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Who's To Blame In Romeo And Juliet

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Who is to blame?

In the play ¨Romeo and Juliet¨ by Shakespeare, there are several people who hold responsibility for the lover's suicide. Although more than a few family members oppose their marriage, the real blame only belongs to a select few. No one is 100% responsible for their deaths, and a tragedy was inevitable. But if there's one person to hold most of the blame, it's Friar Laurence, due to his impulsiveness, poor leadership, and reckless planning.

The very scene where the friars character is introduced, you can tell how unfit for leadership he is. Knowing Romeo and Juliet had just met he let them get married easily, hoping to end the family feud. Telling Romeo ¨In one respect I'll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy …show more content…
Part of this tragedy is due to his poor planning, while the other part is due to bad timing on Romeo's part. On the one hand, he was just trying to do what was right. Juliet being forced into an unwanted marriage doesn't seem very appealing, so he figured it would be better for them to run away. The only problem, was that the most crucial part of the plan wasn't achieved. ¨In this resolve. I'll send a friar with speed to mantua, with my letters to thy lord.¨ (4.1.134-135). Most people would've figured it'd be easy to get a single letter delivered. Instead, the messenger was stopped. Friar laurence should have ensured that Romeo receives the message, instead of relying on someone else..

The last piece of evidence proving Friar Laurence's guilt, relates to his impulsiveness. ¨Take thou this vial, being then in bed, and this distilled liquor drink thou off, when presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humor.¨ (4.1.103-106.) He's very easily giving Juliet the vial without a second thought. This is the one big decision that leads to their demise, due only to poor planning. While only tying to assist them, the plan only aids in killing

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