Romeo and Juliet

Why is suicidal death always blamed on the person who killed himself? In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo and Juliet must not be blamed for their suicide, for they are not alone responsible. Many factors occur beforehand, that help hasten the already rushed love to become devotement, and without the stimulus of many other characters, this tragic ending would not occur. Nurse, Old Capulet, and Friar Laurence are three characters who whether intentionally, or accidentally, help to strengthen Romeo and Juliet’s love, leading Romeo and Juliet to believe they cannot live without one another, which leads to their death.

Nurse is a character who disappears, and reappears throughout the play, revealing many interesting personality traits, and she is partially responsible for the lovers’ deaths. Nurse assists Friar Laurence in the organization of the wedding,. She tells Juliet “...hie you hence to Friar Laurence’ cell;/There stays a husband to make you a wife.” (II,v,68-69) Nurse has a crucial involvement in the lovers’ wedding. This wedding leads to an even stronger bond between Romeo and Juliet. This devotion leads them to believe they cannot live without each other. Another instance in which Nurse can be held responsible is that she has a strong emotional connection to Juliet, and Nurse cares less for the rest of the Capulet family. Her actions reflect what she believes to be Juliet’s best interests, and in doing so ignores the interests of the rest of the family. Juliet thinks of Nurse as a mother figure and values her opinion. She encourages Juliet in the first half of the play that Romeo is a wonderful man. She tells Romeo she will inform Juliet that he has “Good heart, and i’faith.” (II,iv,166) Nurse encourages Juliet to be with Romeo, even though she knows the family will not agree with it. Juliet trusts Nurse a lot, and listens to Nurse’s opinion on Romeo, which helps to strengthen Juliet’s decision. Old Capulet is another character who should be examined for his responsibility in provoking this untimely death, as he was not united with his family, and accidentally drove Juliet even closer to Romeo.

Old Capulet is Juliet’s father, and the man of power in the Capulet household. Although at times he tries to be considerate of Juliet’s feelings, ultimately he does not approach others enough to allow them to feel comfortable around him. Old Capulet was not united with his family. He organized a wedding for Juliet, without her consent, and without double-checking with her. Old Capulet tells Paris “... I will make a desperate tender/Of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled/ In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not.” (III,iv,13-15) He informs Paris, after a discussion on marriage, that Juliet will do whatever he demands. This proves how little Old Capulet knows about his own daughter. It is this lack of a sense of approachability between Old Capulet and Juliet that helps cause the major dilemma. If Juliet felt more comfortable talking to her father, she could have discussed her love of Romeo, which would have resolved this major problem. Old Capulet’s flaw of alienation from his family helps contribute to the lovers’ deaths. Another flaw of Old Capulet that helps contribute to Romeo’s and Juliet’s deaths was his hatred of the Montague family. Old Capulet makes it clear to everyone how much he loathes the Montagues, and Juliet is fully aware this hatred. When Old Capulet sees Old Montague he bellows “My sword, I say! Old Montague is come,/And flourishes his blade in spite of me.” to which Old Montague responds “ Thou villain Capulet” (I,i,75-77) Old Capulet wants nothing to do with the Montagues. The children know this and it is because of the disdaining of one another that the children cannot just announce their love and live happily. This hatred causes the lovers’ deaths, because had they disclosed their love to their parents, the marriage to Count Paris would have never been brought up, and Juliet’s plan would never have been fabricated. But because of Old Capulet’s hatred for the Montagues the children could not. Old Capulet plays a key part in unintentionally driving Romeo and Juliet, to their deaths. Friar Laurence also plays an influential part in both the lovers’ lives, although it turns out to be a negative one.

Friar Laurence, being a man of faith, is a character many confide in. Friar Laurence weds Romeo and Juliet, with the assumption this would end the fighting between the Capulets and Montagues. Friar