Who Was Responsible For The Deaths Of Romeo And Juliet

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In Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there is one major hiccup that causes the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet. The postal service was extremely slow in delivering the message from the Friar to Romeo in Mantua. However, the tragic death of Romeo and Juliet is not solely the result of the failure to deliver the Friar's letter, but also because of the Friar’s impulsive choices, the feud between both families, and Romeo and Juliet’s very own decisions. In Act 2, Scene 3, the audience discovers the friar is willing to help the couple by wedding them, and though the friar helps Romeo and Juliet greatly with their relationship, his impulsive actions contribute to the death of Romeo and Juliet. In Act 2, Friar Lawrence shows his impulsiveness …show more content…

She exclaims, “Do thou but call my resolution wise, And with this knife I’ll help it presently”(4.1 54-55), and in this instance, the friar must come up with a plan when Juliet threatens to kill herself with the knife in her hands. The friar tries to help, but coming up with a plan in such a short time is only asking for …show more content…

In Act 2, Scene 3, Romeo consults Friar Lawrence to assist in his marriage with Juliet. Friar Lawrence agrees to assist Romeo, and mentions a useful tip for Romeo’s relationship with Juliet, “Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast”(2.3 101). This quote means that individuals trip when moving too fast. Romeo has a history of having quick relationships and the lovers are clearly moving in haste to marry. This quote also foreshadows the mistakes the couple make as they make impetuous decisions without thinking things through. It shows that Romeo and Juliet are responsible for their own deaths because they made major steps in their relationship in an accelerated manner. The relationship literally spans over five days, from not knowing each other, and then deciding to marry, mainly because of looks. They also both killed themselves because they believed they could not live without each other. When Juliet goes to the friar to beg for help, she has already resolved that she would harm herself without a solution from the Friar. “Be not long to speak, I long to die If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy” (4.1.67-68). Her desperation is a dull reason for killing herself, and likewise Romeo at the end of the play, because they have already lived so long without even knowing of each other. The decisions made by the lovers cast doom on their