Romeo and Juliet is a tragic play written by William Shakespeare that tells the story of two young lovers from feuding families who are doomed to suffer and die because of the hatred and violence that surrounds them. In the play, the characters of Romeo and Juliet are both victims of circumstance, caught in the middle of a feud that they had no part in creating. However, despite their innocence, there are several characters and forces that contribute to the tragic outcome of the play. Ultimately, it can be argued that the adults in the play, including the Capulet and Montague families, are the ones who are most to blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
One of the main reasons that the adults are to blame for the tragic outcome of the play is because they are the ones who perpetuate the feud between the Capulet and Montague families. The origins of the feud are never fully explained in the play, but it is clear that it has been going on for a long time and that the adults in the play are deeply entrenched in their hatred for one another. The Prince of Verona, who is a minor character in the play, attempts to intervene and stop the feud, but his efforts are ultimately unsuccessful. The adults in the play, including the Capulet and Montague parents, are so consumed by their hatred for one another that they are unable to see the harm that it is causing to their children and to the community as a whole.
Another reason that the adults in the play are to blame for the tragic outcome is because they are the ones who prevent Romeo and Juliet from being together. From the very beginning of the play, Romeo and Juliet are drawn to each other and are deeply in love. However, because of the feud between their families, they are unable to be together openly and are forced to keep their love a secret. This leads to a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications that ultimately contribute to the tragic outcome of the play. For example, when Romeo is banished from Verona after killing Tybalt, Juliet is devastated and begs her parents to allow her to marry Romeo. However, her parents refuse and instead force her to marry Paris, a wealthy nobleman. This decision ultimately leads to Juliet's tragic death, as she is unable to bear the thought of being separated from Romeo and takes her own life.
In conclusion, while Romeo and Juliet are tragic figures who are caught in the middle of a destructive feud, the adults in the play, including the Capulet and Montague families, are ultimately the ones who are to blame for the tragic outcome of the play. Their stubborn refusal to end the feud and their refusal to allow Romeo and Juliet to be together contribute significantly to the suffering and death of the two young lovers.
