Who is Responsible for Romeo’s Death In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare there is much debate about who is responsible for Romeo’s death. Romeo and Juliet is a play where two forbidden lovers get married in secret despite their families’ feud. After Tybalt, Juliet’s cousin, kills Mercutio, Romeo’s best friend, Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona with the promise of death upon return. Lord Capulet plans to force Juliet to marry a man named Paris, but she runs to Friar Lawrence who helps her fake her own death. Romeo finds out but thinks that her death is real and goes to an apothecary, buys poison, and kills himself by Juliet’s side. When Juliet wakes up to find Romeo dead, she stabs herself. Balthasar, Lord Capulet, and Friar Lawrence are all responsible for the death of Romeo. Balthasar delivers the news of Juliet’s death, Lord Capulet changes the date of the wedding, and Friar Lawrence helps Juliet fake her own death. These people are key characters that play major roles in contributing to Romeo’s death. The first person responsible for Romeo’s death is Balthasar. Balthasar is Romeo’s personal servant, and he is partially responsible for Romeo’s death because he brings Romeo the tragic news of Juliet’s death. Balthasar says to Romeo, “I saw [Juliet] laid low in her kindred’s vault / And presently took post to tell it you” (Shakespeare, 5 .1.21-22). This false news sets Romeo’s ensuing death in motion. After hearing the news from his trusted servant, Romeo believes Juliet’s death is real and convinces an apothecary to sell him poison. Romeo consumes the substance and dies at Juliet’s side. Although Balthasar plays a significant role in
Romeo’s death, Lord Capulet also plays a contributing role.
Lord Capulet’s role in Romeo’s death is significant because he pushes Juliet to the point where she fakes her own death and thus and changes the date of the wedding. Lord Capulet is Juliet’s father. He says to the
Cited: Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Toronto: International Thomson Limited, 1997. Print.