Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare, 1596) is a classical drama about actions and their consequent effects on individuals and society. The encounters with Tybalt, Benvolio, and the angry populace in the excerpts set the mood for the key themes explored in the play. This essay examines the causality of decisions, focusing on how a character's judgments about violence, lies, and pretentiousness lead to chaos, tragedy, and the loss of innocent lives. The first major issue addressed in Romeo and Juliet is the destructive effect of violence and the characters' responses to it. Tybalt's combative demeanour is obvious in his dismissive remarks about Benvolio. He shouts, "What, drawn, and peace talk? I despise the phrase, much as I despise hell, …show more content…
The choice to deceive others often leads to chaos and tragedy. Juliet's decision to feign her death, for instance, sets in motion a chain of events that culminate in calamity. In a moment of desperation, Juliet exclaims, "O, look! Methinks I see my cousin's ghost seeking out Romeo that did spit his body upon a rapier's point. Stay, Tybalt, stay!" (Act 4, Scene 3). Here, Juliet cunningly crafts a plan to deceive her family and escape her predetermined fate. Shakespeare employs the technique of dramatic irony to heighten the tension, as the audience is privy to the knowledge that Juliet is alive while her family believes she is dead. However, this deceitful choice leads to severe misunderstandings and miscommunication, ultimately resulting in the tragic deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Furthermore, Friar Lawrence, in an attempt to prevent further violence, chooses to deceive Romeo about Juliet's death. He declares, "Thy Juliet is alive, for whose dear sake thou wast but lately dead" (Act 5, Scene 3). This revelation showcases the dire consequences of deception as it pushes Romeo toward impulsive actions, ultimately leading to his demise. Shakespeare masterfully highlights the fragility of trust and the devastating outcomes that can stem from choices based on
The tragic play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, masterfully captures the poignant tale of ill-fated love between two young individuals caught in the midst of a bitter feud between their families. Within the intricate web of love, tragedy, and societal discord, the ultimate demise of Romeo and Juliet can be traced back to the profound failure of authority figures. Through a meticulous analysis of key characters and pivotal moments in the play, it becomes strikingly clear that the detrimental consequences arise from the flawed actions and decisions of those in positions of power. The failure of these authority figures to effectively address the conflict and guide the young lovers towards a peaceful resolution serves as the primary catalyst
As Juliet is ranting to Romeo's mentor, Friar Laurence, she says, “Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble— And I will do it without fear or doubt, To live an unstained wife to my sweet love” (Shakespeare 4.1.86-88). Juliet is pronouncing that she would do anything to be with Romeo. Therefore, Friar Laurence impulsively helps her devise a plan to meet Romeo that involves Juliet faking her death. This idea was created from Juliet’s love for Romeo but, ironically, it causes both of their deaths: “Here’s to my love!” (Shakespeare 4.1.86-88) Romeo says as he drinks the poison after seeing Juliet “dead” in her casket.
Juliet will pretend to be happy about the marriage, but before she goes to bed, she will drink a potion that he gives her to make her appear dead. After these events, Juliet is placed in the Capulet tomb, believed to be dead. The Friar attempts to send a letter to Romeo to explain what happened, but it is held back due to the plague running rampant through Verona. Romeo is told by a servant that Juliet is dead and ends up killing himself next to Juliet in the tomb. Juliet wakes up finding him dead, and believing that she couldn’t live without him, kills herself.
After he saw Romeo at the party, he threatened to fight Romeo. He says “I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.” (1.5.89-90). Tybalt is swearing revenge on Romeo. He has so much hatred for Romeo's family that the next time they see each other, Tybalt challenges Romeo but Romeo ignores him.
Juliet had the plan to fake her death then maybe she could see Romeo. She sent a letter to Romeo to let him know about her plan but when the letter that Juliet sends out to Romeo does not reach him, He receives the message that Juliet is dead and he really does think that she is dead which causes him to get really upset. Romeo shows hes really upset when he expresses, “ Thou Knowest my lodging. Get me ink and paper / and hire post horses. i will hence tonight.”
Friar Laurence realizes that Romeo not being aware of Juliet faking her death can cause much danger and escalate the outcome of their ‘happy’ ending. If he had made sure Romeo read the letter and had confirmed the plan before he poisoned Juliet, Romeo would not have killed himself seeing Juliet’s body. After he finds Juliet dead in her tomb, his oblivious reaction is demonstrated after saying, “O my love, my wife, / Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath, / Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.” (5.3.91-93).
Tybalt instigates the fight by yelling, “What, art thou drawn among these heartless hinds? Turn thee Benvolio! Look upon thy death” (1.1.61-62). This decision displays Tybalt’s urge to fight and his loyalty to avenge his family. He ends up fighting the servants and getting everyone in trouble with the Prince.
Now that he has committed murder, however, Romeo feels he has been a “fool” to play into fortune’s hand, and has failed to resist harder as the pull of fate’s
As I hate hell, all Montague and thee.” Evidently Tybalt is displaying the effect that the feud has taken on him. This ancient grudge has altered his mentality. His mindless loyalty has essentially allowed him to be programmed into this violent, relentless, and outrageous monster; specifically towards the Montagues. An example where this violence is present is in the quotation, (I.V.59) “To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.”
Ignoring what might happen, Juliet secretly marries Romeo. This impulsiveness starts a domino effect that increases the fight between the Capulets and the Montagues, also pushing to the tragic end of the play. Juliet's impulsive decision to fake her own death shows her love for Romeo. In Act 4, not wanting to marry Paris, Juliet asks Friar Lawrence for help. In the plan, she drinks a potion that will make her look dead.
Romeo's rash decision of killing Tybalt initiates a rippling effect of preventative factors which will attribute to the termination of their love. The event of Tybalt's death manifests human caused events through irrational judgment. Romeo killing Tybalt further develops the theme of tragic and inevitable occurrences because Romeo’s actions incorporated yet another obstacle that increases the complications of their
In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, two teenagers make rash decisions that inevitably lead to the tragic deaths of both the main characters and others, by the end of the play. Romeo and Juliet both make impulsive choices that go against their parents' rules that end up leading to their tragic ends. Right before Juliet's potion starts to kick in she says, “o, look! Methinks I see my cousin’s ghost seeking out Romeo, that did spit his body upon a rapier’s point. Stay, Tybalt, stay!
This fooled Romeo and made him commit suicide since he believed Juliet had died. Juliet did the same after Romeo died, killing herself out of
⌜Drinking. ⌝ O true apothecary, thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die” (V.iii. 116-120). This demonstates Juliet deceiving not only her family but her lover Romeo because Juliet did not realize that her individual choice vs traditions can also hurt people since she has becomed selfish and not thinking of how other would react to her sudden death. Consequently, sinec Romeo was unawer of her plans it is why he killed himself because he believe that she had actually died she single handily not only deceive her entire family and friends but her husband and lover Romeo all because of her individual actions in not wanting to marry County Paris.