The Capulets: The Cause of Juliet’s Death

The parents who created the sweet and beautiful Juliet, Lord and Lady Capulet have

provided for their daughter her whole life. They want the best for their daughter and try to find

her a suitable husband that will treat her right. Even though their intentions may have been good,

they lead Juliet to her faking her death. If their ignorance had not interfered, the outcome would

have been different. Lord and Lady Capulet are the ones who are ultimately responsible for

Romeo and Juliets death because if Lord Capulet hadn’t arranged the marriage Juliet did not

want, and if Lady Capulet helped Juliet get out or delay the marriage, Juliet wouldn't have faked

her death that later caused her and Romeo's death.

They say parents only want the best for their child and will do anything to bring

them joy. Lord Capulet is a very protective father who cares much for his daughter Juliet

and wants nothing more than for her to be safe and happy. Parents may think they know

what's best for their kids, but sometimes it's the kids who know best. In William

Shakespeare’s original play script in the first act, Lord Capulet is discussing with Paris

about marriage for Juliet, “But saying o’er what I've said before. My child is yet a stranger

in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. Let two more summers

wither in their pride ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.” Lord Capulet explains to

Paris how his permission is part of her decision in marrying him and if he wants to woo

her, he can.This quote from the text is an example of how Lord Capulet takes into

consideration Juliet's opinion on whether or not she wants to marry Paris. Lord Capulet

thinks much of his daughter's well being and even though he believes Paris is a fine young

man for his daughter, he wants Juliet to experience life more before considering marriage.
After Tybalt’s death Lord Capulet begins to reconsider Paris’s love for Juliet, “Capulet:

Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender Of my child’s love. I think she will be ruled In all

respects by me. Nay, more, I doubt it not.- Wife, go you to her ere you go to bed. Acquaint

her here of my Son Pari’s love,”. Lord Capulet, under the impression that Juliet is

weeping for her late cousin Tybalt when she is actually crying for her dear Romeo,

arranges a marriage with Paris for Juliet to cheer her up. When Juliet explains how she

doesn’t want to marry Paris Lord Capulet becomes infuriated with her and threatens to

disown her. Lord Capulet’s intentions were in the right place, however the way he chose

to cheer her up was impulsive and went against his original wants for Juliet. When Juliet

explains to him that she does not want marriage, instead of thinking of the happiness and

wants of his daughter he selfishly thinks of himself and gets mad at Juliet for being

“ungrateful”. Lord Capulet's actions were selfish, impulsive and caused a lot of damage,

despite his intentions being good his actions do not reflect them.

However Lord Capulet’s actions are not the only reason for Romeo and Juliets

death. Lady Capulet is equally to blame. After Juliet’s argument with Lord Capulet she

seeks help from her mother Lady Capulet. “Juliet: Is there no pity sitting in the clouds

That sees into the bottom of my grief?- O sweet my mother, cast me not away! Delay this

marriage for a month, a week. Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed In that dim

monument where Tybalt lies. Lady Capulet: Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. Do

as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.” When Juliet is in desperate need of help she goes

to her mother for help but all that Lady Capulet does is abandon her, showing how weak

their relationship is. If Lady Capulet hadn’t left Juliet helpless then Juliet, a naive 13 year

old girl wouldn’t have had to take matters into her own hands. In the Part of the story
when Juliet goes to Friar Lawrence for help she says “O, bid me leap, rather than marry

Paris From off the battlements of yonder tower; Or walk in thievish ways; or bid me

lurk… Things that, to hear them told, have made me tremble- And I will do it without fear

or doubt, To live an unstained wife to my sweet love. Friar Lawrence: Hold, then. Go

home, be merry. Give consent To marry Paris. Wednesday is tomorrow. Tomorrow night

look that thou lie alone… Take thou this vial, being then in bed And this distilled liquor

drink thou off, When presently through all thy veins shall run A cold and drowsy humor

for no pulse Shall keep his native progress, but surcease”. I feel like this quote shows how

much Juliet was affected by her parents actions and it shows the desperate measure she

would take to avoid the marriage. If Lord Capulet hadn’t put Juliet in the situation of the

arranged marriage and if Lady Capulet had provided support instead of abandonment,

Juliet wouldn't have had to go to Friar Lawrence for help. Juliet was incredibly desperate

and would rather die than be an unfaithful wife to Romeo so Friar Lawrence provides her

with a toxin that has her appear dead to get out of the marriage and escape with Romeo.

This plan as we know did not succeed and it would have never had to happen if the

Capulet’s had not taken those actions.

The Capulets are ultimately responsible for Romeo and Juliet’s death because if

Lord Capulet hadn’t forced Juliet into an arranged marriage and if Lady Capulet provided

support instead of abandonment, things would have turned out differently. As a parent

Lord Capulet wants to bring Juliet joy after an unfortunate event however he goes against

his own belief to do so. Even though Lord Capulet thought Juliet was too young for

marriage he still gets mad at Juliet when she is against the marriage and calls her

ungrateful, thinking only about himself and not about Juliet's happiness. Lady Capulet is
all for Juliet’s arranged marriage and when Juliet asks for her help to cancel or delay the

marriage, Lady Capulet abandons her. Leaving Juliet helpless in this unwanted marriage

she takes actions that result in her death. In the end, if Lord and Lady Capulet had

supported Juliet instead of forcing her into marriage, Juliet and Romeo would still be

alive.