‘…I pray, sir, can you read?’
Also, fate could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as it is fate that Friar Laurence makes potions,
‘That cop’st with death himself to scape from it.
And if thou dar’st, I’ll give thee remedy.’
In addition fate could also be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as it is fate that there is a plague in Mantua, where Romeo is staying. This means that Friar John could not give the message to Romeo about Juliet taking the potion and Friar Laurence’s plans,
‘Sojourn to Mantua. I’ll find your man,
And he shall signify you from time to time
Every good hap to you that chances here.’
Furthermore, fate could be held responsible again for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as it is fate that Juliet does not wake up in time. If Juliet had woke up in time Romeo would not have killed himself,
‘Romeo! O, pale! Who else? What, Paris too?
And steeped in blood? Ah what an unkind hour
Is guilty of this lamentable chance?
The lady stirs.’
Fate plays a big part in Romeo and Juliet’s deaths as if one event didn’t happen for instance them meeting then they would have both lived, so one event happening sets off another and another etc. Again this is one of the main things that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Friar Laurence is one of the main characters that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Laurence marries the ‘star-crossed lovers’, even though he is religious and knows what would happen to them if a member of either family found out about the marriage he proceeds to marry them,
‘For this alliance may so happy prove
To turn you household’s rancour to pure love.’
The Friar could, again, be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as he comes up with the potion for Juliet. If Friar Laurence had left things as they were then there would have been a possibility of Romeo and Juliet not taking their own lives,
‘Let not the Nurse lie with thee in thy chamber,
Take thou this vial, being then in bed.’
Also, Friar Laurence could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because it is he that comes up with the plan for Romeo and Juliet to keep on seeing each other. He tells Romeo to go to Mantua, when he is banished, where Friar Laurence would send him messages. Eventually the most important message about Juliet taking the sleeping potion never made it to Romeo, therefore he assumes that she is dead.
‘Go hence, good night, and here stands all you state:
Either be gone before the Watch be set,
Or by the break of day disguised from hence.’
Finally, Friar Laurence could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because when Romeo kills Tybalt he hides him in his cell instead of doing the right thing. This makes it easier for Juliet to see Romeo,
‘Arise, one knocks. Good Romeo hide thyself.’
Friar Laurence is one of the main characters that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If he didn’t do some of the things he did then maybe their deaths could’ve been prevented or prolonged.
The Nurse is another main character that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, as she is the one that introduces them to each other. She tells Juliet who he is and then introduces Juliet to Romeo,
‘His name is Romeo, and a Montague,
The only son of you great enemy.’
Secondly, the Nurse could be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as it is she that arranges the marriage,
‘Marry, that I think be young Petruchio.’
Finally the Nurse could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because she turns on Juliet and changes her mind about Paris telling her to marry Paris, even though she knows Juliet is married already,
‘I think it best you married with the County.
He is a lovely gentleman.
Romeo’s a disclout to him. An eagle, madam.’
The Nurse is a main character, like Friar Laurence, that leads Romeo and Juliet on knowing the consequences of them marrying. She knows that Lord Capulet would have been fuming if he found out about their marriage. Near the end, as well, she turns on Juliet telling her it would be better if she married Paris even though she arranged the marriage between Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse like Friar Laurence is another main character that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
The Prince is a member of authority in society that could be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Firstly, he could be held responsible for their deaths as he is too lenient on the families. At the beginning of the play he should have punished the families as he says citizens have died and it has disturbed the streets. But instead of punishing them he warns them,
‘Once more, on pain of death, all men depart.’
Also the Prince could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet as he is does not follow through on what he says previously in the play. Instead of killing Romeo he banishes him. As well as that it was unjust of him to send Romeo away from Verona as a punishment for killing Tybalt when the fight was Tybalt's fault,
‘And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence.’
At the end of the story the Prince actually realizes that it is partly his fault that Romeo and Juliet decided to take their own lives,
‘See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love;
And I, for winking at your discords too,
Have lost a brace of kinsmen. All are punished.’
The Prince is one of the characters that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. He is too lenient on the families and should have followed through on his word at the beginning.
Two other characters that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet, because if Lady Capulet was more of a mother to Juliet then maybe Juliet could have had someone to talk to,
‘I have remembered me, thou’s hear our counsel.
Thou knowest my daughter’s of a pretty age.’
Another reason why Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is that Lord Capulet should have stuck to his word and not let Juliet marry till she was 16,
‘My child is yet a stranger in the world,
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.
Let two more summers wither in their pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.’
Also Lord and Lady Capulet could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because Lord Capulet shouldn’t have said he would disown her if she didn’t marry Paris, and call her a hussy. This could have added to Juliet’s distress and make her want to do something desperate,
‘Delay this marriage for a month, a week,
Or if you do not, make the bridal bed
In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.’
The parents of Juliet, Lord and Lady Capulet, can easily be seen as the motive for their, Romeo and Juliet, deaths. One reason for this is that they are pushing Juliet too much to marry Paris.
‘Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender of me child’s love…
A Thursday, tell her she shall marry this noble earl’
Finally Lord and Lady Capulet could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because when Juliet turns to her mother, Lady Capulet, she turns her back on Juliet,
‘Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word.
Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.’
Lord and Lady Capulet, the parents of Juliet are two main characters that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because if they didn’t do or say some of the things they did then maybe Juliet wouldn’t have been so desperate.
Paris, a noble young kinsman to the king, is a character that could be held responsible for the deaths of both Romeo and Juliet as he is too pushy and unsympathetic when he is asking to marry Juliet. He keeps on at Lord Capulet about marrying Juliet,
‘Of honorable reckoning are you both,
And pity ‘tis you lived at odds so long.
But now my lord what say you to my suit? …
…Younger than she are happy mothers made.’
Also another reason why Paris could be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is that he doesn’t care that Juliet doesn’t want to marry him, even though he knows this he is still pushy in persuading Capulet to bring the wedding forward,
‘These times of woe afford no times to woo.
Madam, good night. Commend me to your daughter…
…Monday, my lord.’
Although Paris’ contribution to Romeo reason to take his life was small it added to Juliet’s distress and was a major factor in her taking her own life.
Finally the last two characters that could be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are Romeo and Juliet themselves. A reason that they could be blamed for their own deaths is because they were both too hasty throughout the play. For instance he shouldn't have asked Juliet to marry him so suddenly, and he should have thought more carefully before rushing back to Verona after hearing of Juliet's death,
‘Is it e’en so? Then I defy you stars!
Thou know’st my lodging. Get me ink and paper,
And hire posthorses. I will hence tonight.’
Another reason why Romeo and Juliet could be held responsible for their own deaths is that Juliet was already engaged to marry Paris at the time of the ball, and until then, had been very happy with her parent’s choice,
‘I’ll look to like, if liking move,
But no more deep will I endart mine eye
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.’
Also, another reason why Romeo and Juliet could be blamed for their own deaths is that Juliet shouldn’t have deceived and disobeyed her parents. If she didn’t then she wouldn’t have married Romeo.
Finally the last reason why Romeo and Juliet could be held responsible for their own deaths could be that they shouldn’t have taken the potions, both Romeo and Juliet. They both had much more to live for than just each other,
‘For fear of that I will stay with thee,
And never from this palace of dim night
Depart again. Here, here will I remain’
There are many people and things to blame for the deaths, the parents, fate, the family feud, Paris, The Nurse, Prince, Friar Lawrence, and Romeo and Juliet, but each has its own good qualities of why it could be those people. It is really a personal decision on who is at fault and how you view the book.
