Lady Capulet is the mother of Juliet; she is partly to blame for her daughter’s death. Lady Capulet’s relationship with Juliet is superficial, although her cold tone to others shows that she is not like this with just Juliet. Also her cold tone makes Juliet feel “alone”(4.3.19), which pushes Juliet into taking the potion. Lady Capulet does not have much to do with Juliet, their relationship can be understood when Juliet calls her mother “Madam”(3.5.68) which demonstrates the formality of the way they speak each other. Her mother is more of a dominant figure to her. However she has some feelings for her, which shows when she says
and know her mind early tomorrow.
Tonight she’s mew’d up to her heaviness. (3.4.11)
This shows us that Lady Capulet has some consideration for Juliet’s feelings as she tells her husband that she will postpone telling Juliet the news of her marriage until the morning, as she is upset over Tybalt’s death. Lady Capulet may be partly to blame for the death of Juliet, as their relationship may have made Juliet feel emotionally alone when her husband is banished.
The County of Paris, in the eyes of Capulet and Lady Capulet, is a perfect husband for Juliet. However Paris worries Juliet and the audience. Juliet is already married although her parents are planning to marry her to someone else. Paris is eager to marry Juliet when he says to Capulet
My lord, I would that Thursday were tomorrow. (3.4.29)
This gives Capulet assurance that Paris is the right person to be his daughter’s husband. Capulet is also reassured as Paris showed persistence throughout the play.
Younger than she are happy mothers made. (1.2.12)
Paris thinks he is doing everything right to gain Juliet’s love, and if Romeo hadn’t been in the way he would have gained his “suit”(1.2.6). An incident, which occurs just before their deaths, is when Paris is praying in Juliet’s tomb. At this point Romeo was in the tomb too. When the two rivals meet, Paris misunderstands Romeo. Paris thinks Romeo is there to do “some villainous shame”(5.3.52). This misunderstanding leads the two of them to violence. During the fight Romeo kills Paris, and this accident may have also given Romeo more of a feeling of guilt. Paris doesn’t know that he is spoiling Juliet’s life, he doesn’t realise he is in her way, he is misunderstood however he may be partly to blame for Juliet’s death.
Mercutio is Romeo’s good friend. Mercutio is a very confident character, in conversation he likes to be the centre of attention and he loves the sound of his own voice. This can be seen by the length of his speeches throughout the play. Although he is a friend to Romeo he teases him. Mercutio says, “that dreamers often lie”(1.4.52) to tease Romeo in time of misery. His humour is witty; it makes the other characters annoyed at times, although the audience find him amusing. When Mercutio says
We’ll measure them a measure (1.4.30)
this is an example of one of his entertaining comments during the play. When Mercutio speaks to his friends, for example, describing Rosaline’s “straight leg”(2.1.19) he describes her physical attributes. His state of mind is also shown during the play when he speaks in prose. Mercutio may be to blame for the death of Romeo and Juliet, due to the fact that when he has a duel with Tybalt, he is killed. His last words in the play are,
A plague o’ both your houses!
They have made worms’ meat of me: I have it,
And soundly too. Your houses! (3.1.108)
This is a curse on both families of the feud and it shows what Mercutio actually thinks about the argument between both houses; this curse may be one factor that causes the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Alternatively Mercutio features in a different way in their deaths. Mercutio dies in a duel, however he is selfish and without thinking starts the fight with Tybalt when he says, “will you walk?”(3.1.74). Tybalt fights with Mercutio, as Romeo doesn’t want to fight him. Romeo then feels responsible for Mercutio’s death leaving him feeling guilt. Mercutio can be given some of the blame for their deaths.
Capulet’s daughter is Juliet, of whom he is very protective; we are told this when he says to Paris
Earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she; (1.2.14).
