Who is To Blame for the Deaths of Two Star Crossed Lovers? In the play, Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, Romeo and his Lover Juliet died tragically by committing suicide, but there is one big question, who is responsible for their deaths? Was is Tybalt, Mercutio, or the Friar’s fault? Or was it all three of them responsible? Friar failed to make sure that the letter got to Romeo, Tybalt challenged Romeo to a duel, and Mercutio took the challenge to Tybalt’s duel. Who is to blame? All three are. The one who could of prevented Romeo and Juliet’s death the most, was the Friar. Friar Lawrence said, “Unhappy fortune! By my brotherhood/The letter was not nice, but full of charge/Of dear import; and the neglecting it/ May do much danger.