He shouldn’t have asked Juliet to marry him so suddenly. He knew that Juliet is a Capulet. He was bringing their deaths closer to the reality. He knew that he could never marry Juliet because she was the daughter of his enemy. When he finds out in the party that Juliet is a Capulet, Romeo says, ‘Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt’. He realises that his life is in his enemy’s hands. So if he knew this, he should have not married her. He should have thought very carefully before he acted.
He should have also thought more carefully before rushing back to Verona after hearing of Juliet’s death. If he had waited for just one day, before rushing back to Verona he would have found out that Juliet is not death. When he hears about Juliet’s death, Romeo says to Balthasar,
‘Is it e’en so? Then I defy you, stars!
Thou knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper,
And hire post-horses. I will hence to night’
This shows he was too impulsive and all his actions. That’s why I believe that Romeo is partly to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
I also believe that fighting with Tybalt is Romeo’s fault. Because the prince had already said that the next person from Montague or Capulet to fight would be banished.
‘If ever you disturb our streets again,
your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace’
Knowing all this he had just married Juliet, he should have considered this before joining in the fight which led to him killing Tybalt. He didn’t think that if he killed Tybalt he would be banished. If Romeo have thought first then acted maybe the two lovers would be alive. In this situation like money modern day situations, violence only begets more violence.
I believe that the Nurse was also responsible because she encouraged Juliet and her romantic ideas. She carried messages, and helped the lover to meet and get married secretly. She should have let Juliet’s parents know what was going on. She advised Juliet to marry Paris, knowing she was already married to Romeo. She was Juliet’s Nurse from Juliet ………..being a baby and she treated her almost like a daughter. Her position of responsibility was like a parent to Juliet which she abuses. She was employed by Juliet’s parents which was common at that time. Juliet spent much more time with the Nurse then her parents. She was not loyal to Lord and Lady Capulet. Juliet’s parents would never encourage their daughter to be with Romeo but the Nurse’s romantic ideas mean that she acts inappropriately, even praising Romeo to Juliet,
‘Well, you have made a simple choice; you
know not how to choose a man. Romeo?
No, not he. Though his face be better than
any other man’s yet his leg excels all men’s;
and for a hand ………’
This shows the Nurse encouraging Juliet to love Romeo which is totally the opposite of what Juliet’s mother wanted Juliet to do.
Juliet hadn’t reached her fourteenth birthday so; she was too young and couldn’t think and make decisions for herself. The Nurse was the responsible adult. She knew that Romeo’s family is the enemies of the Capulet’s, Juliet’s family, and the two families can never be together. She should have advised Juliet and warned her about what she was doing. She could have told Juliet’s parents what was going on. If she had done so, the marriage and the deaths of Romeo and Juliet would not have happened
She shouldn’t have carried messages, for example she says, ‘then hie you hence to Friar Lawrence’ cells, there stays a husband to make you a wife Now…...’ By carrying Juliet’s messages she helped the two young lovers to make wrong decision about their futures.
Juliet couldn’t legally marry Paris when she was married to Romeo, but the Nurse was worried about her own involvement in Romeo and Juliet’s marriage and wanted to cover up for herself so that Juliet’s parents, Lord and Lady Capulet, do not that realise the Nurse was involved in this marriage.
‘I think it best you marry with the county
O, he’s a lovely gentleman!
Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam,’
This shows that this is what she said about Romeo before and now she says about Paris. The Nurse is an unreliable woman. She is only looking at things for her own benefit. Nurse is not the best person to advice Juliet or anyone about love. The best person is you, only you know how you feel.
The Friar Lawrence is a priest in Verona. I think the Friar Lawrence is also a major contributing towards the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, because he married the young lovers in secret. He gave the sleeping drug and he was responsible for getting news of the plan to Romeo.
He married Romeo and Juliet which I think he should never have agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet, because he knew that Romeo is too quick to fall in love as he says.
‘Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!
Is Rosaline that thou didst love so dear,
So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes……’
So, if he knew all this and still he married them in secret. It shows that he did it for self interest.
I think he is the most responsible because he made a very risky plan. The whole plan was his idea. He gave Juliet the sleeping potion.
‘Hold, then go home, be merry, give consent
To marry Paris. Wednesday is to-morrow,
To-morrow night look that though lie alone;
Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber
Take than this vial, being then in bet,
And this distilled……’
He should be blame for this risky plan, which led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If he didn’t give Juliet the sleeping potion, Romeo would not come to Verona and not have taken the poison form the apothecary and could live with Juliet peacefully. He could have found another way of solving the problem rather than this dangerous way. He could have take Juliet outside Verona secretly.
He was responsible for getting news of the plan to Romeo which he didn’t do this with loyalty. He should have done two or three ways to get the messages to Romeo. So, if one could not reach to Romeo the other will reach to him. He could have sent a person to get the message to Romeo.
‘I’ll sent a friar with speed to Mantua, with my letter to thy lord.
It shows that it was Friar Lawrence’s responsibility to get the plan to Romeo and he acted as an irresponsible by just sending only one letter and not thinking that this letter will reach to Mantua or not.
In conclusion I think the most responsible is Friar Lawrence because he made a risky plan which led to the deaths of the two lovers. The second character that I think is the most to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is Romeo himself, because he was too quick to fall in love, he was in love first with Rosaline then Juliet. He was making decision without thinking and too quick to act. The third character I think the Nurse, because she carried Romeo and Juliet’s messages and helped the two lovers to get married secretly.
Maria Yaquby
11E
