Skip to main content

How are the deaths of Romeo and Juliet a series of "missed opportunities"? Explain. Be specific.

The deaths--and even, ultimately, the love--of Romeo and Juliet can be chalked up to missed opportunities. If we first look at the meeting of Romeo and Juliet, this, too, was a matter of missed opportunity! At the beginning of Act One, Romeo is madly, foolishly in love with Rosaline, a niece of Lord Capulet. Romeo, however, has also missed his "opportunity" to engage in an actual relationship with Rosaline; she has "forsworn to love," or...

The deaths--and even, ultimately, the love--of Romeo and Juliet can be chalked up to missed opportunities. If we first look at the meeting of Romeo and Juliet, this, too, was a matter of missed opportunity! At the beginning of Act One, Romeo is madly, foolishly in love with Rosaline, a niece of Lord Capulet. Romeo, however, has also missed his "opportunity" to engage in an actual relationship with Rosaline; she has "forsworn to love," or taken a vow of chastity. Romeo's over-emotional reaction to this rejection and the urging of his friends is what ultimately leads him to the Capulet's ball, where he spots Juliet and promptly abandons his feelings for Rosaline.


You could argue that the next "missed opportunity" occurs when Tybalt (a cousin of Juliet) challenges Romeo to a duel. Romeo's refusal, which is perceived by his friend Mercutio as "vile submission," ultimately leads to two duels (Mercutio versus Tybalt, Tybalt versus Romeo) and two deaths (Mercution and Tybalt). Had Romeo and and Mercurio handled this situation in a non-confrontational manner, no conflict would have ensued. Instead, this missed opportunity for peace results in the Prince exiling Romeo from Verona on threat of death. 


Of course, here's where it gets juicy: had Romeo never been banished from Verona, he and Juliet would never had to have dreamt up their bait-and-switch plan for reunion. Juliet visits Friar Laurence, who agrees to help the frantic couple by providing Juliet with a potion that would give her the appearance of death without actually dying--an act that would effectively allow her to stave off her impending nuptials to Paris. Laurence and Juliet agree that Juliet will take the potion, fake her own death, and be played to rest in the family crypt... where she will then meet up with Romeo so that they may run off together. Friar Laurence sends a messenger to Romeo to tell him the plan, but the messenger fails to reach him in time. Instead, Romeo learns incorrectly that Juliet is dead from his servant. Romeo rushes to the crypt of Juliet, drinks a poison he has bought from an apothecary, and dies next to her body... which leads us to the greatest missed opportunity of the entire play: Juliet's awakening. Just moment's after Romeo's suicide, Juliet awakens from her slumber to discover her dead beloved. Talk about bad timing! Devastated at the sight, Juliet throws herself upon Romeo's dagger, resulting in her own death.


Although heralded as a story of classic love, Romeo and Juliet is ultimately a tale of rash behavior, ill-timing, and miscommunication. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

 Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, faces both external and internal conflicts throughout the novel. Some examples of these conflicts are: External Conflicts: Conflict with the society: Montag lives in a society that prohibits books and critical thinking. He faces opposition from the government and the people who enforce this law. Montag struggles to come to terms with the fact that his society is based on censorship and control. Conflict with his wife: Montag's wife, Mildred, is completely absorbed in the shallow and meaningless entertainment provided by the government. Montag's growing dissatisfaction with his marriage adds to his external conflict. Conflict with the fire captain: Montag's superior, Captain Beatty, is the personification of the oppressive regime that Montag is fighting against. Montag's struggle against Beatty represents his external conflict with the government. Internal Conflicts: Conflict with his own beliefs: Montag, at the beginning of th...

In A People's History of the United States, why does Howard Zinn feel that Wilson made a flimsy argument for entering World War I?

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said, in the midst of the First World War. Indeed, as the nations of Europe went to war in 1914, the governments flourished, patriotism bloomed, class struggle was stilled, and young men died in frightful numbers on the battlefields-often for a hundred yards of land, a line of trenches. -- Chapter 14, Page 350, A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines his arguments for why World War I was fought in the opening paragraph of Chapter 14 (referenced above). The nationalism that was created by the Great War benefited the elite political and financial leadership of the various countries involved. Socialism, which was gaining momentum in Europe, as was class struggle, took a backseat to mobilizing for war. Zinn believes that World War I was fought for the gain of the industrial capitalists of Europe in a competition for capital and resources. He states that humanity itself was punished by t...

Where did Atticus take the light and extension cord in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with... Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with Jim if that’s what it takes to protect him.  Atticus tells the men that he will make sure his client gets his fair shake at the law.  “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till ...