The play opens when the Capulets and Montagues members are having a clash and brings in the audience’s attention straight away and keeping them tense. If there were no conflict in any matter, Romeo and Juliet would have got married and would not have been much of a story.
Romeo and Juliet have been made to think again because both families disagree with them being together. Yet, Juliet was not concerned about the consequences she would have to pay if she married Romeo.
“O Romeo, Romeo, Romeo, wherefare 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 Capulet.”
The quotation shows that Juliet is not all that worried and fairly does not care what will happen if she gets married to Romeo because that is all she is after and would refuse to have the family name. Juliet does not have the same love for Paris as she does for Romeo and will do all to have the hand of Romeo in marriage. Whereas on the other hand Romeo is quite worried about the family feud, which he believes has gone to far and he wonders what will happen due to this.
Mostly the play is based upon the conflict of both families fighting through words or physically in streets. The family feud increases dramatically at times and as it does so too does the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. The tale has an affect on the society as well as the families because the members of the families would be thrown out of Verona by the Prince. The Prince set out that if there were any more disturbances in the streets they would be thrown out.
“Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word, by thee, old Capulet and Montague, have thrice disturbed the quiet of our streets, and made Verona’s ancient citizens cast by their grave beeseeming ornaments to wield old partisans, in hands as old, cankered with peace, to part your cankered hate; “ If you ever disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the price.”
It shows here that the Prince has given his final say towards the saga and will take no more.
In this case I believe that Romeo and Juliet’s family are to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. This should have been solved at the start while the family feud. The families should have let the individuals choose for themselves who they wish to marry. Juliet did not consider Paris the love of her life, so disagreed to marry but was forced.
Juliet’s life was controlled by her parents, Capulet and lady Capulet, and made all decisions for her. This led to Juliet running away from home and being with Romeo in secret. On the other hand Montague and lady Montague were allowing Romeo to marry whom he wished and were not controlling his life. This could have led to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because they were some like scared of speaking out. As the parents they should not interfere as the Capulets did with Juliet.
Another perpetrator for deaths of Romeo and Juliet could be the Friar because he was wedged between two decisions of either helping Romeo or Juliet or to stay out of it. He made the decision of interfering and by telling Juliet to marry Romeo or whom she felt most happy with. When Juliet came for advice to the Friar about what she should do, he should have not interfered or some how told her he wants nothing to do with it.
As the Friar choice was to interfere, he told Juliet about why her father wanted her to marry Paris. Secondly, he should have not handed any potion over to Juliet because this is what left them dead at the end. If no potion was handed over you could ask the questions about them ending happily somehow or what may have happened?
The Nurse could also be another possible culprit for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet because she lead romantic ideas to Juliet and also on the other hand encouraged Juliet to marry Paris and still knew that she was married to Romeo in secret. The Nurse should not have given Juliet any advice because this sets a similar situation as the Friar.
In conclusion, I believe that everyone is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. This is because everyone puts their part towards the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
The family feud forced Romeo and Juliet to keep their relationship a secret and not allow anyone to know. Both Romeo and Juliet should have considered their part of the family and put them first because they knew the consequences of them being together. And as the story progressed serious matters arouse and they should have broke apart.
The Friar should not have given any advice to Juliet or maybe told her father, yet this could have made things worse. Given Juliet the potion made circumstances worse because Romeo knew nothing about this.
Juliet should not have violated her parents in that way and the forceful arranged marriage should have been truthfully settled by her with her parents.
Not only the family and people in the society but also the Prince could have stopped the feud between the families before any deaths had occurred.
So overall everyone plays their own part to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet and is no one in particular.
Jagjit Johal
English Coursework
