Monique Lynd

1
st
hour
The Tragedy of Two Young Lovers
In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, a series of events occur ending
in a tragedy where two star-crossed lovers take their lives. The play takes place in Verona,
Italy during the late 1500s. There are two powerful opposing families the Montagues and the
Capulets. Romeo and Juliet are from different families. Some things that led to Romeo and
Juliets deaths could be people close to them or their own problems that they struggle with
throughout the play. In William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, Friar Laurence, Romeos
flaws, and the family feud contribute to the deaths of the two young lovers.
Friar Laurence giving Juliet the sleeping potion contributes to the deaths of Romeo and
Juliet. Juliet is desperate to get out of her wedding with the county Paris so Friar Laurence gives
her a plan. It doesnt end up working the way he wants it to. He says, If rather than to marry
County Paris, thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself, then it is likely thou wilt undertake a
thing like death himself to escape from it; and if thou darest, Ill give thee remedy. (Act 4,
scene 1, page 1074) Friar Laurence gives Juliet a potion that will make her seem dead to
everyone and last enough time for Juliet to miss her wedding and wake up to run away to the
city of Mantua with Romeo. Friar John was supposed to tell Romeo the plan but didnt get to
him in time. Romeo then finds out that Juliet is dead so he purchases a poison and goes to
Juliets tomb to drink it, killing himself out of love for Juliet. Juliet later wakes up only to find
Romeo actually dead which causes her to stab herself with Romeos dagger. This plan made by
Friar Laurence kills both Romeo and Juliet.
Another contribution to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is Romeos own personal flaws.
At the beginning of the play, Romeo is lovesick and wants to find true love. He follows what his
heart tells him to do. At the Capulet dance, Romeo exclaims, Did my heart love till now?
Forswear it, sight! For I neer saw true beauty till this night. ( Act 1, scene 4, page 1014) Romeo
is on the dance floor when he sees Juliet for the first time. He practically falls in love right away.
Later, they talk and kiss. Soon, both of them are eager to get married. Romeos belief in fate
and destiny causes him to fall so quickly for Juliet and love her so much. In the end, this is what
causes him and Juliet to kill themselves.
A big issue in the play that also contributes to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is the
family feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. During most of the play, the Montagues
and Capulets were in an ongoing fight. Finding out that their children are together would
probably make their problems worse. After the Capulet dance, Romeo asks, Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! My life is my foes debt.(Act 1, scene 5, page 1016) When Romeo finds out
that Juliet is a Capulet, he gets worried because Montagues and Capulets are not supposed to
get married. Their parents would most likely not accept them together. Because Romeo and
Juliets families are enemies, they could not be open and seen together. They had to sneak
around when they wanted to see each other. Furthermore, there is also the fact that Romeo
and Juliet got married an event they hadnt told anyone about. If people or their parents find
out about this, more arguments could erupt between the families, making life harder for
Romeo and Juliet.
In this tragic love story, a young couple faces struggles while trying to be together and
eventually kill themselves out of love for one another. Romeos friend and a monk, Friar
Laurence gave Juliet a sleeping potion that made everyone think she died, including Romeo.
This made Romeo and Juliet suicidal in the end. Also, Romeos choices and thoughts throughout
the play cause him to make rash decisions. The long quarrels between the Montagues and the
Capulets keep Romeo and Juliet apart, not allowing them to be together in public.
Contributions to the deaths of the lovers in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare are
Friar Laurence, Romeos flaws, and the family feud.