Romeo and Juliet: Is Love Pleasing or Poisonous?

“Love is the root of death.” This saying, once preached by the famous singer Oscar Wilde, is seen constantly throughout Romeo and Juliet. Love is a powerful emotion in the real world, changing lives for the good when practiced properly. However, when used poorly, it is a poison, resulting in disaster for the user, and others involved. Love was used very poorly in Romeo and Juliet, and the intense emotion ironically lead to the path of death for Capulets, Montagues, and noblemen, by misleading, and conquering lovers. Whether it be intentional or not, love inevitably causes pain not only in our world, but in the world of Romeo and Juliet.
One might think the death of Tybalt and Mercutio was solely due to the rivalry between the Capulet and Montague families. However, when looking closer at the text, Mercutio’s death was in big part, a result of Romeo’s love for Juliet, and Tybalt died because of Romeo’s compassion for his friend Mercutio. When Romeo refused to fight Tybalt, “The reason that I love thee doth much excuse the appertaining rage...therefore farewell,” his love for Juliet released him from the fight, opening the door for Mercutio to draw as he needed to protect Romeo’s honor who turned down a dual (3.1.64). Later, Romeo intervened in the fight because as he didn’t want his friend fighting with his wife’s cousin. This proves that his love for Juliet misled him by getting him involved in the sword fight - a recipe for disaster. Romeo’s intervention allowed for Mercutio to be stabbed, “Why the devil you came between us? I was hurt under your arm,” showing how Romeo’s affection for Juliet made him think it was okay to step into a sword fight, causing the death of his good friend Mercutio (3.1.102). Furthermore, when Tybalt returned after killing Mercutio, Romeo’s love for his best friend caused him to foolishly murder Tybalt, “Mercutio slain!...And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now,” showing that he was mislead by brotherly love for Mercutio, allowing him to think it would be all right to kill Tybalt (3.1.123). If Romeo had decided to dual Tybalt, or decided not to step into an ongoing fight, the death of one, or even both Tybalt and Mercutio would’ve been avoided. His love for Juliet clearly relates to the death of Mercutio, and his best-friend-love for Mercutio is undeniably related to the death of Tybalt.
Paris perishing is yet another huge example love misleading, and killing citizens of Verona. Though Romeo and Paris show completely different types of love for Juliet - Romeo’s being fuller, and Paris’ being ornamental, both teenagers arrived at the Capulets tomb through love, as a result of Juliets fake death. When Romeo showed up armed to break into the tomb, Paris felt obliged to stop him from entering in order to protect Juliets peace over himself - his love for Juliet misleading him. “Stop thy unhallowed toil, vile Montague!...Condemnèd villain, I do apprehend thee. Obey and go with me, for thou must die,” shows Paris going out of his way to catch Romeo in order to avenge Juliet because he loves her, and believes that Romeo caused the “death” of her(5.3.53). It also shows love misleading Paris, as most people wouldn’t go after a man with a mattock, crowbar, and sword unless they had something driving them to, in this case, love. Paris continuing to stay after several warning from Romeo exemplifies his love for Juliet, because it allowed to Romeo to start a deathmatch, “Wilt thou provoke me? Then have at thee, boy” (5.3.70)! In this situation, if both characters had acted through their head, and not hearts, Paris would’ve slipped out of deaths noose, and love would not have driven Paris to his death. Both Romeo and Paris’ love for Juliet is unquestionably a huge role in the death of Paris.
Love similarly mislead Romeo and Juliet to their deaths. Just before Romeo drinks poison, he says, “Heres to my love,” showing that his love for Juliet is his sole reason behind drinking death(5.3.119). If Romeo didn’t love Juliet, he never would have killed himself, and his death would have clearly been avoided. Love mislead Romeo by making him think killing himself was a logical solution, however if he hadn’t killed himself, both deaths would’ve been avoided. Juliet’s death worked in a very similar, and almost parallel way to Romeo’s. After seeing him dead, Juliet says, “This is thy sheath, there rust and let me die,” showing that she would rather die than live without Romeo, proving that her strong love for Romeo is the cause of her death (5.3.171). If she hadn’t loved and married Romeo, seeing him dead would not have mislead her to kill herself. Romeo and Juliet’s love for eachother was clearly, and sadly, ironically a main reason behind their deaths.
Shakespeare clearly displays love misleading characters throughout the play, resulting in death. What would a tragic love story be without love and death? The dangers of love are clearly portrayed through the deaths of every character in the play, leaving one questioning the values and perils of love - is it really worth it? Although love can be great, it is sharp like a knife, and when used improperly is very dangerous. So watch out, according to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, your next love could be your last!