Who Was Responsible for the Deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

959 Words4 Pages
Father’s Egotistical Behavior Who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? Capulet was to be the most responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet since he had the most negative influence over the situation. First, Capulet forced Juliet to marry Paris in order for his family to climb the social ladder. Then, Capulet refused to even listen to his daughter when she pleaded with him to not force the marriage. Instead he verbally abused her and threatened to disown her if she would not obey his command to marry Paris. Consequently, Juliet felt helplessly trapped since she did not love Paris and was already married to her true love, Romeo. During the sixteenth century, it was often customary for upper class families to seek, for their daughters, husbands who would promote their families’ social status. Capulet was such a father who wished to find a suitable husband for Juliet. Paris, a kinsman of the Prince of Verona, was interested in the hand of Juliet. Since Paris was related to the Prince, he would raise the Capulet family’s social status. “A gentleman of noble parentage. Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly trained, Stuffed, as they say with honorable parts.” (Act 3, Scene 5, Lines 180-182) Originally, Capulet had wanted to wait two summers before Juliet married Paris. He had felt that his daughter, at thirteen years, was still too young to marry. “But saying o'er what I have said before: My child is yet a stranger in the world; She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, Let two more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.”(Act 1, Scene 2, Lines 7-11) However, a few days later, Capulet changed his mind and promised her hand to Paris. As a result, he forced Juliet, against her will, to wed someone for whom she had no feelings. Juliet felt trapped with no way out of the situation. As a woman who

More about Who Was Responsible for the Deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

Open Document