How did Romeo and Juliet die?

In "Romeo and Juliet," the tragic deaths of the titular characters result from a series of misunderstandings and unfortunate circumstances. Romeo, banished from Verona after killing Tybalt in a fit of rage, learns of Juliet's supposed death and rushes back to the city to be with her. Upon finding her seemingly lifeless body, Romeo takes his own life with a vial of poison, unable to live without her. Moments later, Juliet awakens to find Romeo dead and, unable to bear the thought of life without him, takes her own life with his dagger. In the final Romeo and Juliet die.

The death toll in "Romeo and Juliet" is not limited to the two main characters. So how many people died in "Romeo and Juliet"? In addition to Tybalt, whom Romeo kills, several other characters meet their end over the course of the play. Mercutio, Romeo's close friend, is killed in a swordfight with Tybalt, while Paris, a nobleman engaged to Juliet, is killed in a duel with Romeo at the Capulet tomb. The Prince of Verona, dismayed by the tragic events that have unfolded, laments, "See what a scourge is laid upon your hate, / That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. / And I, for winking at your discords too, / Have lost a brace of kinsmen" (Act 5, Scene 3).

The play ultimately serves as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of hatred and the futility of violence in the face of love. As Friar Laurence notes, "These violent delights have violent ends, / And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, / Which, as they kiss, consume" (Act 2, Scene 6). The deaths of Romeo, Juliet, and their companions stand as a stark reminder of the consequences of unchecked passion and enmity.