Romeo And Juliet Be Punished Essay

1050 Words5 Pages

William Shakespeare's famous and critically acclaimed tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, follows the premise of two star-crossed lovers from opposing heritage, bound to an unforgiving fate. Through a sequence of catastrophic events, many characters are left to blame, and few are innocent. Obviously, characters such as the infamous Lord Capulet and Lord Montague are to face punishment for their obstructing role in the play. In similar fashion, Friar Lawrence, the same man to wed the rash star-crossed lovers and seal their fate, shall also be punished for his wrongful influence towards Romeo and Juliet. However, on less obvious terms, characters such as the illiterate servant, should be pardoned for his incognizant actions. In conclusion, all of these …show more content…

Their everlasting fighting was unnecessary and caused too much death and despair to be pardoned. The result of their feud were the deaths of Tybalt, Mercutio, Romeo, Juliet, Paris, and Lord Montague's wife, among others. All this loss throughout the play stirred up emotions for both families that led to reckless outcomes. For instance, Tybalt’s hatred from years of grudges began a chain reaction of loss and impulsiveness, which led to the death of Mercutio, and soon after Tybalt himself. The entire play only took place because of the nonsensical fighting between the Capulets and the Montagues. During the tragedy, characters are able to recognize the destruction this fighting brought, which is shown when the Prince of Verona exclaims, “Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague! / See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love;” (Shakespeare. V.iii.291-293). Naturally, after the death of Romeo and Juliet, an epiphany hits, and Lord Capulet and Lord Montague are able to realize the damage they have done. In addition, the Prince of Verona waves the foolishness of their actions in their face with this quote. In short, this anger should have settled long ago, and never should have caused so many undeserved deaths. Ignorance blinds many, but there are consequences for actions which Lord …show more content…

Without a doubt, the illiterate servant had no ill intent and just wished to fulfill the orders Capulet gave him. Many of the lower class were never taught how to read, since it gave those of higher class more leverage and a bigger gap between their intellectual differences. With that said, Capulet knowingly gave the illiterate servant a list he is not able to read. Capulet holds a lot of power being a part of the aristocracy and all, which is why he would know the privilege he has, along with the lack of privilege those under him have. Therefore, Capulet should have realized the plethora of problems giving an illiterate servant a list would cause. To prove the illiterate servant’s innocence, he directly says while having a conversation with Romeo, “My master is the / great rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house / of Montagues, I pray, come and crush a cup of wine. / Rest you merry!” (Shakespeare. I.ii.81-84). In this quote, the illiterate servant has no idea that he was conversing with a Montague. However, he made it very clear that he and the rest of his family were not invited. The illiterate servant politely said his goodbyes, oblivious to Romeo and his friend’s mischievous plan. Overall, no harm was meant by the servant, and it is in fact Capulet to blame for instructing the wrong person, which fully leaves the illiterate servant free of