Why Did Romeo and Juliet Kill Themselves? The Tragic Themes in the William Shakespeare’s Play
Why Did Romeo and Juliet Kill Themselves? The Tragic Themes in the William Shakespeare’s Play
Academic level: Master’s
Essay type: Memoir
Size: 2 pages ~ (910 words)
“O true apothecary! Thy drugs are quick. Thus with a kiss I die.” (Act V, scene 3)
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a deep and thoughtful play, filled with sorrow. The romance that sparks between Romeo and Juliet looks pure and beautiful, though not fated to happen due to long years of family feud. Risking their own lives just to see each other and eventually dying for each other the star-crossed lovers demonstrate the highest, most potent expression of love. At the same time, their suicide feels reckless and not logical, revealing the emotional rollercoaster typical for young love. So, why did Romeo and Juliet kill themselves? Although the answer is on the surface–they couldn’t live without each other,–there are also deeper reasons for this suicidal love. This essay aims to define these reasons.
When exploring the question–“Why do Romeo and Juliet kill themselves?” One of the first reasons that comes to mind is a massive family feud. In the Prologue, Shakespeare calls this feud an “Ancient grudge,” which hints readers at the long-going quarrel between the two families that has been deeply ingrained into their minds. The atmosphere between the Capulets and Montagues is incredibly hostile, which turns the romance between Romeo and Juliet just not meant to be. When Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, confronts Romeo, the latter refuses to fight because of his secret marriage to Juliet. Still, Tybalt becomes even angrier and says: “This, by his voice, should be a Montague...To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin” (Act I, scene 5). This expressed rival and hatred shows that it’s simply impossible for Romeo and Juliet to live peacefully together.
While the family feud is a reason both Romeo and Juliet share, it’s also worth noting that each of them also had their own reasons for suicide. Beginning with “Why did Romeo kill himself?” A huge role in this is played by the miscommunication of Friar Laurence’s plan. Friar Laurence attempted to help star-crossed lovers escape and live happily together. To do this, they were supposed to fake their deaths and “revive” later to reunite. However, an unfortunate turn gets Friar John quarantined due to a plague outbreak. He was tasked to deliver the message with Friar Laurence’s plan, which is why Romeo never receives it, and when he finds his love dead, he simply is not aware of the plan and believes her death.
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Why else did Romeo and Juliet kill themselves? A big confrontation that takes place between Tybalt and Romeo’s friend, Mercutio, becomes another fatal event. Filled with anger after Tybalt kills his friend, Romeo can’t help but fight and kill Tybalt. Immediately after defeating his rival, Romeo realizes his mistake: “O, I am fortune’s fool!” (Act III, scene 1). Killing Tybalt leads to Romeo’s banishment from Verona and adds more hatred between families. For Romeo, it’s nearly a death sentence as he cannot stand the idea of being apart from Juliet.
Finally, Juliet’s fake death and the despair he encountered was one last reason for Romeo to make the fatal decision. So, how did Romeo kill himself? Romeo walks into the Capulets’ tomb to find the love of his life dead. Being unaware of the plan, he believes that Juliet is dead and says his last words: “From this world-wearied flesh. Eyes, look your last! Arms, take your last embrace! And, lips, o you the doors of breath, seal with a righteous kiss a dateless bargain to engrossing death!” (Act V, scene 3). These words are filled with pain and despair. Then, Shakespeare pictures Romeo killing himself with poison.
Moving away from Romeo’s motives, it’s worth saying that Juliet also had her own reasons. So, why did Juliet kill herself? Although she felt the same pressure and pain from the separation from her love due to the family feud and Romeo’s banishment, Juliet was initially filled with hope and belief. Friar Laurence’s plan could give them a chance to live a happy life together. However, when she wakes up, she learns that her husband is dead and it breaks her heart. And how did Juliet kill herself? Although Laurence asks her to leave the tomb before someone finds her, Juliet refuses and decides to share her husband’s fate. The next thing readers see is Juliet killing herself with Romeo’s dagger and falling on him.
The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a heartbreaking story of love and hatred, passion and despair. Two star-crossed lovers, belonging to two different feuding families, are young and reckless. All they wanted was to be together but their families would not let this happen. At the end of the day, Romeo and Juliet had quite a few reasons to make the fatal choice and kill themselves. The family feud that didn’t let them be together, Romeo’s murder of Juliet’s cousin and banishment from the city, the series of unfortunate events that caused miscommunication of the plan, and the sorrow of having their dreams shattered by the death of the loved ones–all these reasons led to the tragic ending in the play. Nevertheless, this tragedy reveals the destructive power of family feud and makes the Capulets and Montagues realize they can’t let the hatred control them anymore and they decide to build golden statues of Romeo and Juliet.
“Poor sacrifices of our enmity!” (Act V, scene 3)
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