Analysis of Romeo's Death Essay Sample

📌Category: Plays, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, Writers
📌Words: 995
📌Pages: 4
📌Published: 19 June 2022

“Eyes, look at your last! Arms, take your last embrace! And lips, O you The doors of breath…Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss, I die.” In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the lack of self-control shown when Tybalt causes Romeo’s banishment, when Friar Lawrence is very unorganized and when Romeo does not listen to himself all contribute to his demise.  

Firstly, Tybalt was responsible for the demise of Romeo as he does not have control over his emotions. He does not listen to the people who encourage peace, but instead, he lets anger guide him. His actions started during the Capulet party. When Tybalt sees Romeo, he immediately goes to his uncle (Lord Capulet) and complains. Lord Capulet responds by saying, "Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone, A bears him like a portly gentleman. And to say truth, Verona brags of him" (1.5. 64-66 Capulet). Lord Capulet tells Tybalt to ignore Romeo, leave him alone, and give him peace but instead, while he is still alive, he does the complete opposite. During one of their encounters, He provokes Romeo to fight to prove that he is not a coward, creating even more conflict between the Montagues and Capulets. Tybalt says, "Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford. No better term than this: thou art a villain." (3.1. 57-58 Tybalt). This action is what starts the tragedy. After Tybalt tries to start a fight, he ends up killing Mercutio. Before Mercutio dies he says "A plague a'both houses! I am sped."(3.1. 87 Mercutio) Because Romeo's best friend dies, he seeks revenge and kills Tybalt, causing a grave consequence. After Tybalt is slain, Benvolio tells Romeo to leave. “Romeo, away be gone, the citizens are up and Tybalt slain.” (3.1. 128-129 Benvolio). After Tybalt is killed, Romeo is banished from Verona, therefore Friar Lawrence tries to help Romeo overcome the dilemmas and tragedies in his life. Tybalt is being controlled by anger. We can see that when he does not listen to his uncle, and when he forces Romeo to fight. Because of his actions, he is banished and lost. Romeo tries everything to be with Juliet and unfortunately he therefore he dies.

Secondly, Friar Lawrence contributes greatly to the demise of Romeo with his “so-called” quick solutions to Romeo and Juliet's problems. Alas, he has no real plan for their entire situation. His character is very secretive but he also has a helpful attitude. He supports the marriage of Romeo and Juliet. We see this when Friar Lawrence says, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be: For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your household's rancour to pure love” (2.3. 90-92 Friar Lawrence). With his support, Friar Lawrence gives them hope and implies that they can still be together without causing more conflict. He thinks that by helping them get married, the Montagues and Capulets can improve their relationship and end the family feud. Friar Lawrence does not have a full plan. Romeo and Juliet only listen to him because he is one of the only people who support their love. After the death of Tybalt, Friar Lawrence helps Juliet avoid her marriage with Paris, by giving her a potion. “Take thou this vial being then in bed, and this distilling liquor drink thou off… Shall stiff and stark and cold appear like death” (4.1. 93,94,103 Friar Lawrence”). With the potion, Juliet follows his instructions and falls unconscious. Romeo on the other hand does not know that she is still alive, as Friar Lawrence writes a letter to Romeo but it is not delivered. “Who bare my letter then to Romeo (5.1. 13 Friar Lawrence) I could not send it-here it is again (5.1. 14-15 Friar John) Unhappy fortune (5.1. 17 Friar Lawrence).” Friar Lawrence then gives the letter explaining Juliet’s situation to Friar John, who fails to deliver the letter. If the letter was delivered, Romeo would not have drunk the potion that killed him. Even though Friar Lawrence was the leading factor in Romeo’s death, there is still another character who contributed to his demise. 

Thirdly, Romeo also caused his own death because he let others control him and also let fate guide him. The story of Romeo and Juliet starts at the Capulet party. “Supper is done, and we shall come too late” (1.4. 105 Benvolio). Romeo and his friends go to the Capulet party uninvited and disguised. Going to this party causes Romeo to meet Juliet, but he also encounters Tybalt who is against Romeo. This leads to their conflict because Romeo was somewhere he was not meant to be. This leads to Tybalt becoming angry. Romeo knows that going to the party is a wrong decision but instead of saying no, he lets others influence his decisions. When Tybalt sees Romeo at the party, he threatens him. “This, by his voice, should be a Montague...To strike him dead I hold it not a sin!” (1.5. 53,58 Tybalt). This is a symbol of foreshadowing throughout the play. At a public place in Verona, Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel. “I do protest I never injured thee. But love thee better than thou canst devise… And so good Capulet which name I tender As dearly as my own” (3.1 65 Romeo). Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel to prove that he is not a coward but Romeo refuses. This results in Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend taking his place and being killed by Tybalt. Through revenge, Romeo kills Tybalt causing him to be banished from Verona. It creates hardship for Romeo. This leads to Friar Lawrence trying to help but instead fails and makes matters worse. 

Finally, Romeo’s death was caused when Tybalt ignored his uncle, provoked Romeo and killed Mercutio. This leads to Romeo killing Tybalt. Because of this, Romeo gets banished. Friar Lawrence supports the love of Romeo and Juliet and therefore tries to help them by giving Juliet the potion. He tries to send a letter to Romeo but fails to cause Romeo to think Juliet is dead. On the other hand, Romeo went to the party uninvited and met Juliet. This also caused Tybalt to be overtaken by anger. He kills Tybalt leading to banishment. We can see that in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Romeo’s death has nothing to do with luck but instead the culpability of these characters. All three characters had no control over themselves. This causes the choices made leading to Romeo’s demise. 

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