He did it! No, she did it! Whose fault is it that Romeo and Juliet are dead? Both died from tragic misunderstandings and fatal love for one another. This resulted from Romeo’s suicide, followed shortly by Juliet’s. So who do you blame for their deaths? In this Shakespearian tragedy, Romeo, Juliet, and their parents are guilty of the outcome of the play.
Romeo’s stupidity and devotion are what got him into this unfortunate mess. He knew Juliet was a Capulet, and his family was enemies with hers. He should have immediately thought of the consequences of pursuing a relationship of any kind with Juliet, and stopped right away. Loving whom your family hates is not a bright idea. There are also many times throughout the play where Romeo displays his undying love and devotion for Juliet. It becomes clear that he would rather die than live without her. This supports the fact that he is responsible for his own suicide, which played a role in the cause of Juliet’s. Devotion can be a wonderful thing, but too much of it can be fatal.
Juliet’s actions are also a key factor to the deadly ending. Although she was naïve about love due to experience and age, her decisions were nothing but deceiving and backstabbing. She too should have pondered the cost of loving the enemy, which she didn’t handle in a mature manner. Her disregard for everyone but herself and Romeo created drama and chaos. Juliet displayed blatant disrespect for her parents when she had Romeo sleep in her bed, while her parents were home. Crying wolf and pretending to play dead was a cunning way to avoid the problems she helped create. Had Juliet not taken the poison, Romeo wouldn’t have killed himself, thus, both of them would still be alive.
The ones who are most to blame are Romeo and Juliet’s parents. Their foolish bickering and unnecessary quarrels are what caused their children to lie, be banished, and eventually die. Kids should be able to talk to their parents without being judged. Romeo and Juliet’s parents never made it comfortable for their children to reach out to them about their feelings and troubles. The Montagues, and certainly the Capulets, never showed a sense of understanding or compassion for their child; rather, they chose to ignore their children’s wishes. Any parent would want their child to be happy and have a good child-parent bond; neither set of parents displayed an appreciation for the idea of one.
All in all, Romeo, Juliet, and their parents are responsible for Juliet and Romeo’s deaths. Each has their own separate role in the tragedy. Some actions of these characters though, are linked together, almost as if it were a ripple effect. From their fighting and senseless brawls, to lying and devotion, never did they ever create a chance for a happy ending.