Romeo And Juliet Dbq

Since the beginning of time people everywhere have been playing a game. It is a game that seems to come to us almost naturally, are you wondering what this game must be? Let me tell you, it is the blame game. Do you remember when you were young, say five years old and you accidentally broke your mom’s favorite vase? I bet when you were questioned, you looked for someone or something to blame. I have been proposed to do the same thing, find someone or something to blame. In the play Romeo and Juliet, the crime that people are being blamed for is slightly more serious.Everyone in the play could in a way be responsible for the death of six people. I believe that several things are to blame. The three things that I believe are most responsible

are the long-lasting feud, fate, and Friar Lawrence. I think that Friar Lawrence is to blame because he has failed at all his attempts at success. I think that fate is to blame because everything that happens, happens due to chance. If the clown had been able to read, the whole sequence of the story would be different. If Romeo had not been walking down the street at the same time as the clown then he would have never met Juliet. Evidence can be found in Document A from this part of the prologue, “ From forth the fatal loins of these two foes.

A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life…” The fate of both Romeo and Juliet is inevitable as expressed in the prologue. The long-lasting feud between the Montagues and Capulets is also to blame. Evidence can be found in Document A in a specific excerpt from the prologue, “Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair Verona, where we lay our scene, from ancient grudge break to new mutiny...” The love between Romeo and Juliet may have been successful, if there had not been mutiny between the two families. In my opinion the biggest person to blame is Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence is seen throughout the play trying to be helpful to everyone, though each of the attempts fail and conclusively end in tragedy. Evidence can be found in Document C, “But come, young waverer, come, go with me, In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove, To turn your households’ rancour to pure love.” There is another quote made by Friar Lawrence in this document also, “ So smile the heavens upon this holy act… These violent delights have violent ends, and in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which as they kiss consume…” Friar Lawrence marries the young couple believing that it will dispel the feud between the two

families.

Though it is not apparent that this happens until the end of the play. Friar Lawrence is also responsible for giving Juliet the sleeping potion that will make her sleep for forty-two hours. The evidence for this is found in Document C, “ And, if thou darest, I’ll give thee remedy.” He gave Juliet the potion which lead her family and Balthasar to believe she was dead. A letter was supposed to be sent to Romeo by Friar John to assure him that Juliet was indeed not dead, this letter never reached Romeo. The evidence can be found in Document E from a conversation between Friar Lawrence and Friar John. Friar Lawrence says, “ Who bare my letter, then, to Romeo?” Friar John replies, “ I could not send it, here it is again,...” Friar Lawrence, “ Unhappy fortune! by my brotherhood, The letter was not nice but full of charge of dear import, and the neglecting it may do much danger….” This conversation shows another failed attempt at a potentially successful plan made by Friar

Lawrence. The not receiving of this letter by Romeo could be seen as the main reason for his suicide, and Paris’ death. All of which lead to Juliet’s suicide. Friar Lawrence’s actions have been a contributing factor in most of the deaths witnessed in the play. Those the reasons and supporting evidence for why I believe that fate and the feud were to blame.Ultimately, I believe Friar Lawrence is the most responsible person for all the death and tragedy that occurs in Romeo and Juliet.