Who Is Responsible For Romeo And Juliet's Deaths

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“Life's tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late” -Franklin. The play, Romeo and Juliet, is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare about two star-crossed lovers. This play is famous for the love, hate, and depravity displayed through tragic, young love. Although the two teens were in a time wavering love, they ended up committing a tragic suicide. However, the real question is: who is responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? After seeking the answer to this question, it is crystal clear that the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are to be blamed on themselves because of their failure to stop their families’ feud, their secret marriage, and their inability to control their desire for each other.
Romeo and Juliet made an insufficient
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Even though Romeo and Juliet loved each other, keeping their marriage a secret effected them later on in the play. For instance, Lord and Lady Capulet decided that Paris was to marry Juliet. This occurrence caused countless hours of hurt and depression on Juliet. Although Lord and Lady Capulet were forcing an unwanted marriage upon her, Juliet did not confess the marriage between her and Romeo. Instead, Juliet tells her mother that she wants Romeo dead, due to the killing of Tybalt. Juliet explains, “Indeed, I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him-dead-” (III.v.97-98). This statement explains that Juliet desired to keep their marriage a secret. Furthermore, in Act III a big fight occurs between Mercutio, Tybalt, and Romeo. Romeo tried to stop the argument between Tybalt and Mercutio and explained to Tybalt that he is now his cousin. Romeo says, “But love thee better than thou canst desire/ Till thou shalt know the reason of my love;” (III.i.61-62). Tybalt, however, did not believe him, and later killed Mercutio. If Romeo and Juliet would have proven their love for each other in front of the people of Verona, Tybalt would have been forced to believe Romeo. Accordingly, if the Capulets and Montagues knew of their children’s intimacy with each other, the feud between their families would have been …show more content…
The emotional battle of being in love can be overbearing, which led Romeo and Juliet to let their emotion make their decisions. For instance, Juliet was so deprived about Romeo’s banishment and having to marry Paris that she threatened to kill herself multiple times. Since her emotions overruled her, she could not think straight and went to Friar Laurence in an act of desperation. Juliet stated, “Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. I’ll to the Friar, to know his remedy; If all else fail, myself have the power to die” (III.v.251-253). Friar Laurence, also in an act of desperation, created a risky plan to help Juliet in her love for Romeo. Although Juliet knew the friar’s plan was risky, she still took the potion as a way to be with Romeo again. This action portrays the uncontrolled love being deprived in Juliet. Furthermore, Romeo also acted in desperation to get to Juliet when Balthasar said that Juliet had died. Instead of waiting to see if it was true, Romeo rushed to an apothecary and immediately bought poison to kill himself. When Romeo saw Juliet laying in the Capulet tomb, he saw her waking up. Romeo explained, “In crimson in thy lips and in thy cheeks, and death’s pale flag is not advanced there” (V.iii.95-96). Instead of waiting for her to wake up, Romeo kills himself, showing that Romeo was