Romeo and Juliet Essay

Tragedy of a City Poet and critic W.H. Auden once said, “Romeo and Juliet is not simply a tragedy of two individuals, but the tragedy of a city. Everybody in the city is in one way or another involved in and responsible for what happens.” Auden’s quote is implying that many people, even with the smallest roles, are responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s tragic death. Although Romeo and Juliet both played major roles in their deaths, they were not the only characters held responsible. This is often known as “the snowball effect,” in which events build upon each other to produce a greater, and in this case, fatal, outcome. Many other characters’ harmful actions built on top of one another, which led to the tragic deaths of these “star-crossed lovers.” Tybalt, Juliet’s short-tempered cousin, contributed several negative actions to the “snowball” of Romeo and Juliet’s tragic death. He constantly provoked Romeo and Mercutio. Romeo tried to talk to him calmly to compromise, but Tybalt was short-tempered and killed Mercutio. He said to Romeo, “Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, / Shalt with him hence.” (III.i.123-124) This angered Romeo which caused him to kill Tybalt. This then led to Romeo being banished from Verona. If Tybalt just accepted Juliet’s decisions and let the happy couple be, they both would not have suffered from such a tragic death. Furthermore, Friar Laurence, adviser to Romeo and Juliet, was also a main attribute to their “snowball” of death. Although most of his actions had good intentions, in the end, his stealthy work resulted in both deaths. He constantly encourages this forbidden marriage, which he knows could lead to harsh consequences. Also, he gives the poison to Juliet, which leads to the mistake in both Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. He tells her, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed, / And this distillèd liquor drink thou off,” (IV.i.93-94) If he did not present this plan, there would not have been the confusion in Juliet’s death. Therefore, Friar Laurence is greatly responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. Finally, Friar John had one of the biggest roles in this tragic love story. He was responsible for getting the letter to Romeo explaining Juliet’s death. However, he got held up at the city gates and could not get the letter to Romeo. This acted as the final “roll” of this plays “snowball” of tragic death. He told Friar Laurence, “I could not send it,--here it is again,-- / Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, / So fearful were they of infection.” (V.ii.14-16) If he could have delivered the letter, Romeo would have not acted so rashly. As a result of this, both of their lives may have been saved. In conclusion, there were many contributions to this play’s “snowball effect.” Tybalt started this effect with killing Mercutio and provoking Romeo. Friar Laurence then built on it with giving Juliet a tragically, flawed plan of faking suicide. Finally, Friar John ended the “snowball” by failing to give Romeo the fatally, important letter of explanation. Auden’s quote has proven to be true, in that many characters were responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s tragic death.