Romeo And Juliet Research Paper

Lam, Page 1
Shirley Lam
Mr. De Caria
ENG1D1F
April 2, 2013

Literary Essay Assignment Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare is one of the most famous plays of all time. The story of the two star-crossed lovers from opposing families who end their lives in their attempt to be together is legendary. Although Romeo and Juliet did end their lives, 3 characters are responsible for their tragic death. Romeo and Juliet’s deaths are a direct result of the actions of Friar Laurence, Tybalt, and Lord Capulet. As a man who strives to help others, Friar Laurence’s attempt to create peace “in fair Verona” (Prologue) has resulted in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. After falling in love with Juliet, Romeo begs Friar Laurence to marry the two, which he agreed to only because he believes that the marriage would turn Romeo and Juliet’s “households’ rancor to pure love” (2:3,92). This mistake was only the first of many because soon he formulated a plan with Juliet to prevent her from marrying the County Paris after Romeo was banished. The plan to fake Juliet’s death with a poison and have Romeo rescue her was both brilliant and absurd. Ultimately the plan failed when the Friar instructed Juliet to tell her father that she was willing to marry. This resulted in the wedding being moved up and Juliet being forced to take the potion a day early. If it were not for the Friar’s instructions to tell Juliet to talk to her father, the wedding date would not have been changed. However, this was not the end of the Friar Laurence’s mistakes. Friar Laurence’s letter was not delivered on time because he was foolish enough to send another person to complete such an important task, so Romeo did not know the plan when Balthasar told him Juliet had died. When he went to the Capulet’s tomb to rescue Juliet he ran away because he was frightened by a noise, leaving Juliet all alone with her departed husband, Romeo, where she killed herself. Had it not been for his cowardice, Juliet may have still been alive at the end of the play. The fact of the matter is that Friar Laurence’s goodwill and foolishness killed Romeo and Juliet. Cousin of Juliet, Tybalt, was killed, but even after his life was over, he still managed to bring Romeo and Juliet’s lives to an end. Our ill-fated lovers have their happiness only for a short period of time before Tybalt decided to provoke and start a fight with Mercutio. Despite Romeo’s pleading and efforts to reason with Tybalt, he is relentless. A fight breaks out and Tybalt kills Mercutio, and the enraged Romeo kills Tybalt. Romeo is banished, Juliet drinks the potion, and the rest is history. The anger-filled, sword-fighting cousin did not have to go and start a fight, but he did it anyways, which resulted in disastrous outcomes. A chain reaction of misfortunes plagued Romeo and Juliet because of Tybalt’s actions. Tybalt was fully capable of leaving the scene before he stabbed Mercutio, but he did not. “Boy, this shall not excuse the injuries that thou hast done me; therefore turn and draw” (3:1,65-66). Although these so-called injuries that Tybalt speaks of cannot be proven, it is safe to say that he is clearly looking for a fight and

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