Possible People Responsible for the Death of Romeo & Juliet :: Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

Two households, both alike in dignity? From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean. From forth the fatal loins of these two foes A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life, Whole misadventured piteous overthrows Do with their death bury their parents' strife? -Chorus As these words echoed through the hall of the Globe theatre little did William Shakespeare know that this tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, would be examined and admired by playwrights for decades to come. So does fate play a major part in this tragedy? Or does their blood stain the garments of civil hands? Could it have been the loyal Mercutio, who swore on both their houses Tybalt the hated enemy? or was it Friar Lawrence who tried to end the fighting between households. Or does the blame go on the ancestors who began it. Many would agree that the death of these lovers cannot be blamed on anyone but themselves. This question cannot be answered without looking deeply into each characters involvement in the tragedy. In many ways Mercutio can be blamed for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If he had not persuaded Romeo to come to the Capulet?s Ball Romeo would most likely have never fallen in love with Juliet. If Romeo hadn?t gone to the Capulets Ball, Tybalt would not have sought his life and in time forcing Romeo to be banished and Mercutio and himself dead. Or was it those few words that left Mercutios mouth when he knew he was dying? ?A plague on both your houses! I am sped. Is he gone, and hath nothing - Act 3, Scene 1, line 90. Could he have really put a curse on the Capulet and Montague households? That both families will come together at the result of death. From the very beginning of the play, Tybalt expressed how he hated peace. He would prefer to hate than to have peace with the Montagues. ?What! Drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word, / as I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. / Have at thee, coward! ? Act 1, Scene 1, line 67 Surely if he did not have such a hate for the Montagues he would not have gone after Romeo after seeing him at the ball. If he had held back his sword instead of smiting Mercutio, Romeo would not have been angered to murder and in turn be banished. But also when Juliet?s parents heard that there daughter?