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Who is Most Responsible for the Deaths in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Who is Most Responsible for the Deaths of Romeo and Juliet Romantic love stories are often ended with a tragedy, because of loss of passion or a loved one. These tragedies are often the result of one person’s actions that ended someone’s life or love. In the Romeo and Juliet play written by William Shakespeare, two citizens of Verona come together and fall deeply in love. Unfortunately their love comes to an end, along with their lives, because of a misunderstanding and a persistent feud between their families. Although there are many characters in this play that have contributed to Romeo and Juliet’s death, Friar Laurence is the person most to blame. Friar Laurence’s actions throughout the play resulted in the two star crossed …show more content…

A second reason the Friar should be held most responsible is the fact that he gave Juliet a remedy in order to “fake” her death. Friar Laurence tells Juliet: Take thou this vial, being then in bed, And this distilled liquor drink thou off; When presently through all thy veins shall runA cold and drowsy humour, for no pulse Shall keep his native progress, but surcease.(IV.i.93-97) In this quote Friar Laurence is telling Juliet to take the vial and to drink it when she goes to bed. This fluid (while going through her veins) will make her cold and drowsy and make it appear as if she does not have a pulse. However, her blood will continue moving naturally and will not stop. If the Friar had not given her the vial, Romeo would not have heard the news that she was dead and therefore would not have killed himself in Capulet’s tomb. Another basis of accusing Friar Laurence of the deaths of the two, is the fact that Romeo did not receive the information about the plan. The Friar tells Juliet, “In this resolve. I’ll send a friar with speed/To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord” (IV.i.1123-124). The Friar is telling Juliet that he will send a friar to Mantua with a letter, saying their plan. He should have sent the letter personally and not relied on another friar to deliver such an urgent and important message. Since the entire plan was his idea he should have followed through with it, making sure the information was

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