Josef Reuther
811
Who
is to Blame for The Deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
In Shakespeare’s play, “Romeo and Juliet”,
the two protagonists, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet, are “a pair of
star-crossed lovers” whose tragic death “buries their parents’ strife” In the
play, several factors lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet; among these are
fate, love and the rivalry between the Montague and Capulet family. The factor
that is most responsible for their deaths however is the two families and their
feud.
The feud that exists
between the Montagues and the Capulets made it virtually impossible for Romeo
and Juliet to love on another. For ages the two families fought each other out
of mere disliking for one another. “The continuance of their parents’ rage, Which,
but their children’s end, naught could remove” [Prologue]. Nothing could stop
the violence between the two families, but the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. “This, by his voice, should be a
Montague.
Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave
Come hither, cover'd
with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?
Now, by the stock and
honour of my kin,
To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin,” as Tybalt states in
Act 1 Scene 5 Line 61. Tybalt only sees Romeo as an enemy he is not capable of
accepting him as a normal person. Because the families see each other as no
more than enemies, this feud makes it nearly hopeless for Romeo and Juliet to
carry on as lovers and in the end results in their deaths.
Romeo and Juliet know
what is at stakes if they choose to love each other and realize that it will
all have to occur in secrecy. Both are also aware of how opposed to such love their
parents would be. “My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen
unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must
love a loathed enemy,” [Act 1 Scene 5 Line 155] Juliet is devastated when she
finds out that Romeo is a Montague and that it means that their love would be
forbidden. Romeo reacts in a very similar way knowing just as well that the
feud would prevent them from loving “O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.”
As can clearly be seen both Romeo and Juliet are very aware that merely because
of an ancient feud they will not be able to be seen together and it leads them
to take the risks that eventually lead to their deaths.
One last piece of
evidence that substantiates my claim that the family feud is the main factor
leading to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is that Lord and Lady Capulet force Juliet
to marry Paris. “To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church,
Or I will drag thee
on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage!
You
tallow-face!
Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what:
get thee to church o' Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face:
Speak not,
reply not, do not answer me,” as Lord Capulet tells Juliet [Act 3 Scene 5 Line
155-160]. Juliet’s parents force her to marry Paris and threaten to banish her.
This gives Juliet very little time to decide how to act. Juliet agrees to fake
her death for all of Verona even though the entire plan is extremely uncertain
and risky. In the end this leads to both Romeo and Juliet committing suicide,
for they would rather die than not be able to love.
As can be seen due to
the great feud that divided the Montagues and the Capulets, Romeo and Juliet ended
up dead. They could see each other as no more than enemies and would never
willingly accept the love between Romeo and Juliet. Both the feud and the sudden
forced marriage to Paris contributed to the unfortunate deaths of the two
lovers.
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