Romeo and Juliet Mock Trial Essay

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Romeo and Juliet Mock Trial Essay Of all the things that occur in Romeo and Juliet, the death of Tybalt is one of the most climatic parts of the story. Yet, this all started from another killing of a different person, Mercutio. Mercutio, a relative of the Prince and friend of Romeo, and Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet and Mercutio’s arch enemy, were in a heated conversion when Romeo walked in after getting married to Juliet and saw what was going on. Tybalt and Mercutio began to fight and Romeo tried to come in between them to stop the whole thing. Unfortunately, as Tybalt was under Romeo’s arms, he stabbed Mercutio and he died soon after. In all the rage, Romeo was furious that his friend was dead and starts to fight with Tybalt. Eventually, Romeo slays Tybalt and he falls to the floor and dies. Romeo runs away in agony before the Prince soon arrives at the scene of the fight with all the other citizens that were awakened by this fray to see what happened. Although Romeo is guilty of homicide, he is charged for manslaughter as he unlawfully killed a person in the heat of passion while defending Mercutio’s honor. One big reason Romeo is charged for manslaughter is because he killed a person unlawfully. According to California Criminal Code 192, “Manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice.” (Penal sec. 192) One example would be when Benvolio tells Romeo that “The citizens are up, and Tybalt slain. Stand not amazed; the Prince will doom thee death if thou art taken. Hence, be gone, away!” (3.1.132-134) Here in this quote, Benvolio tells Romeo to get away before the Prince catches him red-handed because he knows that Romeo had broken the law of fighting with someone and disturbing Verona streets. Because o... ... middle of paper ... ...el. It is because of all these reasons that prove Romeo’s actions to be wrong. His actions were not only immoral, but also unnecessary. Like stated earlier, instead of fighting out to the death, Romeo and Tybalt could’ve taken a much less corrupt route and settled the conflict in a calmer way. If this had happened there would have been much less sadness and drama. Tybalt’s life could’ve have been saved and Romeo wouldn’t have to be banished. Romeo and Tybalt together symbolize the opposites such as Yin and Yang or fire and ice. Of all that Romeo had done, the Jury should vote him guilty for manslaughter. Works Cited  CACodes (pen:187-199). 10 December 2013, http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000&file=187-199.  Shakespeare, Harbrace. Romeo and Juliet. Toronto: Harcourt Brace & Company Canada, 1987.

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