Responsibility for Tragic Results in Romeo and Juliet to the Nurse and Fate - Essay Example

But despite that, she didn’t think of the possible consequences of Romeo and Juliet's secret marriage. She agreed to carry Juliet’s message to Romeo when he was in Mantua. So, she was the directing hand of fate – her actions partially resulted in the tragic outcome. She even persuaded Juliet to choose Paris saying that “I think you are as happy in this second match,/ For it excels your first: or if it did not,/ Your first is dead; or ‘twere as good he were” (III, 5.). The Nurse loved Juliet like her real daughter and wished her to be happy, but her attitude to love was different from that of Juliet. From the very moment of Romeo and Juliet's acquaintance, the tragic outcome was predetermined. Their fate had to be tragic because of the clear conflict of Romeo and Juliet's mutual and passionate love from one side and morals, economical and social benefit, and family interests from another. Everything was predetermined by fate, and the Nurse was one of its instruments. She didn’t want to take into account numerous problems followed by their love and secret marriage. Therefore the Nurse was one of those responsible for Romeo and Juliet's tragic death. In general fate and predetermination were characteristic for Shakespeare and the 16th-century audience which would have highly believed in fate, and this can be seen as a clue to how the story unfolds.
There is another person who is partially responsible for Romeo and Juliet's suicide. Friar Lawrence also wanted Romeo and Juliet to be happy together, but despite that, he approached their tragic outcome by his rash actions. He was a very wise and insightful person, but he also cannot assume that his actions would result in tragedy. He secretly married them although he knew that it was forbidden, he did that because he was sure that they would be happy together. He said that “So smile the heaven upon this holy act,/ That after-hours with sorrow chide us not!” (II, 6). But he also supposed that the wedding would stop the quarrel between two families. He said: “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be;/ For this alliance may so happy prove,/ To turn your households' rancor to pure love” (II, 3.). To help them to be together he gave Juliet the portion, but he didn’t control the message about his plans to be delivered to Romeo in time. It resulted in tragedy! As the Nurse, Friar Lawrence was the instrument of fate. The tragedy was predetermined, and his actions involuntarily approached the tragedy. He hurried to the crypt, but he was not in time. He cried: “Saint Francis be my speed! How oft tonight/Have my old feet stumbled at graves!” (V. 3). He, as well as the Nurse, couldn’t change the fate. They both wanted Romeo and Juliet to be happy, but their rash actions and support led to the tragic outcome.