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Sammy Quiroz

Mrs. Reid

English I Honors

5 May 2015

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet​ Essay

Love has existed since the beginning of mankind and can often be a driving force behind

many people’s actions or decisions. There are hundreds of accounts of people performing parlous

tasks for love. The power of love is undeniable and can drive us to do irrational and ridiculous

things; some of these ridiculous actions can turn into fatal mistakes. A monumental tale of tragic

love is presented in Shakespeare’s ​The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.​ The story is set in Verona

during the Elizabethan era; it is a tale of two children of rival families, Romeo and Juliet, that fall

in love. The lovers work hard to secrete their relationship from their families. After the death of

Tybalt, a Capulet, Romeo is banished. Juliet and Friar Laurence then come up with a plan to

reunite the lovers. There are communication errors regarding a message that should have been

delivered to Romeo, and both the lovers end their own lives. Many factors contributed to the

unnecessary deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Almost all of the characters make decisions in the final

three acts that can be linked to the deaths of the lovers. Because of this, it is often difficult to

agree on who was in fact at fault. Out of all these accused, one is clearly more responsible than

the rest. While Romeo and Juliet could be held responsible for their own deaths, the hatred

between the Montague and Capulet houses is ultimately at fault because it drove the lovers to

their deaths through intolerance of their relationship.

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Juliet and Romeo were predestined to an untimely end the moment they first kissed at the

Capulet dinner party. The two fell in love, unknowing that they were of rival households. It is not

until after the encounter of the lovers that Juliet tells her nurse, “Go ask his name.—If he be

marrièd, my grave is like to be my wedding bed” (Shakespeare 1.5.36-37). This quote shows

how the lovers did not act prudently during their first meeting. The two did not even think to ask

the other’s name, much less take their futures into account. This was their first mistake. Another

conflict for the lovers was when Romeo killed Tybalt as a way to avenge the death of his beloved

friend, Mercutio. In doing this, Romeo is ordered into banishment. Although these were all

conflicts caused by Romeo or Juliet, their relationship would not have been a secret if it were not

for the societal non acceptance between the Montague and Capulet families. An example of

tension between the families is presented in the introductory scene of the play. Sampson and

Gregory are in the the streets of Verona when they are approached by members of the Montague

household. Sampson immediately wants to fight saying, “My naked weapon is out. Quarrel! I

will back thee” (Shakespeare 1.1.33-34). This quote is the first example of animosity between

the Montague and Capulet households. If the families were not intolerant of one another, Romeo

and Juliet would not have had to keep their relationship a secret, and their marriage would not

have been a fatal mistake, but a joyous sacrament.

Even though society in Verona at this time was ultimately the cause of death for Romeo

and Juliet, some might argue otherwise. It might be said that Romeo and Juliet committed

suicide, and that it was no one’s fault but their own. In the end, they were the ones that killed

themselves. In the last act of the play, Romeo and Juliet both take their own lives. Romeo is the

first to die saying, “Here’s to my love! O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss
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I die” (Shakespeare 5.3.119-120). Thirty minutes later, Juliet follows suit, “This is thy sheath;

there rust, and let me die” (Shakespeare 5.3.170). The lovers would not have been driven to their

tragic deaths if they had not been forced to conceal their marriage. If the marriage had been

public, Lord Capulet would not have arranged the marriage between Juliet and Count Paris; he

would have known she was already wedded to Romeo. The arranged marriage between Juliet

and Count Paris was the motive for her to seek advice from the Friar. If the marriage had not

been arranged, Juliet never would have taken the poison to make her appear dead. If the marriage

between Romeo and Juliet had been socially acceptable within Verona, Romeo and Juliet would

not likely have been driven to their deaths.

The hatred between the families is evident following the first meeting of Romeo and

Juliet. After Romeo leaves the party and Juliet asks her nurse who he was she replies, “His name

is Romeo, and a Montague, the only son of your great enemy” (Shakespeare 1.4.138-139). This

is one of many examples of abhorrence between the Montague and Capulet houses. Another

example of detestation is presented before the play has begun, “From ancient grudge break new

mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” (Prologue.3-4). The grudge between the

families is ancient. Romeo and Juliet likely can not remember a time when their families were

not rivals. This ancient grudge between the two families of Verona will, in the fullness of time,

drive Romeo and Juliet to their deaths.

Although many could blame Romeo and Juliet for ending their own lives, the societal

hatred between the Montague and Capulet houses eventually led Romeo and Juliet to their

deaths. If the families were accepting of their relationship, they would not have had to hide their

marriage and the star-crossed lovers would have lived. It is known that the familiar hatred of the
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Montague and Capulet houses dissolves after the deaths of their children. If the families had not

been so intolerant of one another during the lives of Romeo and Juliet, the two could have lived

together happily for the rest of their lives.

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Works Cited

Shakespeare, William, Louis B. Wright, and Virginia A. LaMar. ​The Tragedy of Romeo and

Juliet. ​New York: Washington Square, 1959. Print.