Explain the ways Shakespeare shows who or what is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Luke Johnston

Shakespeare shows who or what was to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death through his characters. The most important characters that influenced their deaths were Romeo, Friar Lawrence but also the feud between the two households.

It was Romeo’s own fault that they were to both die because he agreed to go to the ball even though he knew that something bad was to happen. Shakespeare showed this by the use of diction, character flaw, the sense of foreboding and dramatic irony.

I fear too early, for my mind misgives

Some consequence yet hanging in the stars

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night’s revels, and expire the term

Of a despised life clos’d in my breast,

By some vile forfeit of untimely death.

But He that hath the steerage of my course

Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen.

(Act 1 Scene 4)

This quotation proves that he knew that if he goes, then something bad could happen-some consequence, and also proves that Romeo was immature in the sense that he took no notice of the way he felt of what was going to happen-my mind misgives. Such as, there would be unnecessary death-by some vile forfeit of untimely death. This gives the sense of foreboding and the diction is very effective. As Romeo did eventually go to the ball, the audience already knows that something bad will happen but not Romeo, this then proves that Shakespeare used dramatic irony in this part of the story. He could not take such a big decision so he tells Mercutio and Benvolio to decide for him-direct my sail! In my opinion, I think that Romeo’s going to the ball was a bad idea because it was with the enemy and that would cause a riot between the two households if they were to find out. The parents would largely resent it. Although, it’s not entirely his fault as he was not certain that something bad would happen.

The next character I shall be talking about is Friar Lawrence. Shakespeare shows that Friar Lawrence was also to blame because he shows how he would do anything to stop the feud and going to extremes, but also his flaw. There are a few reasons in which Friar Lawrence was to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death. Firstly he got them married.

But 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.

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But 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.

(Act 2 Scene 3)

This quotation shows that Friar Lawrence will marry Romeo and Juliet, knowing that they are from households of enemies, to stop the feud. This is Friar Lawrence’s flaw, as he jumps into extreme decisions. Although his intentions are good –to turn your household’s rancour to pure love, he still didn’t really think about it hard and long enough, as it was a big decision to make. In my opinion, Friar Lawrence should not have got them married because there was a chance that the feud would get worse and this would cause a lot of trouble in Fair Verona. This would then lead to death in both families from both houses. What he should have done was to think long and hard about what the situation was and how to resolve it without making the feud worse.

This brings me to another reason why Friar Lawrence was to blame. He gave Juliet the potion that can fake death. Shakespeare shows that Friar Lawrence was to blame by giving her the vile because of his flaw in not thinking things through and the use of syntax.

If, rather then to marry County Paris,

Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself,

Then it is likely thou wilt undertake

A thing like death to chide away this shame,

That cop’st with Death himself to scape from it;

And if thou dar’st, I’ll give thee remedy.

(Act 4 Scene 1)

This quotation shows that Friar Lawrence is at first reluctant to give Juliet the remedy as she was upset over Romeo being exiled and her family planning for her to marry Paris and so threatens to kill herself-thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself but soon gives in which then shows his character flaw. Although he tries to talk some sense into her, she is still threatening to kill herself. So, he says that if she has the will to kill herself so that she will not have to marry Paris, but could be with Romeo instead-then it is likely thou wilt undertake, he suggests that a thing like faking her death could hide the shame and escape from marriage if she dares take the vile. The syntax in his sentences show how reluctant he was until he realised how much Romeo meant to her, so helped her. This is how Friar Lawrence’s character flaw shows mostly deciding too quickly. In my opinion, Friar Lawrence’s intentions were for a good cause although he didn’t plan out the aftermath. He rushed into it without any thought. He thought he could solve everything with just that one plan. Obviously it did not turn out like that. What he should have done was to sit down with Juliet and talk about what to do if there was anything to do.

This brings me to the next reason why Friar Lawrence was to blame, by leaving Juliet alone in the tomb. Shakespeare shows this by how Friar Lawrence’s diction that shows how selfish he is, cautious of being caught by the watchman and the interaction between him and Juliet at that point in the story.

I hear some noise. Lady, come from that nest
Of death, contagion, and unnatural sleep:
A greater power than we can contradict
Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.
Thy husband in thy bosom there lies dead;
And Paris too. Come, I'll dispose of thee
Among a sisterhood of holy nuns:
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming;
Come, go, good Juliet,
I dare no longer stay.

(Act 5 Scene 3)

This quotation shows that Friar Lawrence did not break the bad news gently, he came out with it, so shocking her into disbelief. This is again shown in the syntax of his sentences. He explained to her what had happened in a few sentences-Thy husband in thy bosom- to- stay not to question. He said this quickly because he was also afraid that he would get caught, he was watching his own back-for the watch is coming; come, go, but still he left without Juliet. He most probably knew that she would commit suicide because of they way he bundled the whole story on her without giving her time to think things through. This proves that there was no interaction between them In my opinion, I think that Friar Lawrence should have literally dragged Juliet out of the tomb in order for her to not commit suicide, although she may have done later on, but even so Friar Lawrence should have dragged her out, but because he just went off, it puts the blame on his shoulders, but luckily for him, the two households did eventually make ends meet.

The next thing I shall be talking about which had a role in Romeo and Juliet’s death was the feud between the households. Shakespeare showed how the feud was to blame for their deaths by conflict, dramatic irony and the use of the chorus.

Two households, both alike in dignity,
In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
From forth the fatal loins of these two foes
A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life;
Whole misadventured piteous overthrows
Do with their death bury their parents' strife.
The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,
And the continuance of their parents' rage,
Which, but their children's end, nought could remove,

(Prologue)

This quotation proves there was no contrast between the two houses-both alike in dignity and so meaning that there really was no reason for the conflict to have started. The use of the chorus is effective because it marks the outline of the story in a few sentences for the audience and this shows that Shakespeare also used dramatic irony in the use of the prologue. The prologue describes what happens, using emotive language such as –Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean - misadventured piteous overthrows. In my opinion, Romeo and Juliet should have told their families when the two families were in one room about their love for each other and so they would have to discuss it.

In conclusion to all these paragraphs about how Shakespeare showed who was to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death, I will discuss who was the most influence. Firstly I think that Romeo agreeing to go to the ball was not the most important factor as he could not be certain that something bad would happen. So, because he was not certain, then this was not the most important factor. Friar Lawrence’s influence on their deaths was a major factor. Firstly he got them married. Although it was meant as a good intention, it still caused problems, but I think that this was not important enough as to actually lead to their deaths. Secondly, he gave Juliet the remedy. I think this was a large factor to their deaths although he was reluctant to give the remedy to her at first; he still gave it to her. Lastly, he left Juliet in the tomb. I think this is the least major factor which caused them to die because Romeo was already dead and Juliet would have most probably killed herself later on. The feud was a very big influence because if there had not been one then this would have not happened. As the conflict could not be resolved in any way, this eventually led to their deaths. So, overall, I think that the feud was the most important factor leading to Romeo and Juliet’s death.

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