Romeo blames fate when he kills Tybalt, and there is also a warning that something bad is going to happen before he does this. The fore event is the weather drastically changes, and it becomes dark and gloomy. The example of Romeo blaming fate is, ‘O, I am fortune's fool.’
There are many more examples of fate, bad luck and coincidence that can be mentioned, one more is when Friar John is supposed to deliver a letter to Romeo telling him about the potion. Unfortunately due to fate and bad luck he couldn’t make it to Mantua due to the plague. ‘I could not send it – here it is again – Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection.’
Out of all the people who are to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence can be seen as the main perpetrator. This is because he knows that Romeo was in love with Rosaline a previously, ‘God pardon sin! Wasn’t thou with Rosaline?’ Even after knowing this fact he still agrees to the marriage of Romeo and Juliet. He is a wise person and agreeing to the marriage is not a wise decision.
Romeo and Juliet are only young teenagers. Juliet is thirteen and Romeo is sixteen, Friar Lawrence knowing this still consents to the marriage. Ironically, prior to this consent he even warns Romeo to take things ‘wisely and slowly.’ He also knows about the ancient grudge between the two families, and Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague. He still thinks it is a good idea for them to get married, even though he knows what the consequences will be. Despite his good intensions ‘To turn your households rancour to pure love.’
Friar Lawrence makes another great mistake when Juliet, forced into marriage with Paris, goes to see him for advice. Juliet tells him that she is prepared to commit suicide, and he then gives her a potion. He says to her ‘Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquor drink thou off…Like death when he shuts up the day of life’
Friar Lawrence knowing all of this gives Juliet the potion to take, knowing the risks. The events thereafter don’t go accordingly, although Friar Lawrence may have had good intentions, but those intentions pay the cost of the lives of the two lovers.
Friar Lawrence is not the only person to blame. Another person who plays a part in the deaths of the two ‘lovers’ is none other than Juliet’s own cousin Tybalt. Tybalt is a Capulet and is a born enemy of the Montagues. He hates Romeo in particular. In Act 1 Scene 5 at Capulet’s party Tybalt sees Romeo and gets very agitated. ‘Fetch me my rapier boy.’ Tybalt wants to kill Romeo. Capulet stops Tybalt from doing anything, and reprimands him. Tybalt feels as if he has been insulted, and therefore seeks vengeance afterwards.
Thereafter Tybalt sees Mercutio and Benvolio and asks for Romeo, as he wants to fight him for coming to the Capulet party. Romeo then comes into the scene. Tybalt challenges Romeo to fight ‘therefore turn and draw.’ Romeo tries his best to avoid fighting. Mercutio then involves himself, and gets killed. Romeo is infuriated by this, and fights with Tybalt and ends up killing him. This sets in chain a series of events which can be seen as resulting in the deaths of the two protagonists.
The Nurse can also be seen as to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. She is very close to Juliet and is very fond of her ‘Well sir my mistress is the sweetest lady.’ As she cares dearly about Juliet she also tells Romeo not to lead her into a ‘fools paradise.’ Yet, she doesn’t find it necessary to warn Juliet that the involvement with a Montague may cause problems. She assists in the secret affair and doesn’t find it necessary to inform lord and lady Capulet about Juliet’s relationship with Romeo and tends to make decisions for Juliet. She helps them also by being their messenger and passing each others messages, about where to meet, and where to get married. After Romeo is banished, Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet tell Juliet that she has to get married to Paris. The Nurse supports Juliet at first, but then she switches and tries to persuade her to get married to Paris. ‘I think it best you married with the County. O, he’s a lovely gentleman! Romeo’s a dishclout to him.’ This change in attitude leaves Juliet vulnerable and alone and if this hadn’t happened then she may have not gone to the Friar to seek advice and all the mayhem could have then been avoided.
Romeo and Juliet themselves can also be blamed for the events that took place. During Lord Capulet’s party Juliet is meant to be looking out for Paris. Lady Capulet says, ‘Read o’er the volume of young Paris’s face, And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen; examine every married lineament.’ Juliet doesn’t do as she is told and sets her eyes upon Romeo and falls in love with him. Juliet also knows that Romeo is a Montague, and therefore is an enemy. Despite knowing this she still carries on flirting with him and devotes herself to him. ‘O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet.’ (Act 2 Scene 2) Romeo and Juliet were given many advance warnings and hints that something bad is going to happen. All these warnings were given to them by the weather changing, dreams, thunder, lightening, the stars, and through Mercutio’s speech about Queen Mab. Romeo himself has a dream warning him of the coming events, ‘I dreamt a dream tonight.’ Mercutio then teases Romeo and speaks about Queen Mab. This happens just before Capulet’s party in Act 1 Scene 4.
All the tragedies that occur in this play can be blamed on a number of factors or people. Fate and Friar Lawrence play a big role in the tragedies that take place. Friar Lawrence should have prepared his plans more carefully, and also thought about the consequences. During the course of the play many of the characters make too many mistakes and should have acknowledged the warnings and hints they had in dreams, etc. In this tragedy, Shakespeare tries to show is how human love is at the mercy of forces – like fate and human error – which are beyond our control.
By Kishan Kotecha