Romeo and Juliette: Who is to blame for the star-crossed lovers tragic death?

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Romeo and Juliette: Who is to blame for the star-crossed lovers tragic death?

The death of Romeo and Juliet were partly due to the star-crossed lovers lack of careful consideration and planning. The first day they met and the next they got married. Juliet knew she was betrothed to Paris yet she married in haste. Maybe if they had been older they would have realised that their 'happily ever after' was inconceivable. Therefore we have established that the young lovers were mainly responsible for their untimely death because their fate was in their own hands. However there were others who assisted them in their romance namely the nurse and Friar Lawrence, and the parents who were also responsible because they did not listen to the wishes of their offspring and many other characters were pivotal in actions, which led the couple to their grave.

The nurse was in someway responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death, but not intentionally. She only wanted what was best for Juliet and wanted her “lamb” to be happy. She is more of a mother figure to her mistress than Lady Capulet, who has a very strained relationship with her daughter. This maternal love that the nurse has for Juliet, we assume is to make up for the loss of her own daughter, Susan, who died at a young age “Susan is with god”. This love may have also instigated the nurse to act the way she did, disobeying her employers, Juliet’s parents, by following the whim of an infatuated teenager.

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In the star-crossed lover’s story the nurse plays the part of Juliet’s confidante but also the messenger between the two lovers. She chooses to ignore the disastrous consequences that would follow the union between a Capulet and a Montague. She cares about Juliet’s well being and therefore before they are married the nurse went to visit Romeo to find out if his intentions were honourable and that he was suited for Juliet “if ye should lead her in a fool’s paradise…” Once she has assured herself of Romeo’s kind heart, she passes the message on to her young lady ...

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