Romeo and Juliet Versus the World

Romeo and Juliet Versus the World

Every simple action we do during the day can lead to our great success, or our

demise. In the great William Shakespeare's classic play, Romeo and Juliet, everyone in

Verona does something that leads to the star-crossed lovers' tragic death. From holy

authority figures, to family, they all play a big role in the great misfortune of Romeo and Juliet's death.The precedents that lead to the calamity of the lovers' death are the Prince's display ofintegrity, the poor decision making of the Friar, and the hatred between the Montagues and Capulets all contribute to the death of their only two children.

The Prince's display of integrity throughout the play contributes greatly to their

death. For example, after the third "civil brawl"(I, i, 80) Prince Escalus decides if there is another disturbance in Verona, the Montagues and Capulets will "pay the forfeit of the peace"(I, i, 87). The Prince tries to do whatever he can to keep the peace in the city he rules. This contributes because it increases the Montagues and Capulets hatred toward each other because they have no way to assuage it other than taking it all out on their children. In addition, when Romeo "[slays] Tybalt"(III, ii, 177) the Prince decides to "exile [Romeo]" (III, ii, 183) from Verona. The Prince decides to be a peacemaker and just banish Romeo from Verona to keep peace and not take another life. The Prince's banishment on Romeo contributes to the lovers' death because it separates them, which puts an end to their chances of a life full of love and happiness. The display of integrity by the prince is a great factor in their death because it separates the lovers and causes the families to be more pugnacious.

The abhorrence between the Montagues and Capulets is the leading cause for the death of Romeo and Juliet. For example when Tybalt, a Capulet, hears Romeo, a

Montague, he wants to get his "rapier"(I, v, 54) and he thinks that "to strike him dead"(I,

v, 58) is "not a sin"(I, v, 58). You can tell that that the hatred between these families is

so great that once a Capulet hears a Montagues voice, he wants to kill the Montague

immediately. So if Romeo or Juliet even tells their parents, they would immediately

separate. In addition, Juliet hates the fact her lover is "sprung from [her] only hate"(I, v,

137) and she wants him to "deny [his] father and refuse [his] name"(II, ii, 34). This shows that if Romeo or Juliet were from a different family then