Skip to main content

Which characters helped cause Romeo and Juliet to commit suicide?

Though Romeo bought his own poison and Juliet stabbed herself, in a sense, many are responsible for their deaths. Juliet’s cousin Tybalt and Romeo’s friend Mercutio set off a chain of events that destroys the young lovers. In spite of the prince’s ruling against fighting, Tybalt seeks to quarrel with Romeo. Mercutio immediately offers to duel with Tybalt, who quickly takes him up on it:



TYBALT: Gentlemen, good e’en: a word with one of you.


...


Though Romeo bought his own poison and Juliet stabbed herself, in a sense, many are responsible for their deaths. Juliet’s cousin Tybalt and Romeo’s friend Mercutio set off a chain of events that destroys the young lovers. In spite of the prince’s ruling against fighting, Tybalt seeks to quarrel with Romeo. Mercutio immediately offers to duel with Tybalt, who quickly takes him up on it:



TYBALT: Gentlemen, good e’en: a word with one of you.


MERCUTIO: And but one word with one of us? couple it with something; make it a word and a blow.


TYBALT: You shall find me apt enough to that, sir, an you will give me occasion.



Benvolio begs them to stop, but they brawl until Tybalt kills Mercutio when Romeo attempts to break them up. In a rage, Romeo then fights and kills Tybalt and is banished, which leads to his and Juliet’s eventual suicides.


At the play’s conclusion, the prince blames himself and the couple’s parents:



See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love.
And I for winking at your discords too
Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd.



Lord Capulet and Lord Montague have kept up the feud that kept Romeo and Juliet apart and that perpetuated violence in Verona’s streets. The prince believes that he has been negligent. His punishment is losing Paris and Mercutio, two of his relatives. Note that the prince says, “all are punish’d.” He later says, “Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished,” meaning the city’s ruler is holding many accountable for this tragedy.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more