‘I dare no longer stay’ (A5S3L159)
If he did not try to interfere in the affair of Romeo and Juliet even though he knows, there is ‘a greater power than we can contradict’ (A5S3L153). Therefore, if he did not try to work against fate and destiny Romeo and Juliet may not have died.
The Nurse is Juliet’s carer. She has been with Juliet since birth and therefore is closer to Juliet than Lady Capulet is. She is supposed to guide Juliet however; the Nurse misleads her that leads to Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. She led both of them to their deaths because she tells Juliet to marry Romeo purely on the bases that he is handsome:
‘His face be
Better than any man’s’ (A2S3L39-40)
The Nurse says this when Juliet sends her away to find the answer if she is to get married to Romeo or not. The nurse treats the relationship between Romeo and Juliet like a game. She keeps Juliet waiting for the answer Romeo gave:
‘Jesu, what haste! can you not stay a while?
Do you not see I am out of breath?’(A2S5L29-30)
Naturally, as Juliet trusts The Nurse she also copies her and treats the relationship as a game. The Nurse also helps Romeo to consummate their marriages:
‘To fetch a ladder by which your love
Must climb a bird’s nest soon when it is dark. (A2S5L73-74)
Her irresponsibility is most obvious when the risks increase. When she realises she may be affected directly by the outcome she opts for the most sensible choice.
‘I think it best you married with the county’ (A3S5L217)
. The audience sympathize with Juliet’s plight when the nurse turns her back on Juliet. She has been made to feel like she has made the wrong choice by marrying Romeo. The Nurse’s carelessness caused Romeo and Juliet’ deaths because if she had not backed Juliet’s first choice of marrying Romeo and advised her to marry County Paris first time than Romeo and Juliet would not be dead.
Other characters can be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Montague and Lady Montague can be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because the had distanced themselves from Romeo so much so that they were not aware of Romeo’s state. To get close to Romeo Lady Montague sends Benvolio:
‘O where is Romeo? Saw you him today
Right glad I am he was not at this Fray’ (A1S1L110-111)
The audience feels sorry for Romeo because his parents were neglecting him. Lady Montague says this shortly after a fight broke out between the family servants. This shows they were oblivious to the situation of Romeo. Capulet and Lady Capulet can be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because they forced Juliet in marrying County Paris. They also threatened that if she did not marry County Paris she be kicked out on to the streets:
‘And you be not, hang, beg, starve
Die in the streets’ (A3S5L192)
Capulet had said this after Juliet had refused marry County Paris. If they had not forced Juliet in marrying Paris she would not have been desperate and taken on Friar Lawrence‘s plan. Both families were neglectful of their children. They were also guilty of pride and arrogance. If they had worked things out things before Romeo and Juliet’s death definitely would have been thwarted. Balthasar is accountable for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths because when Juliet was being carried through the streets of Verona in an open casket Balthasar saw Juliet and straight away rode away to Mantua to inform Romeo of Juliet’s premature death’. He then contradicts his own action by saying to Romeo to be patient.
‘I do beseech sir, have patience’ (A5S1L27)
Balthasar tells Romeo to be patient when he himself acts rashly and does not enquire about Juliet’s death. If these characters and indeed others had acted with more caution, the deaths of Romeo and Juliet could have been evaded.
William Shakespeare has written the play Romeo and Juliet as debate of whether life is controlled by destiny or do people’s actions effect life’s outcome . So the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are not only caused by people but also a series of unfortunate events. The first coincidence is when Capulet gives his guest list to an illiterate servant. At this point Romeo is talking to Benvolio. The Servant then asks Romeo to read the list. ‘I pray sir, can you read’ (A1S2L57). This gives Benvolio the idea to go to the party and help Romeo to stop thinking of Rosaline. An other example of bad luck is when Romeo rides from Mantua to Juliet’s tomb he finds County Paris also mourning over Juliet.
‘This is that banish’d haughty Montague’ (A5S3L49)
Afterwards a fight breaks between Paris and Romeo and Paris is slain. A different example is when Friar Lawrence sends a letter to Mantua informing Romeo of the new plan. He sends it with Friar John. Who travelled to Mantua however, whilst visiting the sick he was quarantined and was not able to send Romeo.
‘I could not send it-here it is again-
Nor get a messenger to bring it thee
So fearful were they of infection’(A5S3L14-16)
Friar John says this to Friar Lawrence informing him why he could not send. If fate had not intervened in the lives of Romeo and Juliet their deaths could have been evaded.
There is a lot of evidence to suggest that fate, destiny was responsible for the deaths of Romeo, and Juliet for example Romeo and Juliet belonged to two rival families another could be that the families made up after the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. On the other, hand various pieces of evidence point out that certain actions by different characters led to their deaths. Like when Benvolio told the Prince of Romeo. You could also blame Romeo and Juliet because the let their sexual desires cloud their better judgement. I think characters are responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because it makes more sense.
