Romeo and Juliet- Punishment Essay Who is deserves to be punished for the death of a child? Their parents? Their friends? Their community? In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, there are four people that deserve to be punished for their direct role in the death of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play the Nurse, The Friar and the Capulets all make major decisions that contribute to the death of Romeo and Juliet. The Capulets and their insatiable lust for power are partially responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play they both seek to become better than the Montagues and it is this ambition that gets in the way of their children’s love. For example; after Romeo kills Tybalt, Lady Capulet tries to push the Prince into executing Romeo in return. “Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child! / O Prince! O cousin! Husband! Oh, the blood is spilled / …show more content…
Unlike a responsible adult, or employee she hides Juliet’s marriage from her parents. Why? Because she enjoys the attention, and the intrigue that Juliet’s romance gives her. When arranging the marriage between Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse parades around the town, dressed up like an important lady. When she returns to Juliet, she antagonizes her by withholding Romeo’s news because she likes the attention it’s getting her. She is selfish and encourages Juliet to pursue Romeo because she likes being a part of something important. When Juliet is finally facing the consequences of those actions, she betrays Juliet by failing to stand up for her and suggesting she marry Paris. “I think it best you married with the county.” (3.5.217) “ Your first is dead, or ’twere as good he were,/As living here and you no use of him.” (3.5.225) When Juliet is most desperate and needs her most, she fails and it is her betrayal and lack of support that forces Juliet to sever her ties with the Nurse and resort to the Friar’s