This line also tells us that Juliet means the world to him. Despite this when speaking to Paris he said
That we have no time to move our daughter. (3.4.2)
this shows that he doesn’t consider her feelings for the arranged marriage, which he plans without Juliet’s consent. He takes the arranging of the wedding into his own hands when the Nurse tells him “Get you to bed!”(4.47) as he is up all night preparing for the wedding. However Capulet and Lady Capulet think that
this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d. (4.2.47)
The two parents believe they are in the right making their daughter happy. When Capulet exclaims to Paris “O’ Thursday let it be- o’”(3.4.20), this shows his excitement about the occasion, although if the wedding is planned later rather than sooner the lives of the two lovers may be still alive. Romeo could have got to Juliet on time and another letter could have been sent to Romeo to confirm what is happening. Capulet’s personality seems to change throughout the play, which may also affect the death of Romeo and Juliet. In the beginning of the play Capulet tells Paris to “get her heart”(1.2.16) before marriage. He shows concern to Juliet and seems like a reasonable father who cares. Despite this Capulet comes across different in various parts of the play. Later on he says to Paris
We have had no time to move our daughter. (3.4.2)
This makes you think that he does not care about his daughter’s feelings and that he decides what she does. This personality change may have saved the lives of the two lovers. If he is considerate as he is in the beginning Juliet may not see the point in taking the potion, as she wouldn’t need to marry Paris. Capulet can be given some of the blame for both their deaths
The Nurse is a mother figure to Juliet and “thine only nurse”(1.3.67) tells us that the Nurse has looked after Juliet since birth. This means that they have bonded, probably more than Juliet has with her mother. The Nurse is a confident character, she loves to speak and when presented in the play her speeches are lengthy. Her personality is very similar to Mercutio’s and they are both close to Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse tries to help Juliet’s relationship with Romeo and assures Juliet that everything will be all right when she says, “I’ll find Romeo”(3.2.138). The Nurse tries to do her best to keep Juliet happy. Since the Nurse is kind to Juliet helping her every step of the way, it may be hard to think that she can be blamed for her death. However the Nurse can take some of the blame as when she tells Juliet
I think it best you married with the County. (3.5.218).
She says this purposely for her own benefit. The Nurse knows the emotion and pain Juliet is going through at this time however she betrays Juliet and goes on her parent’s side. At this point in time Juliet then feels neglect as her husband faces banishment, her parents arrange a different marriage and the Nurse betrays her, this forces her into taking the potion because she feels “alone”(4.3.19). The Nurse may be a reason to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
Friar Laurence is someone who people trust and confide in and this is who Romeo and Juliet go to in time of need. Friar Laurence says to the couple in the cell
Till holy church incorporate two in one. (2.6.37).
He pronounces them married. This may be the first reason to blame Friar Laurence for
their deaths as without marriage they wouldn’t kill themselves for their partner. When Romeo says
Both our remedies
Within thy help and holy physic lies. (2.3.47).
Romeo suggests that marriage will cure Romeo and Juliet’s love problems and the feud can be solved. The Friar later says to Romeo
Wisely and slow: they stumble that run fast. (2.3.90).
He advises Romeo telling him not to hurry; wiser people take their time as they may fall into disaster. Friar Laurence gives his advise to people and then does what the person wants. When he marries the couple however Friar Laurence just wants to make the lovers happy, being together. The Friar thinks this would be a good move as the feud may stop because of him, putting a stop to the violence and anger between the two families. Another action which the Friar takes is trying to make the couple reunite, this is done with a very complicated plan “a kind of hope”(4.1.68) for the two lovers. The plan unfortunately fails as the letter fails to reach Romeo. This is a factor, which could be to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet yet the Friar is only trying to get the couple back together and to be happy. One major action, which the Friar could take, will put a stop to at least one of their deaths- Juliet’s.
Come, go, good Juliet. - [Noise again] I dare no
longer stay. (5.3.159).
This line is a small speech to persuade Juliet not to kill herself because Romeo misunderstands Juliet’s state and kills himself. The Friar says to Juliet
I dare no longer stay. (5.3.159).
This shows that the Friar worries about getting the blame for this incident as he prepares and sets up the plan for Romeo and Juliet to be together again. With more persuasion he could have stopped Juliet killing herself, but he worries about getting the blame. The Friar has definitely contributed to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
I think that everybody in the play is partly to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The play is a tragedy and each character adds to the catastrophe. I also think that Romeo and Juliet are to blame for their own deaths. Some characters have only a small part of the blame such as Friar John and the Prince, whereas others take a large part of the blame such as the Nurse and Friar Laurence. I don’t think individually one person is responsible. No one intends to kill Romeo and Juliet- most people are either trying to help the couple or aren’t aware of what is happening.
