Firstly, Friar Laurence married Romeo and Juliet knowing that their families hated each other and that it could end very poorly (Shakespeare 944-45). Friar knew this was a bad idea, but he continued with it and married the two. However, if he did not do this he would never be in trouble and Romeo and Juliet would then have to get married the ordinary way, thus, letting both families know. Next Friar decides to give Juliet a vial which will put her in a death-like state and sends a letter to Romeo about the plan, but it does not get to him (Shakespeare 993-1012). If Friar Laurence did not give Juliet the vial, Romeo would not kill himself because he thinks Juliet is dead.
Friar was also the person who orchestrated the plan to fake the death of Juliet. This plan failed miserably and caused the death of the two lovers. Another character that fate influenced was the Nurse. The Nurse was the first person to be notified of the relationship between Romeo and Juliet and she could have easily stopped the marriage. Another example is Tybalt’s death, which resulted in the wedding of Paris and Juliet to be planned earlier and resulted in Romeo’s banishment from Verona.
Who is to blame for the short-lived tragic end of Romeo and Juliet? Was it fate, the feud between the two families or one of the many characters in the play? All of these things and many more contributed to their deaths but what ultimately was to blame was no one but themselves. They were two young star-crossed lovers who didn’t know much about the world or about love. In this essay I will discuss the causes that brought the death of Romeo and Juliet.
The deaths of Romeo and Juliet in William Shakespeare’s play are both sad and tragic. Although much could have been done to prevent their suicides, these “star-crossed lovers” ultimately are not able to avoid their destiny. A series of unfortunate circumstances result in disaster, and even though many people could be to blame for their deaths, Friar Lawrence plays a particularly integral role and is, therefore, the most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet than anyone else. While some believe that Tybalt is responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death, this is not the case. Upon further investigation, Friar Lawrence should receive the blame.
Friar Lawrence, in this play, helps Romeo to fulfill his desires of marrying Juliet and always has good intentions for Romeo. In the second act, Romeo was in a hurry to marry Juliet, and he pleads with the Friar to conduct their marriage as Romeo was in "haste". Friar Lawrence agrees to this plea, in the hope that the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues would end and that the marriage will bring the families to make peace with each other. However, his intentions are destroyed when Romeo and Juliet commit suicide for each other and die because of their sworn love for each other. This is because in the play, Juliet refused to marry Paris and so the Friar offers his help again and gives her a special potion that makes her appear dead.
After Romeo is banished from Verona, Friar Laurence helps Juliet come up with a plan for her not to marry Paris. This plan consists of Juliet faking her death, so her sweet, love Romeo can find her in the Capulet’s tomb. However, if Friar Laurence didn’t mention the plan to Juliet, she would have save anyone from any heartbreak or death. Also Friar Laurence says, “Saint Francis be my speed! how oft to-night/ Have my feet stumbled at graves.” (5.3.121-122) This shows that Friar Laurence was being slowed down by graves in a tomb.
If he never went to go see her then they wouldn’t have gotten married, and they would both be alive. Also, Romeo bought the poison from the Apothecary, without taking the time to think things thorough, just because he was told Juliet was allegedly “dead.” “I do beseech you, sir, have patience. Your looks are pale and wild and do import Some misadventure.”(5.1.27-29) Even Balthasar tried to talk some common sense into him, but Romeo wouldn’t listen to him. Furthermore, he killed himself, and it wasn’t because he didn’t have another choice. In the end when it came to the decision of killing himself Romeo was the one who chose to drink the poison.
The plan sounds good at first, but when the slightest mistake happens the plan ends in devastation. I think the Friar acts foolishly because, firstly, he is the one who marries Romeo and Juliet. Since Romeo and Juliet are two children who were married at a young age, it made them unable to make considered decisions. Friar Lawrence's other foolish action is giving Juliet a potion that will put her into a death-like sleep "Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilling liquor drink thou off," He does send a message to Romeo, but it dosnt reach Romeo. The Friar helps Juliet fake her death and fool her parents.
When he first met Juliet, he seemed to have forgotten about Rosaline Thinking Juliet was dead, Romeo thought that his only option was to take his life out of grief for Juliet. His impatience resulted in the death of Paris, himself and Juliet. In Romeo and Juliet's naive minds, suicide was the only answer to their problems. In Juliet's case she had other options but she choose to overlook. Romeo and Juliet's innocence show us that jumping into situations too fast can cause big problems.
WHO DO YOU THINK WAS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATHS OF ROMEO AND JULIET? Who is really to be blamed? There are so many suspects and discussion to who is to be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet but still no one can really choose, it could be Faith, The Nurse, The Prince Escalus, Mercutio, Lord and Lady Montague practically anyone who had a significant relationship in Romeo and Juliet’s life, but even so Romeo and Juliet could be blamed for their own death, who knows. Most of the events that happen in Romeo and Juliet lead up to the final conclusion of the couple dying. Many, if not all, of the characters plays an ultimate role in their tragic deaths.