Back in Shakespeare's time, marriage was used to gain political power or wealth and marrying for love was a relatively new concept. Marriage and love did not intertwine; they were considered separate. People believed that marrying for love always led to tragedy. This was the foundation of their society, regardless of material status. If there were stories where marrying for love was portrayed differently, it would cause a major social uproar. It would completely shatter the societal structure and foundation. Thus, it was absolutely necessary for Romeo and Juliet’s love story to end in a tragedy. The story “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare is about two teenagers: Romeo and Juliet, who’s families are enemies, as they fall in love and commit suicide at the end. However, who was responsible for their deaths? Although every character in the story played a part in their deaths, it was none other than Romeo and Juliet themselves who were most responsible. Their principles, ideologies and relationship is what ultimately brought about their double suicide.
Shakespeare
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The death of his best friend Mercutio brought a change in Romeo’s worldview as he rejected anything that society considers feminine. Before Mercurio dies, he asks Romeo what his reasons not to fight were, saying, “why the / devil came you between us?” (III, 1,106-107). Romeo arrives at the conclusion that he refused to duel because of his love for Juliet, thus it was Juliet’s fault Mercutio died. Blaming Juliet, Romeo rejects anything that society considers feminine saying that “[Juliet’s] beauty hath made me effeminate” (III,1,119). Romeo thinks that by rejecting his own femininity, his guilt of losing Mercutio will lessen. This begins Romeo’s downfall as he is then caught up in a vendetta, forced into exile and eventually commits suicide, leaving his lover: Juilet,