Capulets In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet is focused on the lives of two “star-crossed” lovers, Romeo of the Montagues and Juliet of the Capulets. Both families are of the same dignity or social status. However, there is great tension between these two families for reasons that are not specified by Shakespeare. In the beginning of the play, Romeo loves a woman named Rosaline and Juliet does not seem to be interested in dating. The readers understand that at some point in the play they will meet and fall in love due to the title Romeo and Juliet, not Romeo and Rosaline or Juliet. Another key piece of information that gives the reader a hint at future events is the type of play. In this case, the type of play is a tragedy, meaning there

This is not ordinary love as Romeo quickly takes action to ask Friar Lawrence to marry them. Friar is skeptical at first but agrees to marry them in an attempt to end the family feud even though the marriage was secret. After they were married by Friar, newly-wed Romeo encounters a brawl between Tybalt, the cousin of Juliet a Capulet and Mercutio, Romeo’s good friend. Tybalt ends up killing Mercutio under the arm of Romeo. Romeo was attempting to break up the feud. This was not successful because if Romeo did not try to stop them, Mercutio probably would have been alive. In response, Mercutio exclaims “A plague a both houses! I am sped.” (Shakespeare 3.1. 87). Mercutio is neither a Capulet nor a Montague, however, he still says that both of the families will be harmfully affected by his death. Mercutio is correct, filled with guilt of the death of his good friend Romeo shows a side of himself that has not yet been revealed. Romeo kills Tybalt. The families become more enraged than ever. Lady Capulet shames Romeo stating, “For blood of ours shed blood of Montague,” (Shakespeare 3.1. 144) and Montague justifies Romeo by reasoning “His fault concludes but what the law should end,” (Shakespeare 3.1 181). Whether Romeo actions are justified or not, Friar’s hope seems even more far fetched and Juliet must live with the thoughts of her dear cousin murdered by her husband of three

Due to the pressure by her parents to marry Count Paris, Juliet ingests a potion crafted by Friar Lawrence. The potion’s purpose was for Juliet to fake her death and to escape and live with Romeo in a different town. There were many ways this plan could fail. To inform Romeo of Juliet’s plan, Friar Lawrence wrote a letter that was to be sent to Romeo. When Friar Lawrence asks Friar John who delivered the letter he replies “I could not send it-here it is again- Nor get a messenger to bring it thee,” (Shakespeare 5.2. 14-15). Realizing the calamity that is fast approaching, Friar Lawrence rushes to the Capulet’s tomb to halt Romeo. Frair ends up being to late. Romeo uncovers Juliet and says “Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,” (Shakespeare 5.3. 92). This demonstrates irony because Juliet is still alive, regardless Romeo drinks poison he received from the apothecary and dies. Friar is now in the tomb and Juliet rises. Without many options, Friar tries to persuade Juliet into becoming a nun. Sadly, this does not work and Juliet stabs herself with a dagger. Clearly, the timing of events causes the premature death of two young