Romeo and Juliet Group
Question:
Which character is most responsible for the untimely deaths of Romeo and Juliet?
Answers:
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linda-allen Student
High School - 10th GradePosted by linda-allen on Monday January 14, 2008 at 7:13 AMAny number of people can be held responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Their parents can be held responsible for their stupid feud, which causes the two young people to go to such extremes to prove their love. Some blame goes to Friar Laurence for suggesting that Juliet take a potion to make it appear that she is dead. Ultimately, however, I think Romeo and Juliet take most of the blame themselves. If Juliet had not taken the potion, Romeo would not have killed himself, thinking she was dead; Juliet, likewise, would not then have killled herself when she saw Romeo's dead body. They might have found a more mature way of handling the situation, such as appealing to the Prince for help or just running off together.
Sources:
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amy-lepore Teacher
High School - 12th GradePosted by amy-lepore on Monday January 14, 2008 at 8:24 AMRomeo and Juliet, while old enough to fall in love and get married secretly, are still only children. They did have the courage to defy their families secretly but not out in the open. They went to the Friar and the Nurse for help.
The Nurse is actively involved from Act 1 where the two meet at the ball and then pine for each other and for their misfortunes for having fallen in love with the enemy. She is the one who listens to Juliet's wimpering and the Nurse runs errands to Romeo and to the Friar on the children's behalf. All this running around in secret has caused a more desperate situation than necessary, when she should have spoken up. However, remembering that she is a hired helper rather than a noble woman or family member may have had something to do with her compliance. She acts for Juliet out of love for the girl.
The Friar also should have spoken up. He is responsible for marrying the two and then arranging for Juliet's supposed death so that she may escape with Romeo to parts unknown. His note goes astray so that Romeo hears only that his wife is dead. She wakes up only to learn that her husband has killed himself, and she quickly follows.
Had the Nurse and Friar confessed to the marriage, the children wouldn't both be dead. However, the feud probably wouldn't be resolved and the two would have been forced to get an anullment since their families would not have stood for secret marriages.
Sources:
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wedemfatboys Student
High School - 9th GradePosted by wedemfatboys on Thursday February 14, 2008 at 2:35 PM
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tankstar Student
High School - 9th GradePosted by tankstar on Thursday March 20, 2008 at 5:25 PM