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Who is to Blame?
Sep. 25th, 2009 11:08 amThe American Shakespeare Center asked Who is to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet? and while this actually comes out of Doom's response to seeing the play, I find it an interesting proposal and thought I would share.
The Prince is to blame for all of the action in the play. Directly after the chaotic fighting in the first scene, He appears with all the Rhetoric of an official in control of his people: "If ever you disturb our streets again / Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace." Yet, by the end of the first act trouble is brewing, again. His own cousin, Mercutio, does not even listen to his decrees. Next time we even see this much absent Prince moe blood has already been spilled. So, here he has the chance to prove his seriousness and end this feud by making the penalties real, binding and swift. Yet, he here falls short:
The Prince is to blame for all of the action in the play. Directly after the chaotic fighting in the first scene, He appears with all the Rhetoric of an official in control of his people: "If ever you disturb our streets again / Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace." Yet, by the end of the first act trouble is brewing, again. His own cousin, Mercutio, does not even listen to his decrees. Next time we even see this much absent Prince moe blood has already been spilled. So, here he has the chance to prove his seriousness and end this feud by making the penalties real, binding and swift. Yet, he here falls short:
Prin. Romeo slew him, he slew Mercutio;
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Mon. Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's
friend,
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
Prin. And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?
Mon. Not Romeo, prince, he was Mercutio's
friend,
His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Tybalt.
Prin. And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence:
The feuding will continue with no end in sight because the Prince refuses to make thinks right. He makes himself weak, a prince that can be pushed around by the lords under his charge. This inability of Prince leads to the need for secrecy and schemeing on the part of the friar, who now feels the need to pick up where the prince has failed and bring the to families together which he attempts to do through Romeo and Juliet. It is because of the Prince and his lack of actual authority that sets up the situation in which Romeo and Juliet feel the need to end their lives. And even with their deaths they prove the Prince's inefficacy. For he uses their death as a replacement for his inaction in stopping this feud;
Capulet! Montague!
See what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with
love;
love;
