Who Is Responsible For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet Essay

Romeo and Juliet

When responsible adults fail to protect the ones they love in a troubled situation. The play of

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare shows the battle Friar Lawrence, Romeo’s close friend and the Nurse, Juliet’s caregiver have to go through to protect Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence give Romeo and Juliet wrongful advice. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence rush into things too quickly. Friar Lawrence makes rash and reckless decisions. Friar Lawrence and the Nurse are both responsible for the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet.

The Nurse gives Juliet wrongful advice. Juliet has just gotten in a fight with a her parents in the Capulet household about marrying Paris on Thursday, Juliet is looking for comfort which

is when the Nurse replies “Then since the case so stands as now doth, I think it best you married with the County” (3.5.216-217). The Nurse telling Juliet to marry Paris refers to plot details because the lack of comfort Juliet received from the Nurse pushes Juliet to go see Friar Lawrence. A characteristic of the Nurse is that she is indecisive. She does not know which husband is best suited for Juliet, which is why her advice is not to be taken. Not only does the Nurse give wrongful advice, Friar Lawrence gives wrongful advice to Romeo. Romeo has just been banished from Verona after he killed Tybalt, he goes to Friar Lawrence’s cell to get advice as to what he should do, Romeo is about to stab himself when Friar Lawrence says
“For then thou canst not pass to Mantua, Where thou shalt live till we can find a time to blaze your marriage, reconcile your friends, Beg pardon of the prince, and call thee back.” (3.3.149-150)
A characteristic of Friar Lawrence is that he is helpful. He is always trying to find a solution for every problem in this case, telling Romeo to go to Mantua is a bad idea. Friar Lawrence uses a metaphor when saying “blaze your marriage” it means to make your marriage public. Friar Lawrence makes a plan that is not well thought out, so he does not have time to think about the precautions. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence both gave wrongful advice to Romeo and Juliet, they also rush into things too quickly.
The Nurse rushes into things too quickly.

Romeo is speaking with Mercutio and Benvolio in the streets when the Nurse approaches Romeo to see if he is eligible to marry Juliet. Romeo is about to tell the Nurse how he feels for Juliet, but the Nurse interrupts him by saying “Good heart, and i’faith I will tell her as Lord, Lord, she will be a joyful woman” (2.4.158-159). The Nurse quickly decides Romeo is suitable for Juliet without getting to know him, this makes her rational. The Nurse being rational proves that she easily rushes into things too quickly. The Nurse going to see Romeo confirmed that Juliet and him will be getting married soon, which indicates the situation is being rushed. Not only does the Nurse rush into things too quickly, Friar Lawrence rushes into things quickly. Romeo goes to see Friar Lawrence at his cell to ask if he would marry Juliet and himself that morning. Friar Lawrence is hesitant at first but then says “But come … In one respect I’ll thy assistant be: For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love” (2.3.89-92). Friar Lawrence agreeing so quickly to marry Romeo and Juliet, knowing they had just met last night shows he did not do his duties as a responsible adult to slow down their marriage arrangements. Friar Lawrence shows a theme of love and hate. He is hoping that the love between Romeo and Juliet will stop the feud of hatred between the Montagues and the Capulets. Friar Lawrence does not just rush into things too quickly but he also makes reckless decisions that do not protect Romeo and

Juliet.
Friar Lawrence makes reckless decisions. Juliet comes to see Friar Lawrence at his cell, after getting in a fight with her parents and the Nurse about marrying Paris on Thursday. She threatens to kill herself, but Friar Lawrence quickly comes up with a plan and says
“Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquid drink thou off, When presently through all thy veins shall run A cold drowsy humour; for no pulse Shall keep his native progress, but surcease.” (4.1.93-97)
Friar Lawrence makes a reckless decision by not making a well thought out plan, that includes Juliet drinking poison. He did not protect her, he only put her life at risk which is not what a responsible adult would do. There is another way Friar Lawrence makes reckless decisions. Friar Lawrence has gone into the volt to wait for Juliet to wake up, when he notices that Romeo is lying dead beside Juliet. Juliet wakes up shortly after wondering where Romeo is. Friar Lawrence hears some noise coming from outside the volt, so he says “Stay not to question, for the Watch is coming. Come go, good Juliet, I dare no longer stay (5.3.158-159). Juliet refuses to go with Friar Lawrence because she does not want to be without Romeo, Friar Lawrence leaves her there knowing she will kill herself but he does not want to get into trouble with the Prince. His reckless decision to leave Juliet there is what caused her tragic ending. Friar Lawrence shows that he is selfish when he decides to leave the tomb by himself, and not owning up to the fact he broke the law like a responsible adult would.
Friar Lawrence and the Nurse are both responsible for the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet. The Nurse gave wrongful advice to Juliet by telling her to marry the County, Paris. Friar Lawrence gave wrongful advice to Romeo by telling him to go to Mantua. The Nurse rushes into figuring out if Romeo is a suitable man to marry Juliet. Friar Lawrence rushes into agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet knowing they had just met. Friar Lawrence makes reckless decisions by telling Juliet to drink a twenty-four-hour poison and leaving her in the tomb alone knowing she will kill herself. The Nurse and Friar Lawrence showed an incredible amount of childish actions, even though they tried to protect Romeo and Juliet with many attempts at helping them, they put their own needs before anyone else. These adults created the terrible tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.