The nurse plays an essential role in the plot as she enables the two lovers to make contact. Rather than acting as a go between she should have advised Juliet not to carry on with the relationship but she let Juliet fall deeper in love until it was too late. Throughout the play she had many opportunities to tell Lord Capulet about Juliet’s secret husband, but instead of informing them of their daughter’s deception, she kept it to herself. We see that she does not understand the depth of Juliet’s love because in the middle of the play she tries to give Juliet advice, she says, “ I think it best you married with the County “. This leaves Juliet feeling abandoned and alone when she needs the support most. This consequently leads to Juliet going to the Friar where he conjures up a dangerous plan. The main reason for her not telling anyone about Romeo and Juliet is that she likes to be at he centre of the action. We see she seems to enjoy the secrecy of what she is doing. In this respect this shows that the nurse is very simple minded and immature as she should have acted more responsibly, her foolish behaviour leads to the deaths of the young lovers.
Friar Lawrence also had a profound impact on the plot and his behaviour ultimately led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. As a priest he held a position of trust, as he knew everyone’s problems. His actions, therefore, were inappropriate and irresponsible. If he had acted honestly and responsibly he would have not married the lovers in the first place without the ‘parents’ permission. When Juliet comes to him for advice about marrying Paris, he conjures up a dangerous and irresponsible plan, by giving her a potion that will make her fall asleep for “two and forty hours” and look like she was dead. This type of plan was subsequently life threatening to Juliet and it consequently led to Romeo believing that Juliet was actually dead. If only he had thought about his actions in the first place none of the tragic events would have followed on from the marriage. Friar Lawrence always hoped deep down that their union would bring the families together and end the dispute. Ironically it did just that, but only after the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
“ For this alliance may so happy prove
To turn you households’ rancour to pure love”
He is aware that what he is doing is dangerous and that he is jeopardising his position in the church.
“ These violent delights have violent ends”
His actions, even though well intentioned, were ill advised and consequently led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
The families themselves had a role to play. They expected their children to behave and obey them, as any parent would have at that time. It was custom for fathers to choose their daughter’s husband. This was an accepted tradition and Lord Capulet had obviously taken it seriously because he had found Juliet a suitable husband, he is therefore dismayed to hear her refuse to marry Paris.
“ How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?
Is she not proud?”
So in retrospect it was the era in which they lived which is in part to blame because her fathers behaviour was typical for the time the play was set. This shows how the families were in part, responsible for the deaths of their own beloved children.
The lovers themselves cannot be taken out of the equation because they must have known that the risks were high. As soon as Juliet discovered Romeo’s identity she said;
“ My only love sprung from my only hate.”
Having just seen Romeo she declares she loves him. Romeo reacted in the same way when he first saw Juliet;
“ Did my heart love till now?”
Is this truly love at first sight, or is it just infatuation for one another? Without thinking of the consequences Romeo rushes to see Juliet after the banquet. Just entering the Capulets orchard itself was irresponsible and dangerous but organising a secret marriage only a few hours after they had met was wrong, with Romeo certainly knowing that Lord Capulet was his father’s greatest enemy.
Romeo appears to accept that a greater force is controlling his destiny.
“ But he that hath the steerage of my course!
Direct my sail!”
If he had been more reluctant to accept his fate, perhaps he would have made wiser decisions. From the moment after he arranges the secret marriage the situation deteriorates and ultimately leads to Romeo believing that Juliet is dead. As soon as Romeo hears the news he rushes, without checking to see if it is accurate, to an apothecary to buy a lethal poison so that he can be with Juliet.
“ Let me have
A dram of poison, such soon-speeding gear
As will disperse itself through all the veins,
That the life-weary taker may fall dead,”
This shows that the lover’s impulsive nature and their infatuation for each other led to them making mistakes and consequently led them to their own deaths.
At the beginning of the play fate is mentioned by Romeo before he enters the banquet. He tells his friends that “ Some consequence yet hanging in the stars… by some vile forfeit of untimely death.”
With this belief that fate was controlling his actions it cant not really be taken into account for the deaths of the “ Star crossed lovers.” Even though Romeo’s “premonition” was correct Romeo should have realised that falling in love and marrying a Capulet would end in their deaths. We cannot blame the actions of others on an imaginary force that they believe is controlling them. So therefore fate cannot be blamed as a contributor to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
In conclusion the untimely deaths of Romeo and Juliet were brought apon by many peoples wrong doings and the inability of the families to resolve the feud. By the end of the play Friar Lawrence admits his part in the tragedy.
“ Miscarried by my fault, let me old life
Be sacrificed, some hour before his time,”
The Capulets and Monataques finally realise that their feuding has resulted in the deaths of their children, which is too late to save them.
“ See what a scourge is laid upon your hate
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love!”
Ultimately, I feel there is not one person to blame for this tragedy, but a powerful combination of fate, the feud and poor timing added to the number of characters acting unwisely, even though their intentions were honourable, eventually led to their deaths.
“ For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
By Steven Davis
