Who was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

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Who was responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

     The death of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet was a tragic event that was unavoidable…or was it? In this essay I will be debating who is to blame for this tragic occurrence and why. I will be going through all the characters and putting up an argument for and against their innocence.

     In this novel, whether you believe in it or not, Fate is one of thee most important characters. ‘Star-crossed Lovers’ is the description of Romeo and Juliet in the prologue of the play. If Romeo and Juliet are star-crossed lovers then surely they were also meant to die. If this is the case and nothing could be done about it then surely Fate is most to blame. This is a belief that cannot be held by all, but if fate has decided what is to be and what is not then we are free to drift through our lives being pulled along by fate. If Fate is solely to blame for their deaths we must look at whom fate decided to take the blame.

     One person who could not have done more to stop the deaths of the 2 lovers is Prince Escalus, ruler of Verona. On every occasion he tried seamlessly to stem the violence of the two feuding families. When there was a fight he would threaten both families to stop or be banished from Verona. Prince Escalus was obviously a peacekeeper and in no main way can be blamed for his actions. His only mistake was done with good intentions. This was to banish Romeo from Verona after the murder of Tybalt. This escalated matters. By keeping Romeo and Juliet from immediate contact Juliet could not convey her master plan to fake her death, which lead to the deaths of both Romeo AND Juliet. Prince Escalus was not a bad man, but in a very small way he was linked to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

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    Unknown to the reason Romeo was illegally buying poison from him, the Apothecary was the second most to blame for the death of Romeo. And in turn, also for the death of Juliet.

    Juliet’s wet-nurse is in the long run largely to blame. She raised Juliet almost as her own as her child: Susan, died at birth. This upbringing would have greatly restructured Juliet’s life as apposed to being brought up by Juliet’s natural mother or another nurse. This also would mean that she may never have met Romeo and if she had things ...

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