Responsibility In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Who is Responsible?

A tragic story of star-crossed lovers on a quest to find true love in this world. Heartbreaking but beautiful, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare himself is one of the most well respected and acknowledged pieces of literature of all time. Two teenagers who think they are in love will do anything to defy their families and be together, but the result of their trial is in fact their ultimate downfall. Critics of this play disagree on what the dominant factor was that led them to their unfortunate deaths. Romeo and Juliet’s demise is of no other fault than the everlasting bitter hatred between the Montagues and the Capulets, their own families.

“And with the continuance of their parents’ rage, which, but their children’s end, naught could remove…” (Shakespeare 377). This powerful quote from the Prologue brings a sense of realness to the argument of the two families, uncovering that the only way the Montague and Capulet strife would be buried is if their children died. Nothing would ever be able to remove their infinite grudge except for the end of their beloved children.“Deny thy father and refuse they name; Or, if thou will not, be but sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.” (Shakespeare 404) This quote from Juliet to Romeo shows us the immense pressure they are under to hide their love, for the sake of their families. If Romeo chooses to love Juliet and disobey his namesake, then he will no longer be a Montague. On the other hand, if he chooses his family’s word over his heart’s desire, he will still be a Montague, but always miss out on Juliet’s love. Clearly, Romeo and Juliet’s families had a negative impact on their young, developing