"Romeo and Juliet, the 'star-crossed lovers', are doomed from the start, not by fate, but by their own personalities and by the people that surround them." Discuss

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"Romeo and Juliet, the 'star-crossed lovers', are doomed from the start, not by fate, but by their own personalities and by the people that surround them." Discuss

Romeo and Juliet loved each other, but they knew that it wouldn’t be possible to have a relationship because of their feuding families. Their deaths were tragic, as it was mainly the people around them that made them so unhappy. They were so in love with each other that they took risks to be together, which lead to their unfortunate deaths.

Romeo is a Montague. He falls in love with Juliet the moment he sees her at a Capulet ball. Juliet is just under 14 years old, and a Capulet, whose family are bitter enemies of the Montagues. As the prologue explains,

“From forth the loins of these two foes

A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”.

The words “star-crossed lovers” suggest that fate is an important element in the events in the play, but the personalities of those involved, particularly Romeo, play a vital role in the tragedy.

I think that Romeo should not have killed Tybalt, as the result of Tybalt’s death was Romeo’s banishment. He could have left Tybalt to the Prince’s justice; he had decreed that if anyone disturbed the peace their “lives shall pay the forfeit”. I do think that Romeo can be excused for killing Tybalt though, as Tybalt killed Romeo’s best friend, Mercutio, and Romeo was blind in a heat of passion. Although Romeo, at the start of the play, may come across as a peaceful, loving character, all six deaths in the play are linked to him in one way or another. After Romeo killed Tybalt he blamed the stars because he didn’t want to accept responsibility for what he had done. Romeo’s recklessness is much to blame:

“O, I am fortune’s fool”.

He had tried to act as a peacemaker between Tybalt and Mercutio, but his well-meaning interference led to Mercutio being stabbed “under (his) arm”. Romeo comes across with the attitude that he is not afraid to take risks. Romeo and Juliet are both very rash and quick thinking people; they do something and don’t care about the consequences their actions could have. For example, Romeo took a risk in getting caught in the balcony scene, as Juliet said, “The orchard walls are high and hard to climb, and the place death, considering who thou art, If any kinsmen find thee here”. He took another much greater risk when he was in Juliet’s bedroom on their wedding night and Lady Capulet almost caught him. This attitude plays a big part in the events leading up to their deaths. Another example of this attitude is that they both rushed into getting married, even though they had only known each other for a very short period of time. I also think Romeo was too hasty in rushing back to Verona after hearing the news about Juliet’s death. If he had stayed in Mantua longer then both Romeo and Juliet would have lived. Also, if he had a more ‘easy going’ personality, maybe he would not have killed himself so quickly when he was in the Capulet vault.

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Romeo seems to have a premonition of his own death, before the Capulet ball he says,

 “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives

Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,

Shall bitterly begin his fearful date

With this night’s revels, and expire the term

Of a despised life closed in my breast,

By some vile forfeit of untimely death.”

This is a very grim prophesy for a youth who has only been rejected by is first love, Rosaline, and has been encouraged to visit the party to seek some other girl. He seems to believe his life and love ...

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