ESSAY QUESTION: Considering their ages Romeo and Juliet were really let down by the adults in their lives. “the most excellent and lamentable tragedy of Romeo and Juliet” commonly referred to as “Romeo and Juliet is a play by William Shakespeare concerning the fate of two young lovers who would do anything to be together . It is perhaps the most famous of his plays and undoubtedly the most famous love story in western history. The adults in Shakespeare play fell short in their responsibilities, however many readers believe that is the personality traits and behavior of the characters themselves in the play that cause the fate of the lover among other uncontrollable factors. The following essay will seek to investigate the question and reach a conclusion based on the analysis of the text. The Capulets and Montagues hated each other for some unknown incident that occurred in the past, that sad fact of this feud that it was at such a pointless stage that neither family knew how it actually began, yet the members of opposing families had such murderous animosity toward each other, “what, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, I hate hell, I hate all Montague and thee, have at thee coward!”[Tybalt to Mercutio]. Had lord Montague and Capulet resolved their differences in a mature way and not have held a childish grudge, Romeo and Juliet would never had had to hide their love and marriage from their parents. Prince Escales blames the deaths of Romeo and Juliet near the end of the play on their parents “Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague! See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate, That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love” Another adult that was in part responsible for the tragic outcome of the play was Friar Lawrence, a Franciscan friar, advisor to both Romeo and Juliet. Kind, civic minded and generally a giver of good advice especially in regard to moderation “theses violent delights have violent ends”[friar Lawrence to Romeo and Juliet Act 2 scene 6 line 9]. Despite the friars seemingly praiseworthy moral values, he is the most scheming, political and audacious character in the play: secretly marrying Romeo and Juliet hoping it would end the civil strife in Verona knowing full well that the matrimony could have some serious consequences; risking Romeos life when he spirits him into Juliet’s chamber and then out of Verona; devising a plan to reunite the lovers through a deceptive ruse of a sleeping potion endangering Juliet’s life. Even though they were well intended they all failed miserably. Although friar Lawrence and Romeo and Juliet’s parents were somewhat responsible for the lovers lives, the fact remains that Romeo and Juliet were old enough to make their own decisions. In that era, Romeo 16, Juliet 14 was a age for marriage and parenthood as Paris blatantly put it “Younger than she are happy made mother” [Paris to lord Capulet Act 1 scene 2 line 13] therefore Romeo and Juliet were considered to be mature enough to take responsibility for their own actions and suffer the consequences.
During that Era, when “Romeo and Juliet” was written, it also widely accepted that there was a higher force that controlled our lives. This “force” was known as fate, it is introduced in the prologue with reference to “a pair of star crossed lovers” and “death marked love”. Perhaps the characters in the play were puppets controlled by fate and did not have any control of their lives, “I fear, too early: for my mind misgives Some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night's revels and expire the term of a despised life closed in my breast by some vile forfeit of untimely death. But He, that hath the steerage of my course, direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen.” [Romeo to Benevolio and Mercutio Act 1 scene 4 line 107]. Fate took on another form in the Elizabethan era known as the wheel of fortune. As a fraction of the wheel shifts from a high position to a low potion so does a mans life. According to this belief a man enjoying good fortune should expect mishap in the future. It is possible that due to this wheel Romeo and Juliet’s deaths occurred because of the blissful nature of their love. Shakespeare balances the concept of fate with the belief that misfortune can be defeated with reason. In the Elizabethan era man was placed above all creatures and under the angels because of man ability to reason and Rationalize. Romeo lacked the capacity to reason with his emotions. Love compelled him to sneak into the garden of his enemies’ daughter, risking death simple to catch a glimpse of her. Anger compelled him to murder his wife’s cousin in a reckless duel to avenge is friends death. Despair compelled him to suicide upon hearing the news of Juliet’s death. If only Romeo stopped to assess his situation and realize what the consequences of his action may be. Juliet also lacked this ability to Reason with he emotions, had she thought things through she would have realized that her and Romeos love could never be successful. She was far too impulsive-often contemplating suicide if she cannot be with Romeo “if all else fails, myself have the power to die”[Juliet in a soliloquy Act 3, Scene 5 line 226]. If any of these events had not taken place the entire course of the play would have been altered. Hence there is no supreme factor to what caused the tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare left us with an open conclusion of what really did cause the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet were visibly old enough to make their own decisions as in that time people their ages were married and had children however the adults in the play let the young lovers down due to the childish feud between Romeo and Juliet’s parents, and some un-wise advise from a seeming wise friar. But the adults are clearly not the dominant factor which lead to the tragic outcome. It was instead a series of events which occurred the way they did due to the deeds performed by static can maturing characters and also “the wheel of fortune” which turns events abruptly but is triggered by human actions and faults which many people believe to be fate. All these constituents worked together hand in hand to create “Romeo and Juliet” the greatest love story of all time.