Who or what was to blame for the death of Romeo and Juliet?

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Who or what was to blame for the death of                                                               Romeo and Juliet?

The deaths of Romeo and Juliet seem needless, as the main causes for their suicides are the actions of the people around them.

The constant conflict between the houses of Capulet and Montague are the basis for the pair's secretive love affair and had it not been raging then the naïve pair may have come clean about their undying affection.

Romeo and Juliet are not directly involved with the continuous tension between the households, but Romeo does become drawn in when Tybalt slays Mercutio. Romeo is a young teenager, a member of the Montague household, who unfortunately falls for the surpassing beauty of Juliet, a Capulet. He blames Fate or misfortune for nearly everything that goes wrong; after he kills Tybalt, he realises the seriousness of his action but prefers to blame the stars rather than himself.

“O, I am fortune’s fool”.

The killing of Tybalt is the biggest mistake Romeo makes as it leads to his banishment and it means he can no longer see his beloved Juliet. The audience cannot place all blame on Romeo, for the death of Tybalt as he is determined to fight Romeo. When he refuses, Romeo’s closest friend, Mercutio, steps in and draws his sword. They fight and Romeo intervenes trying to stop them, but this, according to the dying Mercutio, gives Tybalt the opportunity to kill him, “I is hurt under your arm”. Romeo then fights and kills Tybalt.

Later when he hears, from Balthasar, the news that Juliet is dead, he says, “Then I defy you stars”, meaning he is not going to let Fate dictate what happens to him anymore.

Juliet is a young Capulet of about 13 years; she is gentle, loyal, obeys her parents and thinks for herself. When she meets Romeo she falls for him instantly. She is practical given that she quickly asks Romeo to marry her, which would be against her parents’ wishes, as they want her to marry Paris whom she does not love. She is also like Romeo in that she does not think of the consequences of her actions. She is, on the other hand, different from Romeo, given the fact that she does not blame fate for anything that goes wrong; she blames her birth:

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 “Prodigious birth of love is to me,                                                                                that I must love a loathed enemy.” (Act 1 Scene 5)

Friends and Friar Lawrence offer support to Romeo, whereas Juliet is on her own and has to make her own decisions, with the Nurse offering little or no help. Romeo’s parents seem very caring and loving, but Juliet’s parents, especially Lady Capulet, are very cold and hard-hearted, they force Juliet into marriage with Paris, “She shall be married to this noble earl”. (Act 3, Scene 4) Juliet visits Friar Lawrence and is pleased to of his plans for ...

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