Who Is To Blame For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet Essay

Ellen Ahn

Mrs. McGowan

English 2B

June 8, 2023

“Romeo and Juliet” is a striking romance and tragedy that has resonated throughout readers throughout the ages. The tragedy could be described as the most alluring part, as it adds to the dramatization and emotion it is able to evoke. As many know, Romeo and Juliet meet their untimely death as star crossed lovers subsequent to the end of the story. Many have questioned what has directly led to such a poignant end, and it can be claimed that the majority of the blame could be placed on their family relationships because of the lack of communication and understanding, expectations, and the value of family loyalty.

Because Romeo and Juliet’s respective families were unable to communicate or understand

An example of this is in Act III scene 5 which says, “An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, / For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee” (Shakespeare). To bring context, Lord Capulet is stating how she must marry Capulet without complaint or protest as she is doing now or harsh punishments will follow. It outlines how Juliet does not get autonomy over her own situation and will be forced to marry Paris no matter what because that’s just the expectation for girls her age. Even in Act I scene 2 it states, “But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part” (Shakespeare). Which shows that her Father is telling Paris he has permission to marry her and he has given him “consent” to his daughter. It highlights the more transactional aspect of relationships and how they are not primarily out of love and often one-sided. The expectations put onto Juliet by her Father is for Juliet to be in a loveless marriage with objection, this leads to her death as she does find a deeper and mutual connection of love that is not assigned to her by her family which defies the expectations. The Influence of Parents and Friends on the Quality and Stability of Romantic Relationships: A Three-Wave Longitudinal Investigation by Susan Sprecher and Diane Felmlee also explains

Capulets and Montagues feud fiercely throughout the play, this had an adverse effect with Romeo and Juliet’s relationships with their families leading to their demise. Juliet's sad soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 2 illustrates the impact of family feuds on Romeo and Juliet's lives, resulting in their tragic death. Juliet laments Romeo's exile, "O serpent heart, hid with a flowering face! Did ever dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant!" "Angelic fiend!" (Shakespeare). These lines show Juliet's conflicted emotions as she deals with the realization that her beloved Romeo, a Montague, has become an enemy as a result of their feuding families, but more importantly the murder of her cousin. Another factor loyalty to family induced was when Romeo murders Tybalt. Though Romeo continuously tries to prevent fighting a Capulet, when Mercutio is slain, he has a duty to his family and friend and goes to kill Tybalt. The death of Tybalt is a huge factor to the end of Romeo and Juliet as that’s what gets Romeo exiled and Juliet desperate to escape. It’s clear throughout the play that there is a split between the Capulets and the Montagues, and the parents instill this in their children and give a sense of duty to family and a loyalty to their blood despite the conditions. Youth and Privacy in Romeo and Juliet by Rachel Prusko as it speaks on how many of the issues within Romeo and Juliet are because young teens were