In William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, an obvious confusion dealing with the main characters’ death is present. As Joseph Pearce adequately stated, three separate motives for Romeo and Juliet’s death are possible. The first is the fighting between the Montagues and Capulets. Even the prologue says “…the continuance of their parents’ rage” (Prologue, line 10) did not help their children’s struggle. The parents were oblivious to their children’s problems. The second is the young lovers’ haste. This claims that the flawed love youths portray lead them to their doom and young love moves quickly. The quickness of the relationship is what causes them to end up in flames. Like Friar Lawrence says, “Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast”
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It is a motif that many characters impute their misfortunes on. For example, Romeo feels as if going to the Capulet’s party will end in disaster. He says he feels there is “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars” (I.iv.107). Ultimately, Romeo was correct. He stands by his assumption that fate has led him and his Juliet down the path of death. When he hears that Juliet is dead, he cannot help but blame fate. He becomes enraged and cries out “Then I defy you, stars!” (V.i.23). Romeo wants to sabotage the stars plans and kill himself so he may be with Juliet. He is going to end their attempts at separating him from his love. Romeo carries through with this plan; right as he is about to kill himself, he says, “O, here I will set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars” (V.iii.108-111). To set up rest in a card game is to be done taking cards and be ready to bet on one’s hand. In the same way, Romeo is saying that he is done being played by fate in this mortal life and is ready for eternal peace free from fate. Amanda Mabillard says “It is not the lovers’ flaws that lead them to ruin; the tragedy does not spring from their own weakness”. She explains that fate is to blame, not themselves Fate seems to be the most widely accepted reason for Romeo and Juliet’s death. As H. Edward Cain immaculately puts it, “[Romeo and Juliet] are raised into the highest heaven, merely that an envious fate may pluck them down …show more content…
Likewise, Romeo and Juliet’s love was imprudent and impulsive. Haste is an important theme in Romeo and Juliet. The lovers speak about days and hours, increasing “The readers awareness that he is watching two impetuous young lovers rushing precipitously thought a series of events” (Tanselle 350). This makes the reader wonder if it was a stable relationship. They would not think about and plan their future. A strong relationship plans for the future and life together, this is not shown in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. They only plan for the next day together. When Romeo tells Friar Lawrence that the target of his affection has changed, Friar Lawrence tells him “Young men’s love, then, lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes” (II.iii.67-68). He is saying that Romeo’s uninhibited attraction to Juliet is because of her beauty, not her personality. Romeo is convinced Juliet is the love of his life and dives headfirst into the relationship. Friar Lawrence also advises Romeo to not be hasty when Romeo proclaims his passionate love for Juliet. He says, “Love moderately; long love doth so; too swift arrives as tardy too slow” (II.vi.14-15). The two do not take his wise advice, a fatal mistake. Juliet stops to think about this though, as she says “It is too rash, too unadvised too sudden” (II.ii.118). Ironically, they get married the day after Juliet speaks this line. The hastiness of Romeo and Juliet’s love is greatly evident
It is a motif that many characters impute their misfortunes on. For example, Romeo feels as if going to the Capulet’s party will end in disaster. He says he feels there is “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars” (I.iv.107). Ultimately, Romeo was correct. He stands by his assumption that fate has led him and his Juliet down the path of death. When he hears that Juliet is dead, he cannot help but blame fate. He becomes enraged and cries out “Then I defy you, stars!” (V.i.23). Romeo wants to sabotage the stars plans and kill himself so he may be with Juliet. He is going to end their attempts at separating him from his love. Romeo carries through with this plan; right as he is about to kill himself, he says, “O, here I will set up my everlasting rest, and shake the yoke of inauspicious stars” (V.iii.108-111). To set up rest in a card game is to be done taking cards and be ready to bet on one’s hand. In the same way, Romeo is saying that he is done being played by fate in this mortal life and is ready for eternal peace free from fate. Amanda Mabillard says “It is not the lovers’ flaws that lead them to ruin; the tragedy does not spring from their own weakness”. She explains that fate is to blame, not themselves Fate seems to be the most widely accepted reason for Romeo and Juliet’s death. As H. Edward Cain immaculately puts it, “[Romeo and Juliet] are raised into the highest heaven, merely that an envious fate may pluck them down …show more content…
Likewise, Romeo and Juliet’s love was imprudent and impulsive. Haste is an important theme in Romeo and Juliet. The lovers speak about days and hours, increasing “The readers awareness that he is watching two impetuous young lovers rushing precipitously thought a series of events” (Tanselle 350). This makes the reader wonder if it was a stable relationship. They would not think about and plan their future. A strong relationship plans for the future and life together, this is not shown in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship. They only plan for the next day together. When Romeo tells Friar Lawrence that the target of his affection has changed, Friar Lawrence tells him “Young men’s love, then, lies not truly in their hearts but in their eyes” (II.iii.67-68). He is saying that Romeo’s uninhibited attraction to Juliet is because of her beauty, not her personality. Romeo is convinced Juliet is the love of his life and dives headfirst into the relationship. Friar Lawrence also advises Romeo to not be hasty when Romeo proclaims his passionate love for Juliet. He says, “Love moderately; long love doth so; too swift arrives as tardy too slow” (II.vi.14-15). The two do not take his wise advice, a fatal mistake. Juliet stops to think about this though, as she says “It is too rash, too unadvised too sudden” (II.ii.118). Ironically, they get married the day after Juliet speaks this line. The hastiness of Romeo and Juliet’s love is greatly evident