Katelynn Nguyen

Mrs. Jimenez

English 1 Honors

12 March 2015

Montagues and Capulets Leading to Death

In the drama ​The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet​, by William Shakespeare displays the

feud between the Montagues and Capulets and how both families’ continuance of rivalry causes

both the lives of Romeo and Juliet. It was not only both fathers of each families, but other

family members that had a part in as well. Through this tragedy, many are to blame for, however

had the families not been enemies, would there have been any deaths at all?

As the play opens, a scene begins with Mercutio and Tybalt drawing their swords

towards each other, then Capulet and Montague taking part of the violence. “What, drawn, and

talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee. Have at thee, coward!”

(1.1.60-63). “What noise is this? Give me my long sword, ho!” (1.1.65). “Thou villain Capulet!

Hold me not. Let me go.” (1.1.69). These direct quotes from the play inform that the Montagues

and Capulets wouldn't let up a fight even if it may cost them their lives. There are many other

different ways things could’ve been solved, but they resorted to violence acts instead.

Tybalt wanted to slay Romeo the moment he first saw him at the masquerade ball. “Come

hither, covered with an antic face,To fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now, by the stock and

honor of my kin, To strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” (1.5.56-59). This comes to show that

Tybalt will not hesitate to draw his sword to kill Romeo. Keep in mind that Tybalt has yet to

know Romeo on a personal level and yet by the name of “Montague,” he labels all as enemies.
His personality shows that a majority of human nature act upon impulse rather than actually

sitting down and think something through; about the consequences.

“...Do with their death bury their parents' strife.The fearful passage of their death-marked

love, And the continuance of their parents' rage, Which, but their children’s end, naught could

remove…” (Prologue.8-11). The prologue foreshadows what’s to come of both families and the

treacherous ending of Romeo and Juliet. Had Capulet not forced Juliet to marry Paris, she

would’ve possibly lived with Romeo. However, that was not how Capulet handle the situation

and rather seemed to make it worse. Only when did their children died, had both families come

to realize their foolish acts.

Shakespeare’s message through the story or rather the theme is how humans can act so

foolish and only come to realization when it has cost them something. Both families realize the

grievous toll their feud has on each family as well as the town of Verona only when their

precious children died for the sake of young love. Each death of the characters lead up to the

final tragedy; the ending where two star-crossed lovers take their lives.