Emma Fisher 11RB
“Who or what do you consider most to blame for the tragedy of the ‘Star Crossed lovers’?”
Most of the characters in Romeo and Juliet can be blamed in some way or other even Romeo and Juliet themselves. However were Romeo and Juliet fated to die together? Or was it all their own fault?
The reference to Romeo and Juliet as ‘star crossed lovers’ hints that Romeo and Juliet were meant to die together because it was their destiny. Therefore this is what fate had planned for their lives, as it was crossed through the stars (written in the stars). It suggests Romeo and Juliet were just a small part if a bigger picture and their love and death’s spiralled on chain reaction within Verona. These chain reactions caused bigger events to occur, such as the new proclaimed brothership and friendship between Montague and Capulet, “Oh brother Montague, give me thy hand” The cease of hatred between Montague and Capulet would have made a huge difference to the city of Verona. There would be less fighting and unnecessary hurt and pain due to the family’s feud. The city of Verona would have been more united. Afterwards Montague and Capulet finally feel ashamed when they realise what they have done. ”Capulet, Montague. See what a scourge is laid upon your hate that heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.” This makes the two men come to realisation with what they have done. The two families were described as “Two households both alike in dignity” at the beginning of the play. However towards the end they could be described as “Two families both united in grief” because they both lost a child dear to them due to their own feud. This is because the feud is directly responsible for the secret marriage, Romeo’s banishment and for the Friar’s scheme which leads to the deaths of the lovers. So ironically it is hate and not love which kills the lovers and Shakespeare tells us this. Shakespeare wanted the audience to believe in this couple and to wish them well he does this by presenting the relationship as beautiful. Juliet says “Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow that I shall say good night till it be morrow.” In this and many other dialogues the relationship is portrayed as beautiful and as something very sacred, which is worth fighting for. The Prince and the Friar both try to stop the feuding and unite the families but fail. The Prince’s first speech tries to bring peace to his streets when a fight breaks out in Act1; he is fed up so threatens Montague and Capulet with death if it happens again. “If you ever disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace” However it is evident through the course of the play, that even this is not enough and the only thing which could ever bring peace to Verona is something very drastic. This builds up in tension in the play until the climax in Act 3, scene 1 where another fight occurs and ends in Mercutio and Tybalt’s death and Romeo’s banishment. Therefore only in Romeo’s and Juliet’s death do the two families start to see the futility of the feuding. It shows that love has an ability to heal wounds. There is a distinct irony in this play that everyone wishes Romeo and Juliet could have lived but if they had their families would have probably disowned them and the feud would have been intensified. The play hints that the lovers are doomed to die and death is a recurring issue in the minds of the audience.
