Romeo and Juliet Essay

In “Romeo and Juliet,” a tragic story written by William Shakespeare, two young teenagers, Romeo and Juliet came from two different feuding families. Romeo a Montague, and Juliet a Capulet. Fate made them fall in love, and they married without their families knowing. To summarize it, the story ended with both Romeo and Juliet killing themselves due to their love for one another. Many different factors contributed to their deaths, such as Friar Lawrence, (who allowed them to go on with their dangerous and not fully thought out plan), the Nurse, and the rivalry between the Montagues and the Capulets. However, in the end, there is no one else to blame for their deaths than the people that committed the suicide themselves. Romeo and Juliet were to blame for their own deaths.

            The first reason that Romeo and Juliet were to blame was because of their impulsivity and that they didn’t think through their actions, not unlike many teenagers. For example, as quoted in the text,

“Then plainly know my heart’s dear love is set

on the fair daughter of rich Capulet.

As mine on hers, so hers is set on mine,

And all combined, save what thou must combine

By holy marriage. When and where and how

We met, we wooed, and made exchange of vow

I’ll tell thee as we pass, but this I pray,

That thou consent to marry us today. (2.3.61-85)

Romeo was being very rash and felt that he could easily marry Juliet just days after he met her. He also did not take into consideration the consequences that could come from it. Also in addition, Juliet decided to marry Romeo without fully thinking about it, which was also a very rash decision.

            Another reason that Romeo and Juliet were to blame is because they were unaccepting of advice. For instance, in the play, the nurse cares a lot about Juliet and her decisions. As quoted in the text, the Nurse says,

“Faith, here it is.

Romeo is banishèd, and all the world to nothing

That he dares ne'er come back to challenge you.

Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth.

Then, since the case so stands as now it doth,

I think it best you married with the county.

Oh, he’s a lovely gentleman.

Romeo’s a dishclout to him. An eagle, madam,

Hath not so green, so quick, so fair an eye

As Paris hath. Beshrew my very heart,

I think you are happy in this second match,

For it excels your first. Or if it did not,

Your first is dead, or ’twere as good he were,

As living here and you no use of him. (3.5.225-238) After Juliet’s father, Lord Capulet, orders that she marry Paris, Juliet grudgingly agrees. The Nurse, who wants the best for her, suggests that she does marry Paris instead of Romeo because Romeo was banished. She believed that Paris would benefit Juliet so much more than Romeo would. Instead of considering the Nurse’s advice, Juliet was furious with the Nurse and felt betrayed because the Nurse had helped her to marry Romeo. The Nurse knew what was best for her. If Juliet had listened, she would’ve still been alive. In addition, Friar Lawrence gave Romeo advice, which Romeo ignored. For instance, in the play the Friar said,

“Holy Saint Francis, what a change is here!

Is Rosaline, whom thou didst love so dear,

So soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies

Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.

Jesu Maria, what a deal of brine

Hath washed thy sallow cheeks for Rosaline!

How much salt water thrown away in waste

To season love that of it doth not taste!

The sun not yet thy sighs from heaven clears,

Thy old groans ring yet in my ancient ears.

Lo, here upon thy cheek the stain doth sit

Of an old tear that is not washed off yet.

If e'er thou wast thyself and these woes thine,

Thou and these woes were all for Rosaline.

And art thou changed? Pronounce this sentence then:

Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.” (2.3.69-85) Friar Lawrence disagreed with Romeo wanting to marry Juliet (he later gave in, to try to bond the two families together), and told him that what he was feeling was not real love since he had just loved Rosaline a few days ago. He told Romeo that he only loved her because of her superficial qualities. Both Romeo and Juliet refused to listen to advice from others, which caused them to make very rash decisions that lead to their demise.

            In conclusion, there were many factors that led to Romeo and Juliet’s death, such as their families, the Friar, the Nurse, etc. However, Romeo and Juliet were the sole cause for their own deaths. If Romeo and Juliet hadn’t acted impulsively and had thought about the consequences for their actions, they most likely wouldn’t have died. Though fate caused their love, and even though it was very unfair that they couldn’t be together to due a very irrational rivalry, if they had waited and had not rushed through love, and listened to the advice of others (the Nurse and Friar Lawrence), there would be a good chance that they would’ve lived.