One couple in love leads to catastrophic deaths. “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet,” written by William Shakespeare is the tragic play about the “star-crossed lovers” whose lives have been changed after one night. The two families hate each other; the feud continues due to the fact that neither family is ready to forgive and forget the past. Even though their children, Romeo and Juliet, fall in love and get married, but they can’t be together. At the end, they commit suicide. The character that holds the most responsible for Romeo’s and Juliet’s deaths is Friar Lawrence. Friar Lawrence makes major mistakes that he could avoids them himself. First, he trusts Juliet, an immature teenage girl, with a fake-death potion. Then shortly, he irresponsibly says, “If, thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself…
Take thou this vial… A cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse, no warmth, no breath, shall testify thou livest.” This passage shows that Friar Lawrence knows clearly the risks of drinking the potion but he still gives it to Juliet. When he sends the letter to Romeo, he’s being unreliable. He is the one that gives Juliet the potion, but he doesn’t go to tell Romeo about that important news in person. He sends someone untrustworthy like Friar John, without telling him the letter is urgent. In act 5, Friar John indicates his incompetence when he says “I could not send it,–here it is again.” This shows how Lawrence is responsible by making poor decisions of sending letter instead of delivering it. Coward is another reason why Friar Lawrence is being blamed for Juliet’s death. He runs away when Juliet needs him the most, and due to depression, Juliet stabs herself with Romeo’s dagger. Though Friar tries to take Juliet with him as he hurries, “Come, come away…Come, I’ll dispose of thee…Among a sisterhood of holy nuns…
Stay not to question, for the watch is coming; Come, go, good Juliet,” Juliet refuses, “Go, get thee hence, for I will not away.” Then Friar runs away and leaves Juliet alone. This shows that he doesn’t care much about Juliet and puts himself on top. As Juliet remains next to dead Romeo, she said the following quotes, “Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; There rust, and let me die,” and kills herself. If Friar stays with Juliet, he could has comforts her and stops one of the terrible death causes by his careless choices. Other people have different point of views. They think that Lord Capulet is the person that leads to Romeo’s and Juliet’s deaths. They think that because Lord Capulet tries to make Juliet marries with Paris or he would disowns Juliet that drives her to the dead end and kills herself. However, at the beginning of the balcony scene, Juliet is ready to get rid of her own name just to be with Romeo; Also, Lord Capulet just wants Juliet to stop crying over Tybalt’s death.
Another one that is being accused for Juliet’s death is the Nurse. She is the person who takes care of Juliet from long time ago. Some state that the Nurse betrays Juliet by telling her to marry Paris. On the other hand, lots of people don’t think that way. Since from the start, Juliet knows that the Nurse doesn’t approve Romeo hundred percent. She wants Juliet to be together with a better noble man which is Paris; she as well doesn’t want Juliet to go through harsh obstacles and lives happily. In conclusion, Friar is the only one that makes many inexcusable bad choices throughout the play. At first, he irresponsibly gives Juliet the death position to drink knowing that is risky.
Then, he sends letters to Romeo instead of directly goes to him. Even at the last moment, he only cares for himself and leaves Juliet alone in despair. He consistently shows that he is an awful decision maker, and he is entirely responsible for Romeo’s and Juliet’s death. Love connects to honor, pride, compassion, and sacrifice is the universal truth or the general application of the “Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.”
