Student Question
Who kills Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet and why?
Quick answer:
Romeo kills Tybalt after Tybalt kills Romeo's friend, Mercutio. This act of vengeance highlights the destructive cycle of violence between the Capulet and Montague families. Romeo's banishment from Verona as a result of Tybalt's death complicates his secret marriage to Juliet, further straining their relationship and contributing to the tragic outcome. Juliet, although initially upset, sides with Romeo, showcasing the complex loyalties within their love amidst the familial feud.
Who killed Tybalt in Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo kills the hot-tempered Tybalt after Tybalt kills Romeo's friend Mercutio. These deaths illustrate the way the feud between the Capulet and Montague families causes constant, pointless bloodshed as revenge leads from one death to another to another. It is because of killing Tybalt that Romeo is banished from Verona, which, beyond the issues of being cut off from family and friends, creates a problem for Romeo since by this point he is secretly married to Juliet. Juliet is at first upset with Romeo for killing Tybalt, but quickly moves over to take his side, revealing some of the complexity and torn loyalties inherent in a love relationship between people caught in feuding families. The feud affects Romeo and Juliet's love by causing them to be separated, a separation that through miscommunication leads to the final tragedy.
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