Romeo and Juliet

Every character in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet plays and important role in the decisions the title characters make. Indeed, Friar Lawrence, Nurse, and Balthasar directly briong about the downfall of Romeo and Juliet though their roles as middlemen. For example, Balthasar tells Romeo that Juliet is dead, which causes Romeo to kill himself. Similarly, Nurse facilitates their love affair which brings them to the point where they would rather kill themselves than be apart. Likewise, Friar Lawrence marries them and comes up with the plan that leads to their deaths.

Balthasar plays a significant role in Romeo and Juliet’s deaths. He is the character that informs Romeo of Juliet’s death. When Romeo asks Balthasar how Juliet is, Balthasar states;

“Her body sleeps in Capel's monument,

And her immortal part with angels lives.”

(Act 5, scene 1, lines 18-19)

By telling Romeo this, Balthasar inspires Romeo to kill himself. Therefore, Balthasar has led Romeo to killing himself.

Nurse also has a large role in bringing about the end of Romeo and Juliet. Nurse was the one who revealed Romeo’s identity to Juliet, and then despite the fact that Romeo was a Montague, a sworn enemy of the Capulets, Juliet’s family, Nurse proceeded to facilitate their meetings. Nurse is also the one to provide the rope ladder so that Romeo and Juliet may consummate

their marriage of their wedding night.

“Now, nurse, what news? What hast thou there? The cords

That Romeo bid thee fetch?

Ay, ay, the cords.”