Journal Entry 7

I don't think anyone can be held accountable for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. In a way it was everybody's fault, but most of all fate's.

Their suicides were the tragedy at the end of the play. Because it wasn't a direct attack or a murder or anything, no one can really be blamed. You could blame the parents for getting into a feud, Romeo wouldn't have killed Tybalt, he wouldn't be banished from Verona, Juliet wouldn't be inspired to seek Friar Lawrence, Friar Lawrence wouldn't have given Juliet the potion, she wouldn't have fallen into a deep slumber, Romeo wouldn't be convinced his lover was gone, he wouldn't have drank the poison, and that wouldn't have triggered Juliet's death. You could blame everyone along that line.

If Romeo hadn't promoted his 'love-at-first-sight' instinct, he wouldn't have met Juliet at her balcony. They fell in love with each other before theyknew their parents' hatred for one another. Romeo knew the two families didn't get along, so he should have known the relationship was not going to work. Yet being an impulsive person, he rushed the relationship making the matter worse. "O, I am a fortune's fool!"

But there's two sides to every story. Juliet also promotes the relationship. She was too suborn to listen to her parents wishes for her to marry Paris. It was Juliet's idea for the two to get married. "If thy bent of love be honourable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow by one that I'll procure to come to thee."

Juliet surely knew the consequences of marrying a hated Montague. If she hate not been so headstrong and married Paris, it may have been a tragedy in itself, but certainly less severe than the end of two lives.

You could also blame Lady Capulet and her husband. They were absolutely sure the tradition of arranged marriages were the only way to go. It becomes apparent that the Capulets care more about their traditions than their daughter.


You could also point your finger at Friar Lawrence. He was the master-mind to the failed plan. If he hadn't given Juliet the potion, Romeo wouldn't have assumed she was dead, and the lover's lives wouldn't have ended. You could also see that Friar Lawrence was doing a good thing. Juliet was already going to kill herself. Romeo definitely would have killed himself after that, and the tragedy would still have happened.

Every character is responsible and contributed to this tragedy somehow. No one is to blame. The only thing which can be blamed is fate.

Journal Entry 6

In act 2, scene 6, Romeo asks Juliet to proclaim her love for him. I don't think he's having second thoughts about getting married, I think he's just insecure. He wants to confirm she loves him. I think he wants to make sure she loves him so the same thing doesn't happen that happened with Rosaline. He doesn't want to get hurt anymore, especially from Juliet. He's looking for love, but he goes into it too soon and rushes things.