Who Was Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Death

There are many ways one’s actions can lead to one’s death. Many people know the basic plot of Romeo and Juliet. They fall in love with each other but their families are rivals and they both end up killing themselves out of love. If one looks closer though at what really causes their deathś there are many factors that play a role in it and some even say other people indirectly caused their deaths. Although the friar’s letter not reaching Romeo is believed to have led to Romeo’s death, Romeo is to blame because he didn’t listen to the friar’s instructions, he drank the poison, and he killed Tybalt.
Some say that the friar is responsible for the death of Romeo but, Romeo caused his own death by coming back earlier than he was told to. The friar

and Romeo were family to each other. The friar came up with the plan to fake Juliet’s death which makes him responsible for Romeo’s death because he didn’t tell Romeo and it was a poor thought out plan. After the fact the friar reflected on it and explained to the prince:
The form of death: meantime I writ to Romeo,
That he should hither come as this dire night,
To help to take her from her borrow'd grave,
Being the time the potion's force should cease…
At the prefixed hour of her waking,
Came I to take her from her kindred's vault;
Meaning to keep her closely at my cell,
Till I conveniently could send to Romeo:
But when I came, some minute ere the time
Of her awaking, here untimely lay
The noble Paris and true Romeo dead. (V. iii. 246-249, 253-259)
The first part shows how the friar gave Juliet a potion to make her seem dead. He wrote to Romeo to tell him the plan but he knew that mail could be unreliable and would take awhile. He also didn’t think about how Romeo could hear about Juliet’s death before his letter reached Romeo due to Juliet’s family being at the top and similar to celebrities. This shows his carelessness in thinking through his plan. Then the second part shows how he later was too late and found Romeo dead. This shows that the friar did not think through his plan and it caused the death of Romeo. However, the friar was not responsible for Romeo’s death because Romeo came back before the friar told him to. When Romeo was banished the friar told him to not come back until he was sent word it was safe. When he heard of Juliet’s death from Balthasar he asked if there were any letters from the friar and Balthasar told him there were not any so, Romeo responded, “No matter. Get thee gone./ And hire those horses. I’ll be with thee straight./ [Exit Balthasar.] Well, Juliet, I will lie with thee tonight ¨(V.ii.31-34.). Romeo asks if the friar had sent a letter. Balthasar tells him they did not but Romeo decides to go to Juliet anyway. He says that he will lie with her that night. This shows how Romeo killed himself because the friar didn’t send him any news of anything but after hearing what happened to Juliet he decides to return anyway which shows his lapse in thinking about advice given to him he goes back to Verona and decides to commit suicide. Overall, although many blame the friar for Romeo’s death, Romeo is truly responsible for his own death.
One way Romeo led to his own death is he killed Tybalt which led to his banishment.
During the time period when the play was set banishment was worse than death. The people all grew up and stayed in their town rarely leaving to visit other towns so, if Romeo was banished he would be lost and have nowhere to go and no skills to live on his own. Romeo killed Tybalt which the prince should of executed him for. Instead the prince just banishes him due to the circumstances and reason Romeo had for killing Tybalt. Right after Romeo kills Tybalt the prince arrives on the scene and Benvolio explains:
then Tybalt fled;
But by and by comes back to Romeo,
Who had but newly entertained revenge,
And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain.
And, as he fell, did Romeo turn and fly. (III.i. 133- 136)
This starts with showing how after Tybalt killed Mercutio he ran and Romeo chased him.

Then Benvolio explains he could not break Tybalt and Romeo apart and Romeo killed Tybalt then ran off. The prince could have executed Romeo then since he said he would beforehand. Instead he banishes Romeo which separates him from Juliet. This means Romeo caused his own death because he was the one who decided to kill Tybalt which caused him and Juliet to be separated more and caused Juliet to fake her death to try to be with Romeo which caused him to kill himself. All of this started with Romeo being banished due to his actions which led to his own death. Overall Romeo being banished led to his death and it was due to his own actions that he was

banished.
Another way Romeo led to his own death was he drank poison.

Sometimes in a time of grief, ones who it affects act out and don’t think clearly. When Romeo drank the poison and came up with a way to get it he did not know why he exactly was doing it. After hearing of Juliet’s death Romeo was devastated. He ended up going to an apothecary to get a poison. He decided that if Juliet was dead he could be reunited with her through death. He notices she does not look dead but ignores the fact. He gives a long speech and then says, “Here’s to my love! ( Drinks) O true apothecary! / Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (V. iii.119-120.) He starts the line by toasting the poison to Juliet. This demonstrates that he is drinking the poison out of love. Then he actually drinks the poison and it has a quick effect and he dies by kissing Juliet. This shows one way Romeo led to his own death because he drank the poison knowing full well what would happen afterwards. He was also the one who bought the poison and when he went to see Juliet he knew what he was going to do and had planned for it.Overall, Romeo led to his own death by drinking poison and knowing full well what would happen

after.
Overall although some believe the friar caused the death of Romeo it really was Romeo’s fault. Some say due the letter not reaching Romeo and the friar’s terrible plan the friar is to blame for Romeo’s death. Romeo was truly to blame because he did not listen to the friar who told him to stay in Mantua until the friar directly told Romeo to return. Another way Romeo led top his own death is he killed Tybalt which led to his banishment. This then caused Juliet to fake her death in order to be with Romeo and everything was messed up. This is all due to Romeo’s banishment. One last way Romeo led to his own death was he drank poison willingly and knowing full well what would happen after. The basic plot of Romeo and Juliet is much more complex than many believe. Loved ones while in griefing also will act without thinking to try to end their grief. The friar is believed by many to have caused the death of Romeo but ultimately Romeo led to his own death by not listening to the friar, killing Tybalt, and drinking poison.