Who Can Be Blamed for the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? Essay Example

Hate and love can flourish under any circumstance which can lead to death and jealousy.  In the play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare love and death arise together. The death of both Romeo and Juliet is to be blamed upon Friar Lawrence and Romeo but not on Paris. Romeo understood he could not be with Juliet and is love blind, Friar Lawrence knowing it will not end well decided to marry Romeo and Juliet. However Paris is not to be blamed, he fell in love with Juliet who was married, and underestimated what it meant to have the Montagues as enemies. 

Romeo is to be blamed for the death of Juliet and himself because he is known to be love blind, he was in ‘love’ with Rosaline but when he instantly saw Juliet, he fell in love. When Mercutio was talking to Benvolio about Romeo, he declared, “ Romeo! Humors ! Madman ! Passion! Lover! Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh; Speak but one line and I am satisfied...” (II. i.6-21). Benvolio is joking about Romeo's lovesickness, how he has fallen in love with Juliet at first sight. This “love” he has for Juliet becomes a sort of obsession throughout the play. He takes  poison when he sees Juliet's dead body which leads to his death. Not only was he lovesick, he also knew the problems that would arise because he is in love with his enemy. While speaking to Juliet about them being enemies, Romeo says, “ With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls; For stony limits cannot hold love out, And what love can do, that dares love attempt. Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me” (II.ii. 66-69). Romeo says that not even being enemies can stop his love from flourishing. Demonstrating how his knowledge of being enemies was irrelevant to him. Therefore supporting the idea that Romeo's lovesickness with his enemy is to blame for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.

Friar Lawrence can also be held responsible for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, he married enemies and was unable to warn Romeo of Juliet's plan. While giving Romeo and Juliet a blessing, Friar Lawrence says, “ Come, come with me, and we will make; short work, For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone Till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (II.VI.35-37). Friar Lawrence is uniting both Romeo and Juliet, symbolizing their marriage, even though he understood they were enemies. Therefore demonstrating how Friar Lawrence could have stopped that tragedy from happening, instead, he decided to unite enemies in holy matrimony. Friar Lawrence is also to be blamed for the passing of Romeo and Juliet as he could have warned Romeo about Juliet's plan to fake her death. While Friar John was explaining to Friar Lawrence that he could not deliver a letter that Friar Lawrence gave to him, Friar Lawrence establishes, “Unhappy fortune! But my brotherhood, The letter was not nice, but full of charge, of dear import, and the neglecting it May do much danger” ( V.II. 18-20). The letter contained a very important message, that Juliet was alive. The Friar could have warned Romeo in person and could have stopped him from buying poison and killing himself. The quote and author also establish the tone that the Friar was panicking, therefore demonstrating that the Friar acknowledged that he was guilty of the disaster that was to come. Furthermore, the evidence establishes that Friar Lawrence is to be blamed for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. 

Although many people are to blame for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, some are not to be blamed. Paris, another love interest of Juliet, was told to marry Juliet and did not comprehend what he was getting into. He decides to fall in love with Juliet, when having a conversation with Lady Capulet, Paris states, “ These times of woe afford no time to woo. Madam, good night. Commend me to your daughter”(III.IV.8-9). This quote demonstrates how Paris put his feelings aside and wedding when Juliet was mourning, showing his love for Juliet. Which eventually led to his death, demonstrating his innocence to the tragedy. Not only did he fall in love with Juliet, but he also did not know what he was getting into. After Romeo kills Paris, he says, “To think it was so? O, give me thy hand, one writ with me in sour misfortune’s book?” ( V.II.82-87). This quote proves that even Romeo who killed Paris understood that Paris was innocent, that he joined the wrong family. It also argues that Paris would do anything for Juliet and that he was innocent and paid with his life. Therefore demonstrating that Paris is not to be blamed for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. 

In the end, it can be understood that Romeo and Friar Lawrence are to be blamed for the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, and Paris is not to be blamed. Romeo fell in love at first sight and ignored the problems that the Capulets and Montagues had, leading to the downfall of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence married enemies and did not warn Romeo of Juliet's plan. And Paris fell in love with the wrong person, and the wrong family, leading to his death.