Theme Of Responsibility In Romeo And Juliet

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Responsibility is the state of performing an action and accepting any results of that action. The characters in dramatic literature are frequently responsible for the play’s outcome. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, there are three characters who all play a major role in the story that cause the tragic deaths of the play’s main characters, Romeo and Juliet. The characters who are most at fault for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are Capulet, Friar Laurence, and the Nurse. Capulet is Juliet’s father, and he wants the best for his daughter. However, he is partially responsible for his own daughter’s death. When Capulet tells Paris, “Of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled / In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.” (III.iv.13-14), …show more content…
Despite this, Friar Laurence has played a major role in Romeo’s death. When Friar Laurence informs Romeo, “These violent delights have violent ends / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder.” (II.vi.9-10), he is expressing that Romeo and Juliet’s love is merely an intense passion that will likely end, yet he still agrees to marry the two lovers. This foreshadows the gruesome deaths of Romeo and Juliet following their rapid exchange of love. This also develops the character of Friar Laurence as a wise and caring man as he states his beliefs that Romeo and Juliet’s love is not going to end well. When Friar Laurence tells Juliet, “A greater power than we can contradict / Hath thwarted our intents. Come, come away.” (V.iii.153-154), he is realizing that his plan to get Romeo and Juliet together has gone awry. This expresses the theme of fate, as Friar Laurence states that a greater power has ruined his plan, and he is likely referring to fate. This also develops the character of Friar Laurence as a clumsy man as he has already failed to inform Romeo of his plan and may have been able to convince Juliet not to kill herself had he stayed in the tomb with her. These reasons show why Friar Laurence is liable for Romeo and Juliet’s …show more content…
However, the Nurse is somewhat accountable for Juliet’s death. At the Capulet party, when the Nurse tells Juliet, “Go, girl, seek happy nights to happy days.” (I.iii.106), she is encouraging Juliet to meet boys and have fun at the party despite her young age, which caused Juliet to meet Romeo. This develops the character of the Nurse as a comical woman who wants Juliet to fall in love. This also brings out the theme of love, as the exuberant Capulet feast is hosted for Juliet to fall in love with Paris. After Romeo’s banishment, the Nurse suggests to Juliet: “I think it best you married with the County. / O, he’s a lovely gentleman!” (III.iv.219-220). The Nurse is urging Juliet to marry Paris instead of her love interest, Romeo. This shows a development in the Nurse’s character as a fickle woman since she now wants Juliet to marry Paris despite previously respecting and encouraging Juliet’s wishes to marry Romeo. This also shows the theme of unrequited love, as the Nurse is trying to convince Juliet to return Paris’ love, but since she refuses, Paris’ love is unrequited love. This is why the Nurse is relatively accountable for Romeo and Juliet’s
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