Who Is Responsible For The Death Of Romeo And Juliet

In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, two teenagers from two great enemies of families fall in love despite their families’ negative status. The two star-crossed lovers attempt to make their romance work with the help of other characters, but in the end, end up dying for each other in one last action of love. Though there is no direct cause for Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet’s demise, one of the characters holds the most responsibility. This character is the ever-faithful priest, Friar Laurence. Romeo initially comes to the Friar asking him to marry him to Juliet. The Friar’s original reaction was that he would absolutely not marry them. Romeo was being foolish, after all, he had just claimed to be in love with a girl named
This was an issue because Juliet could not be married to both Romeo and Paris. She raced to the Friar, begging for a solution to her problem. He offers her a potion that will put her in a death-like sleep for 42 hours, just enough time for Romeo to come and retrieve her so they could safely run away together. At the time, the plan seemed perfect. However, he never fully thought it through. Juliet took the potion that night and was discovered “dead” the following morning by her nurse. Friar Laurence was called, and quickly tells the family to stop being sad and bring the body to the family tomb. When the Friar swore to Juliet that Romeo would be told of the potion and come to rescue her when she woke up, he unintentionally made a false promise. Instead of sending the letter himself, he chose to rely on a fellow priest named Father John. Unfortunately for them, this messenger was sick at the time and was unable to get the letter to Romeo in time. The all important letter never made it into Romeo’s
Distraught, he raced back to the tomb hoping to see her one last time. When he makes it back to Verona, he makes a quick stop to an apothecary, where he pays the man to give him the most deadly poison he carries. After he breaks into the tomb, he runs to Juliet’s body. He cannot see that she is indeed still alive, and still believes her to be dead. As he is mourning, Paris appears, also intending to see the girl who would have been his bride. The two exchange some words, and have a quick fight in which Romeo ends up killing Paris. Romeo then drinks all of the poison, and in a matter of seconds lies dead next to Juliet. Since Juliet only took a sleeping draught, she wakes up to find her dead lover and dead Paris by her side. She immediately breaks down just as the Friar comes charging in. He notices the bodies and the weeping Juliet. Suddenly, voices and footsteps can be heard from inside the tomb. He tries to pull Juliet out of the tomb and out of harm's way, but she refuses to leave. Friar Laurence is forced to leave without her. She notices the poison, and attempts to drink it, but it is empty. Then she found Romeo’s dagger, and to be with him forever, she stabs herself and