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Ms. Roberts

English 9H2

25 April 2017

Who's to blame?

Ever since the heartbreaking story of Romeo and Juliet was viewed by the public

there have been many debates on who could be blamed for the couples deaths. Some

people blame fate for bringing the lovers together, while others blame Friar Lawrence

for marrying underage. The debates could go on, getting down to the most minor

characters like Balthazar and Friar John. Even the servant who asked Romeo to read a

letter at the beginning of the story has been blamed in some circumstances. Countless

characters get the blame put on their shoulders, but who is really to blame? Both Friar

Lawrence and the feud are partially to blame, while the Capulets are mostly at fault for

the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.

Firstly, the feud between the two families is partially to blame because the

families fight made their love unattainable, so as they couldnt be together, they killed

themselves. The start of the prologue states that with their death bury their parents

strife (Doc A). The feud is so severe that Romeo and Juliet die since they cant be

together because their parents wont allow it. Their death was a giant blow to both
Capulet and Montague, and this tragic event was the only thing large enough to end the

feud. Another reason the feud could be blamed for Romeo and Juliets death is that

even though they were so in love, even married, they were still not allowed to love each

other because of their parents. Friar Lawrence tries to help by marrying the young

couple, saying it will turn your households rancor to pure love (Doc C). But, the

marriage of Romeo and Juliet does not end the feud, but rather stirs it as Romeo gets

banished for killing Tybalt, going against his newlywed bride. Since the feud is stronger

than ever between the Montagues and Capulets, Romeo and Juliet must find a different

way to be together that ends up getting them killed.

The second reason that Romeo and Juliet died was because Friar Lawrence. The

Friar is to blame for their death because he married two underage children who just met

a few hours ago. This irrational act had many consequences like the couples deaths.

The friar married the kids because he thought it would end the feud between the

families and turn it into friendship (Doc C). But the Friar was wrong, as the marriage

didn't solve the feud until after their deaths. In fact, the marriage compromised Juliets

ability to marry, making her do stupid things to get away from a marriage her parents

want. That leads to the other reason Friar is to blame. He is to blame for the poorly

executed plan that lead to misunderstandings and ultimately the deaths of Romeo and

Juliet. When Lady Capulet brings news that Juliet will marry, my child, early next

Thursday mornThe County Paris (Doc D), she knows she cannot marry Paris

because she is already married to Romeo. So she goes to Friar for help, and he agrees.

But, Friar Lawrences plan is unthought out and Romeo and Juliet get the wrong
message. Because of the Friar's poorly executed plan, Romeo and Juliet die.

It would be easy to think that fate is what caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, but it

is actually the individual actions of many people, most importantly, the Capulets. When

Juliet awakes in the tomb asking for Romeo, Friar Lawrence tells her a greater power

than we can contradict hath thwarted our intents (Doc E). What Friar Lawrence

means by this is that according to him, fate has caused their love to fail. The friar

believes that it was meant for Romeo to die. But it is not the fault of Fate, rather the fault

of the people in the story, particularly the Capulets. In Romeo and Juliet, the lady of the

couples parents are very intruding in her life. They are forcing her to marry Paris,

calling her a disobedient wretch for not wishing to marry a man almost 7 years older

than her (Doc D). Juliet is young and irrational, and the Capulets mistreatment of her

makes her do stupid things for love. Overall, it simply can't be Fates fault when it is

the actions of the Capulets that cause Juliet and Romeo to kill themselves for love.

In conclusion, the Capulets are mostly to blame for Romeo and Juliets death, while Friar

Lawrence and the feud are both partially at fault. Friar Lawrence is to blame for marrying the

couple and enabling their love to go on when it wasnt allowed by their parents. On the other

hand, the feud is also to blame for not letting the lovers be together, making them do irrational

things to try to live happily ever after. Though some blame fate for most of the reason Romeo

and Juliet died, it is actually the fault of the Capulets. It is their fault for trying to force Juliet

into a marriage she doesnt want and making her do irregular things, resulting in her and

Romeo killing themselves. So, it seems as though the debate of who killed Romeo and Juliet is

solved: it is the combined faults of Friar Lawrence, the feud, and The Capulets.