juliet was still loyal to Romeo though. These quotes show how Paris’ behaviour contributed from Act 4 scene 1 lines 24 to 25:
Paris said, ’Do not deny to him that you love me’
Juliet replied still loyal to Romeo, ‘I will confess to you that I love him.’ This proves that Juliet was still loyal to Romeo even though he killed her cousin Tybalt. Paris was almost forcing Juliet to love and marry him. This is another way the deaths may have been avoided.
There were two other characters whose behaviour also contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. These characters were Friar Lawrence and Montague. I believe that Friar Lawrence persuaded them too much and should have acted more responsibly and given better advice to the young couple. From Act 2 scene 2 lines 85 to 88. Friar Lawrence thought of a good point of Romeo and Juliet getting together:
‘come, young waverer, come, go with me. In one respect. I’ll thy assistant be. For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your household’s rancour to pure love.’ Friar Lawrence only thought about all the good things but not the bad things. He was only interested on solving the feuds between the families and not what could happen to Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence was to blame because although he was trying to do the right thing for Romeo and Juliet’s love but ignored all the consequences.
Montague also persuaded Romeo and Juliet as he agreed to let them marry to try and bring the families together. If Capulet had agreed to
the marriage then it may have been suitable but unfortunately he did not.
In conclusion, I believe that the main factors in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet were due to bad luck like Romeo killing himself just before Juliet woke up and Friar Lawrence not delivering the letter on time. I think that the families fighting from before was fate. But I also think that the behaviours of some of the characters like Tybalt, Capulet and Paris also contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Were there deaths preordained by fate? I agree with this statement as fate cannot be changed.
‘There was nothing that any of the characters could have done to avoid their deaths’ I disagree with this statement as the characters behaviour clearly influenced the deaths and if Capulet had not have been so stubborn and let Romeo and Juliet marry, both families would have been better off.
