Many aspects of life involve an immense amount of planning. Unfortunately, people constantly construct plans that lack adequate contemplation of the risks that are involved. This foolishness often generates troublesome situations and even massive catastrophes. In the play, “” by William Shakespeare, since Romeo and Benvolio plan to attend the Capulet ball, Capulet arranges for Juliet to marry Paris, and Friar Lawrence constructs a plan that involves Juliet faking her death, tragedy occurs.
As a result, risky arrangements are responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Benvolio’s plan to attend the Capulet ball is a main reason why risky arrangements are responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Attending the ball, Romeo and Benvolio cross enemy lines. The servant that invites them to attend warns them of their risk by saying, “Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master is the great / rich Capulet, and if you be not of the house of / Montagues, I pray come and crush a cup of wine.
Rest / you merry” (Act I; scene ii). This quote illustrates the emphasis on the fact that Montagues should not attend the Ball. Therefore, with the decision to attend, Romeo and Benvolio consciously put themselves in danger. Additionally, it is at the ball Romeo and Juliet meet and fall in love. After Romeo’s first acquaintance with the fair Juliet, he says: O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night As a rich jewel in Ethiop’s ear- Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear: … Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne ” er saw true beauty till this night (Act I; scene v).
Clearly Romeo falls head over heals for Juliet after merely a brief meeting. Furthermore, Capulet tells Tybalt to leave Romeo alone when he spots him at the ball. This causes Tybalt to become furious. Capulet says to Tybalt: And to say truth, Verona brags of him To be a virtuous and well-govern’d youth. I would not for the wealth of all this town Here in my house do him disparagement; Therefore be patient, take no note of him; It is my will, the which if thou respect, Show a fair presence, and put off these frowns, An ill-beseeming semblance for a feast (Act I; scene v).
This shows that in attending the ball, Romeo sets himself up for terrible trouble in the future. This is because he causes Tybalt to hold an incredible grudge against him. Romeo and Benvolio’s choice to attend the Capulet ball adds to the cause of why risky arrangements are responsible for the death and Romeo and Juliet. An additional Cause to why risky arrangements triggered the death of Romeo and Juliet is Juliet’s arranged marriage to Paris. Juliet is incapable of marrying Paris because she is married to and loves Romeo. When marrying Romeo and Juliet, Friar Lawrence says, ” Come, come with me, and we will make short work, / For by your leaves, you shall not stay alone / Till Holy Church incorporate two in one” (Act II; Scene vi).
This quote illustrates Romeo and Juliet’s tie to each other and legal marriage. Juliet cannot obey her fathers order, even if she wants to. Furthermore, since Romeo is banished, Juliet is unable to run off with Romeo, disobeying her father’s decree. After Romeo kills Tybalt, the Prince says, “And for that offence / Immediately do we exile him hence… .” (Act III; Scene i). This quote demonstrates Juliet’s entrapment.
She is not only unable to marry Paris, but simultaneously, she is incapable of not marrying him. Without Romeo, Juliet has nowhere to escape. In addition, Juliet cannot explain to her parents the real reason why she is incapable of marrying Paris. Thus, Juliet tells her mother: Now by Saint Peter’s Church and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride. I wonder at this haste, that I must wed Ere he that should be husband comes to woo. I pray you tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, Rather than Paris.
These are news indeed! (Act III; Scene v) By saying this, it illustrates that Juliet has to tell her parents false reasons to why she is unable to marry Paris, to prevent the seemingly inevitable marriage. Although she yearns to tell her parents the true reason, that is not a chose because of the grudge between the families. Juliet’s arrangement to marry Paris is a cause to why risky arrangements initiate the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. A final reason to why risky arrangements are to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet is because Friar Lawrence conjures up a plan to help Romeo and Juliet that involves Juliet faking her death. Balthasar, blind to Friar’s plan, tells Romeo that Juliet is actually dead. Balthasar says: Then she is well and nothing can be ill: Her body sleeps in Capels’ monument, And her immortal part with angels lives.
I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault, And presently took post to tell it to you. O pardon me for bringing these ill news, Since you did leave it for my office, sir (Act V; scene i). This quote is crucial because it shows the demolish ment the entire plan. Besides Juliet and Friar Lawrence, Romeo is the only person who is suppose to know that Juliet is actually alive. With Romeo thinking that Juliet is dead, tragedy occurs. In addition, the letter describing Friar’s plan, does not reach Romeo.
Regarding this misfortune, Friar John tells Friar Lawrence that, ” I could not send it-here it is again- / Nor get a messenger to bring it to thee, / So fearful were they of infection” (Act V; scene ii). Without the message, Romeo not only has no way of knowing the plan but, there is also no way for him to know that Juliet is really alive. The plan becomes not only completely destroyed, but moreover, turned lethal. Furthermore, Romeo travels to the vault to find Juliet “dead.” Upon sight of his frail lady, Romeo says, ” O my love, my wife, / Death, hath suck’d the honey out of they breath… .” (Act V; Scene iii). With knowledge of her death and now actual sight of her seeming dead, Romeo is completely convinced of her parting.
Friar Lawrence’s plan to help Romeo and Juliet, involving Juliet faking her death, adds to the reason why risky arrangements caused the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. It is rather apparent why risky arrangements are responsible for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. There is no other reason as large and accountable. Romeo and Benvolio’s plan to attend the Capulet ball, Juliet’s arrangement to marry Paris, and Friar Lawrence’s plan involving Juliet faking her own death make risky situations the prime trigger of the two lovers’ deaths.
From this play, perhaps people will begin to contemplate the risks involved in their plans before executing them.