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Montague And Juliet In William Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Decent Essays

Blame, assigning the responsibility for a fault or wrong. A play about two star-crossed lovers leaves their tragic ending to the question of, who is responsible? Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, explores the many possibilities of who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. Through his use of characterization and conflict, Shakespeare proves that families should carry the blame as a whole. Illustrating how the Capulets parent their child compared to the Montague techniques is one of many ways Shakespeare shows the role of family in blame. Juliet and her parents had been discussing an arranged marriage between Juliet and County Paris. Unfortunately, Romeo has already married Juliet so she is unable to follow her parents’ wishes. Juliet attempts to express her desire to not marry Paris when her father becomes enraged and says, “But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you. Graze where you will, you shall not house with me,” (3.4.215-216). The Capulets are remarkably strict parents and expect their daughter to abide by them at all times. The threat to disown her if she doesn’t marry the man picked for her makes this very clear. Before Juliet met Romeo she did what was asked of her, however, when Romeo was in the picture he gave her a taste of what she had been restricted from. Nevertheless, the sense of rebellion had drawn Juliet to Romeo. Consequently, the desire for this new feeling led Juliet to make drastic decisions without thinking.

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