Fatal Obstacles in Romeo and Juliet's Love Story

Love frequently entails several obstacles, and is not always as simplistic as it appears. This is a recurring theme in Romeo and Juliet, as the lovers go to great lengths for their relationship. They are not the only individuals involved, however, and many intervene in the situation. In effort to help their love, Friar Laurence creates a plan in hopes that the two will live happily together for the rest of their lives in Mantua. The Capulets, unaware of Juliet’s secret romance with Romeo Montague, attempt to arrange a marriage for her own benefit and believe that it will lead to her happiness. Both of these become obstacles in the way of Romeo and Juliet’s love and prove to be fatal, leading to the foreshadowed death of the couple. Although

Juliet, desperate to avoid wedding Paris, visits him, with a dagger in hand. In order to avoid her death in that moment, Friar Laurence promises to give her a potion that will allow her to appear dead long enough so that Romeo may be able to return from Mantua. Thus, the two will be able to escape Verona together. He explains “And this distilling liquor drink thou off/When presently through all thy veins shall run/A cold and drowsy humor; for no pulse/No warmth, no breath shall testify thou livest” (4.1.94-96). Friar Laurence describes his plan, saying that the potion Juliet will drink will make her appear deceased. It will give Romeo time to get to the Capulet tomb, and they will be able to live together for the rest of their lives. Although he explains his plan somewhat thoroughly, Friar Laurence goes on to say he will deliver a letter to Romeo, that of which is never delivered by Friar John. Romeo hears news of Juliet's so called passing by his companion, Balthasar. He tells Romeo “Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument/And her immortal part with angels lives/I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault/And presently took post to tell it to you” (5.1.18-21) Due to how the citizens of Verona believe that Juliet has really passed away, Balthasar truly believes that she is deceased. He explains that he has seen her laid to rest in the

Although the Capulets did arrange orchestrate Juliet’s marriage to Paris, they believed that Juliet was aware of what it entailed, and openly accepted it. They did not intend to upset or harm Juliet and felt it was best for her, in addition to not knowing of her secret romance. In Friar Laurence’s case, he was aware of how much the two loved each other, and chose to provide Juliet with a potion that would lead to her death. Romeo did not know of this, and when he did hear of what she had done, it was too late. If Friar Laurence had chosen to ask Friar John to deliver the letter to Romeo promptly, Romeo would have known the urgency of the situation, preventing the unfortunate deaths of the couple in the end. Friar Laurence’s actions had a directly negative impact on the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, based on his failure to consider the effect of his own actions on their lives and