Who was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

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Hollie Brown

Who was to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

The story of Romeo and Juliet, two star crossed lovers whose forbidden love caused their deaths but who was to blame? All the characters and events through the miscalculations and timings of circumstances determined the tragic fate of these lovers. Throughout the essay all possibilities will be explored, and whether things could be different if their love was just accepted. This love story between Romeo and Juliet, that ended in death, was the result of all the characters, everyone was to blame for these tragic circumstances. There was a chain reaction of all the events that lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet: If Romeo hadn’t gone to the party, if Paris hadn’t asked to marry Juliet, if Capulet hadn’t accepted. If one certain thing hadn’t happened in the play then the story may have had a happier ending. Throughout Romeo and Juliet Shakespeare uses a variety of techniques. For example language features are used. Imagery is widely used throughout. Stagecraft is also an important feature in Romeo and Juliet; certain scenes are used to brake up the tragedy.  

Paris is one of the first characters to affect the fate of Romeo and Juliet. In act 1 scene 2 Paris questions Capulet for the hand of Juliet in marriage. “But now my lord, what say you to my suit?”  Capulet doesn’t refuse but states he feels she is to young; Paris is to blame because he wants to marry Juliet. In later events in act 3 scene 5 when Capulet accepts Paris’ proposal and tells Juliet, which leads her to Friar Laurence to ask for help for a way out of the situation because she is married to Romeo by this time.

Friar Laurence, the good Priest and friend to Romeo, is also to blame because he chooses to marry Romeo and Juliet. Though he knew that this relationship was between two members of feuding families he thought, perhaps, this could bring the families together. “ For this alliance may so happy prove, turn two households’ rancour to pure love.” He also plays a bigger part in the deaths by giving Juliet the potion. The potion would make Juliet seem to be dead for forty-two hours. “Thou shalt continue two–and–forty hours.” This would get her out of marring Paris. It seemed like a good idea, as when Juliet was to wake up Romeo would be by her side. “And hither shall he come; and he and I will watch thy waking” Of course giving her the potion was not a good idea because then miscalculations of the letter to Romeo made Romeo think that Juliet was dead. “And if thou dar’st, I’ll give thee remedy.”

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Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin and loyal to the Capulet family, despised Romeo. From act 3 scene 1 we find a chain reaction of events that have a big impact on the story. Tybalt has disliked Romeo since he turned up at the Capulet party invited and he wants to challenge Romeo to a duel but Romeo speaks “I protest do. I never injure thee, but love than thou canst devise.” This is because Romeo has just married Juliet and speaks to Tybalt in this way because he now, in fact is related to him. Mecutio then steps in because whether Romeo ...

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