The Blame Game
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most well known of the Shakespearean tragedies. But who is at fault for the tragedy? Although many characters had roles in the events leading to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, ranging from their respective parents forbidding their love, to the apothecary who supplied Romeo with his means of suicide, only one person is truly responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The one character whose actions could have guaranteed Romeo’s and Juliet’s survival was none other than Romeo himself, the protagonist lover of Juliet, and the reason that neither of them survived.
Throughout Romeo and Juliet, the mistakes and bad decisions of many characters eventually lead to the deaths of Romeo and
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Juliet. Although some of these characters played large, contributing roles to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, none could have single-handedly prevented their deaths through one changed action. An example of one of these characters is the Apothecary, who sold Romeo the deadly poison. The Apothecary said: “Such mortal drugs I have, but Mantua’s law Is death to any he that utters them.” (V, 1, 70-71) Although the apothecary knowingly breaks the law to sell Romeo a deadly poison, all that the Apothecary does is provide Romeo with one means of killing himself.
If Romeo didn’t have the Apothecary's poison, Romeo still would have had many other options for killing himself. The friar is another character who played a role in the ultimate deaths of Romeo and Juliet by helping Juliet to fake her own death and escape marriage to Paris. However, even if the friar had chosen to not help Juliet with this plan, it would not likely have saved Juliet’s or Romeo’s life. Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris enraged her father and would likely have gotten her killed for betraying her …show more content…
family. In contrast to these characters, Romeo could have changed the outcome of the play. . When challenged with what he believes to be the death of his lover, Romeo almost instantly decides to take his own life. This action is prompted or encouraged by nobody; as he is alone in the tomb with Juliet. “With worms that are thy chambermaids, O, here Will I set up my everlasting rest” (V, 3, 108-109) Shortly after saying this Romeo drinks the poison and kills himself. Had he done anything other than rashly and impulsively kill himself, he would likely have been alive for long enough to see Juliet awaken; giving both of them no reason to die. Romeo’s suicide, although not the most direct cause of Juliet’s death, could have prevented her from killing herself had he lived. Immediately after finding Romeo dead, Juliet decides to kill herself to be with him. “I will kiss thy lips.
Haply some poison yet doth hang on them, To make me die a restorative.” (V, 3, 169-171)
Unlike any of the other characters in the play, whose actions only affected the lives of Romeo and Juliet when combined with the actions of others; Romeo, by himself, could have saved Juliet’s life. Had he waited even briefly, he would have been alive to see Juliet awaken, would have had no reason to kill himself and would have saved Juliet in the process. In this course of events, the lovers would be living together happily.
Therefore, it is easy to see how the deaths of Romeo and Juliet could have been prevented if Romeo was less impulsive. Similarly, if Romeo and Juliet had figured out how to communicate with one another, it’s possible that Juliet’s plan to escape her arranged marriage would have succeeded and both Romeo and Juliet would have lived.
Many characters’ actions as well as circumstances beyond the characters’ control played a role in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, but none was so pivotal as Romeo’s own actions. No character had the same opportunity as Romeo to single-handedly change the fate of these two characters. Without Romeo taking the action and initiative to impulsively drink the poison he and Juliet would likely have
lived.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is about two star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, forbidden to be together because of feuding families. Countless people contribute to Romeo and Juliet’s predestined fate and misadventures. This ultimately leads to Romeo and Juliet’s suicide. Who is more to blame for Romeo and Juliet’s death? Although Juliet acts rashly, Romeo is more to blame.
In conclusion, in the play Romeo and Juliet both Romeo and Juliet make decisions that, because of their adolescents are quick and are not thought through which really affects their lives and those of the people close to them. In this day and age you see people who are making bad decisions, for example the use of drugs and underage drinking. The decision to do these things is most of the time done by people who are adolescents. These people dont think about the real consequences that it could have later in their live or event the damage that it does to their bodies right now. These people do it without
Throughout time, there have been many tragedies caused by romance. For example, the play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, is known for its romantic tragedy between two star-crossed lovers. With all the deaths, who is truly to blame for Romeo and Juliet's deaths? Friar Laurence is most to blame for many obvious, yet overlooked, reasons. The forbidden wedding of Romeo and Juliet could not have happened without the Friar.
