Romeo and Juliet Literary Analysis

There are many different reasons Romeo and Juliet died, for instance, fate, freewill, and tragic flaw are three main explanations. Although all three of these reasons have importance, tragic flaw was the most influential in Romeo and Juliet’s death. Freewill would have to be the least eminent reason out of the big three, for example, in Act 2 Scene 3 LL. 92-94 Friar Lawrence unmistakably affirms, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancour to pure love.” This quote supports the claim that the Friar willingly decided to wed Romeo and Juliet so their families’ feud may end. Though this is a key point in the play, even if they didn’t get married, Romeo and Juliet would still have died. Because they adored each other so much, they wouldn’t have let the Friar not wedding them stop them from being together. So, regardless of Act 2 Scene 3’s part, it is not vital. While fate is more important than freewill, it isn’t as necessary as tragic flaw. For example, it was fatal that the Friar’s letter never made it to Romeo. Actually, Friar John clearly stated, “Where the infectious pestilence did reign,” (Act 5 Scene 3 L. 10) proving that because of a disease he couldn’t deliver the letter. The fact that it was a disease that delayed the letter shows that fate controlled that situation. However, it was Romeo’s impulsive behavior that caused him to commit suicide in the end. As one can see, even though the delayed letter may have led up to the tragedy, Romeo’s act of committing suicide without double checking the information he was given, is what did him in. In addition, Paris’s dire demise was an act of tragic flaw in that Romeo was frantic in being alone with Juliet deep in the Capulet’s tomb during Act 5 Scene 3. While it was fate that had Paris visit Juliet the same night that Romeo visited her, it was Romeo’s overpowering emotions that killed him. In fact, Romeo exclaimed in agony, “Good gentle youth, tempt not a desp’rate man.” (Act 5 Scene 3 L. 59) This quote proves that Paris enticed Romeo into dueling to the death with each other. Also, since Romeo was anxious, he was making hasty decisions. That’s how Paris was slain by tragic flaw and not fate, proving that tragic flaw had a greater part in the play than fate. Tragic Flaw is what started the path of Romeo and Juliet’s fate. For instance, in Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo was at the Capulet’s party. Although it was fate for him to be invited, he was impulsive enough to fall in love with Juliet at first sight. In LL. 50-51 of the same act and scene Romeo verbalized, “Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” This quote illustrates Romeo’s feelings for Juliet when he first saw her. Juliet, too, was hasty in her realization of her love for Romeo. Because they fell in love, their lives started their journey to calamity. Later on, Romeo, who sneaks into the Capulet’s Orchard, shows another example of impulsiveness. When Juliet announces her love for him, Romeo eagerly reveals himself from the shadows. At that time, Romeo started to think about a way to prove to Juliet that he loves her. The idea he came up with was marriage. However, when Romeo tells Juliet his sudden idea, he unknowingly makes their journey a little shorter. So as anyone can see, the impetuous actions of the characters were what brought Romeo and Juliet to their demise. While fate and freewill were important, tragic flaw connected to fate and freewill in some way each time. That is how tragic flaw was the most influential reason for Romeo and Juliet’s lives to come to such calamity.