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“Some Shall Be Pardoned, and Some Punished” (Romeo & Juliet)

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“Some Shall Be Pardoned, and Some Punished” (Romeo & Juliet)
“Some Shall Be Pardoned, and Some Punished”
Romeo and Juliet is the Elizabethan tragedy by William Shakespeare. Most of the events that happen in the tragedy lead up to the conclusion of the star-crossed couple dying. There are three main factors that lead to the tragic death of the two; fate, human error and the youth/experience of Romeo and Juliet. Although Shakespeare describes the lovers as “star-crossed” that does not mean they had no control over their own actions. The interference of older characters and their youth/experience triumphs the fact that their death was brought about by fate.
Many may think that fate/chance was the cause of Juliet’s and Romeo’s death. But in reality fate/chance aids their death and doesn’t cause it. The feud between the Capulet’s and Montague’s is fate but doesn’t kill them ultimately: it makes it difficult for them to have a happy love relationship. “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt/. …Ay, so I fear. The more is my unrest.” (Romeo & Juliet1.5.118-120) is where Romeo: a Montague explains how Juliet being of a feuding family may cause issues. Furthermore in the prologue “From forth the fatal loins of these two foes (The Montagues and the Capulets)/ a pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life” (Romeo & Juliet Prologue.5-6) implies fate. But he adds the fact that they take their own lives which shows that human error is more important than fate in the death of Romeo and Juliet.
Adult Interference also plays a role in the death of Romeo and Juliet. Adults such as the Friar Lawrence, Lady Capulet and Capulet could be blamed for the deaths. The Friar Lawrence aided in the death by marrying the couple and not making sure the letter about Juliet got directly to Romeo. The parents; Capulet and Lady Capulet also aided in their death by forcing Juliet to marry Paris which caused complications since she was already married to Romeo. “ … I think she will be ruled. In all respects by me.” (Romeo& Juliet



Cited: Shakespeare, William, G. Blakemore Evans, and Arthur Brooke. Romeo and Juliet. Cambridge nmnkjkmjmj[Cambridgeshire: Cambridge UP, 1984. Print.

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