Their fate was inevitable. One gaze, and it was all over. One gaze, and this pair of star-crossed lovers were as good as dead. One gaze, and an unfortunate chain of events was triggered, resulting in their tragic death. They could have been saved, though. Many people can be blamed, some more than others. In the end, though, they all played an important role that led to the disaster. The blame in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet can be placed on the shoulders of their families, friends, mentors, and partially on themselves.
First and foremost, the families and parents of the two can be blamed. The families of the victims had been rivals for a long time, making it impossible to maintain a relationship between them. If the families weren’t
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Look to’t think on’t; I do not use to jest. Thursday is near; lay hand on heart, advise: And you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend; And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
Johnson 2
For by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, Nor what is mine shall never do thee good. Trust to’t. Bethink you. I’ll not be forsworn.” (III.v:190-197)
Lastly, Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, became enraged when he recognized Romeo at the party. That enragement later led to the two fighting, which didn’t help Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
The next people to blame can be the victim’s friends. Romeo didn’t want to fight Tybalt the day after the party because Romeo was new related to him. However, Romeo’s friend, Mercutio, wanted to stand up for Romeo and challenged Tybalt to a duel. Tybalt defeated Mercutio, and Romeo avenged his friend’s death by slaying Tybalt. Because of this, Romeo is banished from Verona by Prince Escalus, and he can no longer see
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The Friar was involved with this mess from the beginning. He started out only as an advisor to Romeo, giving him wisdom about his feelings for another girl. When he learns that Romeo is in love with a Capulet, he gets excited. He sees their love as a way to reunite their families, and agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet in secret (II.iii: 90-92). After Romeo’s banishment, Juliet sees the Friar to ask for advice on how to get out of marrying Paris. As a result, the Friar gives her a potion that will put her into a deep slumber until she is pronounced dead, and placed in her family tomb. The plan was for her to wake up, meet with Romeo and escape together. However, the Friar had written a letter to Romeo, hiding in Mantua, informing him about the plan. The message was never sent, though, because the letter came from a building suspected of containing the