When people choose to take their life, it is difficult to pinpoint an exact incident that is to blame. Most often, it is a series of events that lead up to one’s breaking point. This is the case in William Shakespeare’s drama The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Throughout the play, Romeo and Juliet are met with countless opposition, from feuding families to failed plans, and it seems they are doomed by fate. What began as an innocent romance between two young lovers slowly turns towards a bitter ending and both of their deaths’. Although Fate and Friar Lawrence are partially to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, because the families cause the initial conflict, they deserve the most blame for the deaths of the star crossed lovers, Romeo …show more content…
Throughout the play, the Friar continues to help Romeo and Juliet; He marries them secretly and he plans their last night together when Romeo is banished. Therefore, when Juliet is told of her arranged marriage to the county Paris, she runs to Friar Lawrence for help. The Friar is willing to help and tells Juliet "if thou darest, I'll give thee remedy" (Doc C). He proposes a plan in which Juliet fakes her own death. However, due to miscommunication, Romeo believes Juliet is truly dead and drinks a deadly poison, not wanting to live without his wife. When Juliet awakes, she finds Romeo's lifeless body and stabs herself in grief. The conditions that lead to Romeo and Juliet are a result of the Friar's plan. Had the Friar not presented the plan to Juliet, they would still be alive. Although Friar Lawrence devised the plan which caused the two lovers' death, he is only partially to …show more content…
When Romeo and Juliet first meet, they are unaware that they belong to the two feuding families (the Capulets and the Montagues) of Verona. However, once they learn of each other’s backgrounds, they know their love will not be accepted due to “their parents’ strife” (Doc A). The families are blinded by their hatred and would never embrace the young love between Romeo and Juliet. Had the families been able to overlook their dispute, the young couple possibly would’ve had a long and happy relationship. Regardless of the feud, Romeo and Juliet decide to get married secretly. When Romeo is banished, Juliet discovers her father’s plans for her to marry the county Paris. Despite his previous claims that Juliet must give consent to the marriage, Capulet explodes into rage when she refuses to marry Paris. Capulet threatens her by saying, “go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church… or never after look me in the face” (Doc D). With the fear of disownment, Juliet runs to the Friar for help. Desperate and feeling as if she has no alternative, Juliet agrees to the Friar’s risky plan, which ultimately leads to Romeo and her deaths. Her father’s unwavering fury left Juliet with no choice but to follow through with the plan. If Capulet had accepted his daughter’s refusal to marry Paris, there would be no need for Juliet to fake her own death and she would still be alive