Inevitable Death in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet In Romeo and Juliet it is clear that fate plays a large part. There are many references in the play that refer to bad luck or misfortune, but it is argued that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are equally the fault of human error. The characters each have weaknesses that could be to blame like anger, ambition or ill judgement. Also some characters had premonitions or bad feelings that something bad would happen but they never did anything to stop this.
William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is an action-packed play and has 3 main characters that can be blamed for the deaths, Tybalt, Capulet and Friar Lawrence. Tybalt’s aggressive and defensive behaviour caused him to be a point of blame in the deaths and made him responsible for his own death. Unsupportive and selfish behaviour causes Juliet’s’ father Capulet to be responsible.
Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the two lovers make their own personal choices that impact both their lives in a very tragic way. While the readers are hoping that Romeo and Juliet will end up together, their impulsive behaviors lead to death. Juliet's impulsive behavior to fake her own death without clarification that Romeo had received the friar's letter caused Romeo to kill himself.
Romeo Act V 61-67. Once again, if Romeo wasn’t so irrational and so impulsive before killing himself, he would have thought to at least talk to Friar Lawrence before doing it. If he had talked to the Friar, he would have learnt that Juliet wasn’t really dead and that everything was staged so that they could be together. Unfortunately, because he wasn’t really thinking rationally, he failed to do the things mentioned above and drank the poison a few minutes prior to Juliet’s awakening. When Juliet woke up and realised that their plan didn’t work, she decided to end her life as well so she could be with her loved one for eternity.
Romeo decided, at the spur of the moment, that his only solution to deal with Juliet’s death was to kill himself. Romeo’s impulsiveness caused his preventable death, but he is not the only one who was impulsive and hasty in the play.
Taking Responsibility for the Deaths of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
The death of the two lovers in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet seems preventable. Misinformed characters spur a series of unfortunate and ill-timed events that lead to Romeo and Juliet taking their own lives. The audience is constantly aware of Romeo and Juliet’s looming death and always hold knowledge that the characters do not. Shakespeare incorporates this dramatic irony in numerous places in the play which keeps the audience on edge and gives the same sense of fate that the characters experience
Reckless actions lead to untimely deaths. In Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”, both protagonists fight for their hopeless love. Bloodshed and chaos appear inevitable in fair Verona; Romeo and Juliet come from enemy households, the Montegues and the Capulets, who have sworn to defeat one another. The young and handsome Romeo weeps over his unrequited love for Rosaline, until he lays his eyes on Juliet. Strong and independent, Juliet seeks to escape her family’s will to marry her off to Paris, a kinsman of the Prince. Fate ties these adolescents’ lives together binding them to witness the ill-fortunes of Romeo and Juliet’s love. Romeo and Juliet prove themselves woefully impulsive through their words and actions, which ultimately lead them along a series of unfortunate mishaps.
Like Romeo, if Juliet had just taken some time to think things through, this disaster might have never occurred.
...tablished that if Friar Lawrence did not encourage Romeo to get over Rosaline and if he had not given them the consent to be married, Romeo and Juliet would not have committed suicide for one another.
Every action we take, decision we make, and person we fall in love with always leads us to our inevitable destiny. Some people are meant to live happily ever after while others may not be so lucky. Romeo and Juliet ended up being one of those not so lucky couples. Born as enemies, their love ended up pulling them closer to their destiny which was proven to be death. The main people that can be blamed for the death of Romeo and Juliet are Juliet, Friar Lawrence, and Romeo.
The choices Romeo and Juliet make are poor, and eventually resulted in their death. Getting married, killing Tybalt, and thinking with hastyness were all poor choices that lead to both of their deaths. Once in a while making bad choices doesn’t affect someone as much, but making then many times regularly does affect one’s life. This teaches people that we must think our actions through before committing them.