Responsibility For Deaths In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Romeo is responsible for our deaths because of his rash behavior. For example, when Romeo found out that I was supposedly dead, he immediately thought of suicide, saying, “And a man did need poison now… here lives a caitiff wretch would sell it him… And this same needy man must sell it me” (p270). Romeo was remembering passing this man and thinking that if he needed poison, this man could sell it to him. Now that Romeo thought I was dead, he insisted this man would sell him poison so he could kill himself. The definition of rash is proceeding from a lack of careful consideration of possible consequences of an action, or acting without thinking of consequence. Romeo shows rash behavior that would lead to our death. This rashness of death would soon cause Romeo to use the poison to kill himself. …show more content…
Romeo’s simple rash decision to buy this poison and go straight to the option of death show how Romeo is at fault for our deaths. Romeo found out I was a Capulet almost right when he met me saying, “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt” (p82). Romeo had found out I was a Capulet and yet still pursued a relationship with me. Romeo didn’t think about the consequence of pursuing someone who was a part of the family his family was feuding with but instead pursued me. If he had never pursued me then I never would have died because Romeo never would have been a problem in the first place. Romeo at another point kills Tybalt causing his banishment. “And for that offence Immediately we do exile him hence” (p172). Prince Escalus had banished Romeo because he had murdered Tybalt, which was very