Romeo and Juliet Essay A Capulet’s corpse. A Montague’s sword. Who is guilty of the crime? The corpse or the owner of the sword? After meeting Juliet Capulet, daughter of his rival family, Romeo Montague, the sole heir of the Montague’s, fell in love with her and asked her to elope with him, which she gladly agreed to. Once the marriage had been completed, Romeo rushes home in a hurry to inform his friends of the good news, only to find them in a heated argument with Tybalt Capulet, Juliet’s cousin. Romeo tries to intervene and make peace between the two groups, but only manages to fuel the anger even more. Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, views Romeo’s unwillingness to fight as cowardice, since he has not been told of the secret marriage decides …show more content…
He never was planning to fight that day, or why else would he want to make peace before starting a havoc again? It was Tybalt who was out for blood, “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries That thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw” (3.1.65-66). Romeo, of course, protested, “I do protest, I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise” because he did not want to fight his new family, “And so, good Capulet, -which name I tender As dearly as mine own” (3.1.67-68, 70-71). As Tybalt hears this, he immediately thinks that Romeo is mocking him, since he, like the others, had no idea of the marriage, making him more enraged. Mercutio sees that since Romeo is unwillingness to fight, decides to settle his score with Tybalt right there and then. There after his duel, Mercutio dies in Romeo’s arms, and as Romeo witnesses his best friend dying moments, he became maddened with grief and anger. Seeking vengeance, Romeo challenged Tybalt into another bout, “Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him” (3.1.128). Romeo’s scuffle with Tybalt was a decision made on the whim, instead of a calculated …show more content…
Both sides of the battle are going to head for each other with the motive to kill. In order to survive, Romeo, of course, would have to fight Tybalt and execute him to increase his chances of survival. But, it was Romeo who issued the duel. Even if Romeo wasn’t thinking clearly at that time, Romeo was still the first to issue the duel. Tybalt didn’t pounce on Romeo when he was defenseless. He just accepted the invitation to battle and fought. Due to Romeo being the challenger, Romeo killing Tybalt, who was challenged, is not