Who or what is to blame for the tragedies in the final scene of Romeo and Juliet?

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Romeo & Juliet

Who or what is to blame for the tragedies in the final scene of Romeo and Juliet?

        The deaths of Romeo and Juliet seem to have been avoidable up to a certain extent. The main culprits of their deaths were the people around them, who were fighting due to an old grudge. The two lovers mainly kept out of the fighting, and even though this was done their lives were made miserable. This apart, there were other significant reasons for the deaths of the two lovers, the most important of them was fate. In spite of knowing that the circumstances around them were hostile, they stuck together as they were deeply in love and were prepared for any eventualities, which then became the reasons of their deaths. Not any one personality can be singularly blamed for the deaths of the lovers. Fate was the foremost cause for their deaths followed by Friar Lawrence, Tybalt, the Nurse, and finally Romeo and Juliet themselves.

        The reason why fate, bad luck and coincidence should be blamed for the deaths of the two lovers is suggested at the beginning of the play in the prologue, where it says ‘star-crossed lovers’ and ‘death-marked love.’ There is a party at Capulet’s mansion, and the guest list consists of many worthy people. It is Capulet’s servant’s responsibility to hand out the invites but he is illiterate and therefore asks Romeo to read the guest list. Upon reading the guest list Romeo discovers that Rosaline is also to attend the party. Rosaline is the person whom Romeo loves dearly although she doesn’t reciprocate any feelings towards him. Benvolio who is with Romeo at the time persuades him to attend the party so that Romeo can compare other ladies with Rosaline and thereby rid himself of this obsession. It was at this party that Romeo first sets his eyes upon Juliet and falls in love with her.  Therefore, ‘bumping’ into Capulet’s servant was the fateful coincidence that starts the tragedy.

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Romeo blames fate when he kills Tybalt, and there is also a warning that something bad is going to happen before he does this. The fore event is the weather drastically changes, and it becomes dark and gloomy. The example of Romeo blaming fate is, ‘O, I am fortune's fool.’ 

              There are many more examples of fate, bad luck and coincidence that can be mentioned, one more is when Friar John is supposed to deliver a letter to Romeo telling him about the potion.  Unfortunately due to fate and bad luck he couldn’t make it to Mantua due ...

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