Romeo and Juliet Essays

Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet Every day’s events or activities play a huge part in whatever happens in a people’s future. Romeo and Juliet is a play by William Shakespeare set in Verona. It involves two feuding families whose grudge goes so deep that even the servants of the two families cannot walk in the same street in peace. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague are the heads of the two families. Romeo, Lord Montague’s son believes he is in love with Rosaline until he sees Juliet Lord Capulet’s daughter at a ball thrown by the Capulets. The main aim of the ball was to encourage courtship between Juliet and Paris. Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, recognizes Romeo although wearing costumes to conceal his identity as a Montague. Their feud goes on and on until Romeo kills him to revenge his friend Mercutio’s death. Romeo is banished from Verona. Romeo and Juliet ends up killing themselves after realizing they could never be together. The play’s characters’ actions are the most responsible for its outcome.

The two lords of the conflicting families play a huge part in how things unfold in the play. Despite knowing how infectious their feud had been from their servant’s fight in the streets, neither of them calls the shots to end make peace. Their pride is too big that it takes many people’s lives (Rose par 4). When Capulet finds Tybalt his short-tempered nephew confronting Romeo for attending the ball, he stops the fight and commands him to leave Romeo alone (“Romeo and Juliet”1.5.13-14). His intentions to stop the feud however are questionable and can only be interpreted as a means of preventing violence before his esteemed guests. This deduction is true since it is clear that Lord Capulet did not care to find out whether his nephew’s confrontation with Romeo ended at the feast. Romeo avenges his friend’s death by killing Tybalt causing his banishment from the town.

Friar Laurence is a character in the play Romeo and Juliet whose actions contributed a lot to the death of Romeo and Juliet. He is a close friend of Romeo and Juliet who also acts as their advisor, especially in relationship matters. Friar recognizes how the parents of the two families have failed in bringing up their children (Kwonders par 4). Friar is dedicated to ensuring the best out of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. However, it is clear his actions played a huge part in how events unfolded. For example, he agreed to marry Romeo and Juliet in secret although aware of the conflict between the bride’s and the groom’s families. The gentleman advises Juliet to take a potion and feign death without ascertaining that Romeo had received the letter bearing information on the plan. Romeo ends up stabbing himself thinking he had lost the love of his life (“Romeo and Juliet”5.3.43-44).

Romeo and Juliet contributed largely to the domino effect in the play. Although falling in love with each other seems inevitable as it happened so suddenly, the two still insisted on pursuing it even after realizing there was no hope for a happy marriage. Having a secret marriage seems like the only option the couple had. However, it is clear they did not have a plan, for if they did, Romeo would have remembered that he should not jeopardize his marriage by avenging his friend’s death. If the two had eloped during the night of their marriage, maybe the misfortunes that befell them and the people around them would not have occurred. Patience is a virtue that was lacking in the couple. The two marry within twenty-four hours of knowing each other. Romeo is also not patient enough to learn what led to the “death” of his lover to know that she is not actually dead. He ends up stabbing himself causing Juliet to stab herself too (“Romeo and Juliet”5.3.43-44)

In conclusion, in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, character’s actions are the most responsible for the outcome of the play. However, some people would argue that the character’s actions were not in their power and fate was against the marriage between Romeo and Juliet. On the contrary, every deed bears a consequence and everyone is responsible for their actions.  As discussed above, the outcome of the play may have unfolded differently if the discussed characters had acted rationally.