罗密欧与朱丽叶论文Romeo_and_Juliet_Essay.docx

An Essay about Romeo and JulietSoon after Romeo kills his cousin, Tybalt, he utters hopelessly, “O, I am Fortunes fool!” (3.3.142). His “star-crossed” (prologue) fate has determined the way he ends. All major characters in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet are responsible for the death of Romeo. Friar Lawrence, Romeos Holy Father, and Juliet, his wife, are directly involved in Romeos death. Benvolio, Romeos dearest cousin, also leads Romeo to die in many ways. Friar Lawrence should take the majority of the blame for Romeos death, though all characters in this play have some responsibility.To begin with, Friar Lawrence, the most respected person in the town, is mostly responsible for the death of Romeo. He makes the decision to marry Romeo and Juliet and misses many chances which may prevent Romeos death. Firstly, Friar Lawrence should not agree to marry Romeo and Juliet. He thinks “In one respect Ill thy assistant be, /For this alliance may so happy prove/ To turn your households rancour to pure love” (2.3.97-99). Ironically, this marriage does not bring love to those households, but also takes away the lives of their children. Friar Lawrence knows that Romeos love unstable because he only focuses on physical beauty, however, he still support Romeo to challenge his fate and to marry his enemy, Juliet. If the marriage is stopped by Friar Lawrence, both of the lovers may not have died in the end. Secondly, Friar Lawrence chooses the wrong person to deliver his urgent message to Romeo. He says, “The letter was not nice but full of charge,/Of der import, and the neglecting it/ May do much danger” (5.3.18-20). Friar Lawrence does not tell the importance of this letter to his brother, Friar John. He is so familiar with Friar John that he should know Friar John likes to find someone to go with him, which is not only a waste of time, but also causes him to get stuck in the city. He can find somebody else to send this message to Romeo as fast as possible but he even doesnt think about it. This failure to deliver this message directly leads Romeo to his death. Thirdly, Friar Lawrence fails to arrive at Capulets monument quickly enough. He says, “Saint Francis be my speed! How oft tonight/ Have my old feet stumbled at graves!” (5.3.121-122). He realizes that he has to get there on time, but by the time he arrives, Romeo is already in the tomb and ready to commit suicide. He misses the last chance to change the tragic ending. Romeo never knows that the reason Juliet still looks pretty is because Juliet is alive at that time. If Friar Lawrence arrived even only a few minutes earlier, both of the lovers might have escaped to Mantua to have their lovely happiness. Friar Lawrence making the wrong decision to marry Romeo and Juliet, choosing the wrong person to send his message and failing to arrive on time, make him be the person who is mostly responsible for the death of Romeo. Beside Friar Lawrence, Romeos new wife also causes his death.The second person who is responsible for Romeos death is Juliet, his newly married wife. Juliet has the responsibility because he is so irrational that she cannot help to love Romeo though they have met only once. She also forces Friar Lawrence to make up a plan is a very short time. Firstly, Juliet does not obey her fathers will to marry the count, Paris. She will “look to like, if looking liking move” (1.4.103). Then she even directly disobeys her father by saying “ I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear/ It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, / Rather than Paris” (3.5.126-128). During Elizabethan times, daughters were supposed to listen to their parent; however, Juliet does not want to accept the marriage with a well-chosen person, Paris. She may only concentrate on her will- be husband on the feast instead of looking around and falls in love with Romeo, which is the beginning of the tragedy. Secondly, Juliet shows how emotional she is by expressing her love to Romeo which strengthens this desire to marry Juliet. Before Romeo leaves her balcony, she says, “These words, deal Romeo, and good night indeed. / Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, /.And all my fortunes at thy foot Ill lay/ And follow thee me Lord throughout the world” (2.2.151-155). Her words let Romeo see Friar Lawrence arrange their secret marriage, and the reason he is so rush is because he finally finds a girl who loves him back. Both of the lovers rush to get married, which is an unwise decision, and pushed them to enjoy their love eternally only after their death. Furthermore, Juliet pulls out her knife to force Friar Lawrence to come up with a plan in a very short time. In Act 4, Scene 1 of the play, she goes to meet Friar Lawrence and says, “If in thy wisdom thou const give no help, / Do thou but call me resolution wise, / And with this knife Ill help it presently” (4.1.53-55). Friar Lawrence has very little time to come up with a carefully considered plan to help Juliet out. She is so impatient that she threatens to kill herself right in front of Friar Lawrence. She has enough time to let her holy father refine his idea, but she simply wants the solution immediately. This irrational action is one of the reasons that the wonderful plan is not carried out perfectly. Juliet shows she is an irrational person who acts before thinking. She rushes to marry Romeo, disobeys his father, and demands that Friar Lawrence give her an unperfected idea. All these things she has done make her become the person who is responsible for the death of Romeo. Another person, Benvolio, who has a close relationship with Romeo, causes his death in many ways.Finally, Benvolio is also one of the characters who is responsible for the death of Romeo. The mistakes he makes are suggesting Romeo join the feast and giving up on finding Romeo after the banquet. He is also unable to draw Romeo and Tybalt apart which directly causes Romeo to be banished from Verona. Firstly, Benvolio should not recommend Romeo go to the party to find some other girls. In the end of Act1, Scene 2 of the play, he suggests that “Fut, you saw her fair, none else being by, / Herself poised with herself in either eye / That I will show you shining at this feast, / And she shall scant show well that now seems best” (1.3.101-106)/ Benvolio knows Romeos story about Rosaline, but he still wants Romeo to find another beautiful girl, even though people should not be judged by their external appearance. This suggestion seems to benefit Romeo, however, it is the beginning of the tragedy, and no one can stop Romeo moving toward his death after that. Secondly, Benvolio goes home without Romeo after the party. He concludes that “To seek him here that means not to be found” (2.1.46). Benvolio leaves Romeo alone at night, which seems like he has abandoned Romeo. It is dangerous to be alone at night in Shakespeares time, especially in some place near Romeos enemys castle. If Benvolio found Romeo and went home with him, there would not be a marriage between Romeo and Juliet though they may feel bad. The third reason why Benvolio is responsible for his cousins death is because he cannot stop the fight between Romeo and Tybalt. At that time, he “Could draw to part them, was stout Tybalt slain” (3.1.182). Benvolios skills are en