Romeo and Juliet
What is the true meaning of love? After reading the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, I have gotten a closer look into what true love actually is and how powerful it can be. Romeo and Juliet is one of the most inspiring and touching stories in the English literature. Although it is portrayed as a romantic play, it contains many tragic events such as the death of both Romeo and Juliet. The real question is; who is to blame for this tragedy? The sole character that was responsible for their deaths was Tybalt Capulet, who is portrayed as hot-tempered and having an aggressive personality. Tybalt is to blame for this tragedy because his plan of getting revenge on Romeo for entering the Capulet party, leads to a series of events, which eventually causes the death of both Romeo and Juliet. Unlike the other characters Tybalt had the intention of hurting other characters in the play. Tybalt’s hatred and anger for Romeo, along with his vengeful attitude had a disastrous effect on the rest of the characters.
Since Tybalt was so proud of his family status and had such hatred for the Montagues, he disliked seeing Romeo at the Capulet party. When Tybalt saw Romeo he immediately recognized him by his voice and wanted to start a fight. In act 1, scene 5, lines 54-59 Tybalt says, “ This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave come hither, cover'd with an antic face, To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and honor of my kin, To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.” After Tybalt said this Lord Capulet told him that Romeo was well mannered and wasn’t causing any harm, and then Tybalt decided to deal with Romeo later. Tybalt says in Act 1, scene 5, lines 88-91 “Patience perforce with willful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.” This means that he will leave now, but Romeo’s act which seems sweet to him now, will turn bitter for him. This foreshadows that Tybalt will create problems in the future for Romeo. Later in the story after Romeo and Juliet were married, Romeo and his friends Mercutio and Benvolio came across Tybalt in the streets of Verona. This is where Tybalt starts an argument with Romeo and causes problems for both the Capulets and the Montagues. Tybalt than insults Romeo in Act 3,scene 1,lines 31-32 by saying “Romeo, the love I bear thee can afford, no better term than this: thou art a villain.” Romeo did not want to start an argument and in return was kind to Tybalt because he was now related to him after his marriage with Juliet. In act3, scene 1, lines 39-42 Romeo says “I do protest I never injured thee, But love thee better than thou canst devise, Till thou shalt know the reason of my love. And so, good Capulet—which name I tender As dearly as my own—be satisfied.” This shows that Romeo didn’t want to start trouble with Tybalt, but Tybalt still wanted to fight him. Tybalt then starts to fight with Mercutio, and soon kills him while Romeo tried to separate them. This leads Romeo to then kill Tybalt for killing his friend Mercutio. Since Romeo killed Tybalt, he was exiled from Verona, which lead Juliet to take drastic measures because she did not want to marry Paris. To avoid
