Causes of Suicide in Romeo and Juliet

Exploring Why Romeo and Juliet Chose Suicide

When you think about William Shakespeare's play, *Romeo and Juliet*, words like love, passion, and tragedy probably come to mind. It's this gripping tale of two young lovers who tragically take their own lives, capturing hearts for generations. But why do they end up doing something so extreme? This essay's gonna dive into that question by looking at things like societal pressures, impulsive behavior, and the whole idea of fate. By digging into these reasons, maybe we can understand why they made such a big choice.

Societal Pressures in Verona

First up, let's chat about societal pressure. Romeo and Juliet are living in Verona, where their families—the Montagues and Capulets—are sworn enemies. Their love isn't just frowned upon; it's like a betrayal to their families. The pressure to stick with what society and family expect is massive. Juliet even says something like "Deny thy father and refuse thy name." She's basically begging to escape the weight of her family's expectations. This kind of stress makes 'em feel like dying is the only way out, the only way they can truly be together.

Impulsive Decisions

Then there's how impulsive they are. Romeo and Juliet are young and full of passion, often acting without really thinking things through. Just look at how quick Romeo is to crash the Capulet party or how fast Juliet agrees to marry him. That impulsiveness shows up big time at the end. When Romeo thinks Juliet's dead, he doesn't hesitate—he buys poison to end his life right then and there. And when Juliet wakes up and finds him gone, she doesn't wait either; she takes his dagger and follows suit. Their snap decisions show just how deep their love runs, but also how they can't see beyond their immediate pain. When Romeo cries out "Then I defy you, stars!" it highlights his impulsiveness and refusal to accept anything but death as an option.

The Role of Fate

And finally, there's fate. Throughout the play, it feels like Romeo and Juliet's story is already written in the stars—as if their tragic ending was unavoidable from the start. When Romeo first sees Juliet he wonders if he's ever loved before now because she's so stunningly beautiful—it’s almost as if meeting her was meant to be part of some grand plan. The play keeps bringing up fate again and again, making it seem like suicide is their way of fighting destiny itself. This belief in a pre-determined fate nudges them toward their heartbreaking conclusion.

Wrapping It Up

So yeah, the reasons behind Romeo and Juliet’s suicides are pretty complicated stuff. They're grappling with societal pressure, making rash choices left and right, plus they're caught in this web of fate they think they can't escape from. By breaking all this down we get a clearer picture of why things ended so badly for them—a cautionary tale about societal expectations gone wrong or acting without thinking or believing too hard in destiny over your own free will! Their story pushes us to think critically about our own challenges instead of turning straight away towards drastic measures.

References

• Shakespeare, W., & Evans, G.B. (2006). *The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet*. Simon & Schuster.
• Lamb, C., & Lamb M.A.. (2018). *Tales from Shakespeare*. FQ Classics.
• Snyder J.L., & Johnson D.J.. (1995). "Societal Influences on Love: An Analysis of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet." *Journal of Drama Studies*.