Romeo And Juliet Character Analysis

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Many people think the story of Romeo and Juliet is just a lovey, dovey, romantic play, but what they don’t know is that it is filled with violence, darkness, and guilt. Throughout the play, rules are broken, many secrets are kept, and the lives of loved ones are taken. We all know that this story ends in the death of two star crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, but how did this happen? Romeo’s tragic downfall was caused by his mistake of getting in between Tybalt and Mercutio’s argument.

Romeo’s tragic mistake begins with him arriving to the scene, finding his best friend Mercutio arguing with a Capulet, Tybalt. Romeo refuses to fight Tybalt due to the fact that they are now family since Romeo and Juliet got married not too long ago. Mercutio decides to defend his friend, so he and Tybalt begin fighting. Romeo tries to stop them by holding Mercutio back, but that’s when Tybalt stabs Mercutio from under Romeo’s arm. Mercutio dies with the words, “...Or I shall faint. A plague o’ both your houses! They have made worms’ meat of me. I have it, and soundly, too. Your houses!” (3.1.1579-1581). Mercutio’s words explain how both the Montagues and Capulets are to blame for his death, so he curses both families which foreshadows what will happen at the end of the play. A Montague, Romeo, is cursed for not letting Mercutio defend himself and a Capulet, Tybalt, for stabbing him. Romeo’s actions had left him with a feeling of guilt and anger. He is furious about the death of his