Friar John's Deaths In Romeo And Juliet By William Shakespeare

Teenagers usually make flaws throughout their early life, as it teaches them how to mature and grow up. So why do adults often behave in the same way as teenagers? In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, people may argue that fate is the reason for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths, though it is evident that flaw is to blame. In the Elizabethan era, most people believed in astrology. Although astrology was a widespread belief during Shakespeare's time it was mainly used as an excuse. In Shakespeare’s World and Work (SSW), “Elizabethans considered astrology* a legitimate science, believing that fate was tied to the movements of the planets and stars”(119). The Elizabethans believed a person's personality and life path might be affected

A considerable part of the isolation that Friar John encountered can be traced to fate. ”John is detained because the companion that he finds had had contact with the sick; as a precaution, both he and the other friar are quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease,” Cardullo remarks (62). Friar John's restrictions eventually lead to Friar Laurence's letter not being mailed. Friar John answers, “I could not send it—here it is again— Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection” (5.3.14-16). Friar John's inability to send the letter could be fated. Friar John could not control the disease that was coming towards him nor could he control the inability to send the letter. Fate could have prevented the letter from getting to Romeo as it may have known that Juliet and Romeo and just not meant to be together. The quarantine of Friar John is not simply an unfortunate event, but rather a fateful occurrence that seals the tragic fate of the star-crossed lovers. Although Friar John couldn't prevent the disease from coming to him, Friar Laurance could have better prepared Friar John with his letter and could have sent him with a companion. The result of Romeo not getting the letter led to him killing himself. Even though he believed Juliet was dead he could have still asked around and investigated the situation before immediately buying the poison and killing himself. ”The most obvious example of impulsive behavior on Romeo's part occurs when, upon hearing from Balthasar that Juliet is dead, he goes immediately to the Apothecary’s to buy poison with which to kill himself at her side, instead of first investigating the circumstances of her ‘death’, ” Cardullo acknowledges (61-62). When Romeo first receives the poison his initial thought is, ”Come, cordial and not poison, go with