Aren’t your friends and family memberssupposed to be the ones who consistently support you? Throughout Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, the adult characters donot regard well or value Juliet’s decisions.
Although some attribute fate to bethe cause of Juliet’s demise, the betrayal by her family and the people closeto her ultimately lead to her death which was avoidable. Juliet’s parents, LadyCapulet and Capulet lack the ability to appreciate Juliet’s decision to not marryParis. The nurse disappoints Juliet by not being supportive of Juliet’s choiceto remain married to Romeo. The final character, Friar Lawrence does notrealize the affection that Juliet and Romeo have for one another. WheneverJuliet relies on or seeks guidance from her family or friends, she is onlydisappointed and betrayed. LadyCapulet, Juliet’s mother, is supposed to have a close relationship with herdaughter, and understands her more than all others. However, Juliet’s mother isthe first person who disappoints her. When Capulet decides that Juliet shouldmarry Paris in Act 3, “ Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn/ The gallant, young, and noble gentleman/ The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church/ Shallhappily make thee there a joyful bride” (3.
5. 112-15), Lady Capulet disregardsand does not support her daughter’s strong affections for Romeo. Anotherinstance of betrayal by Juliet’s mother is when she teaches Juliet to judge menby their social rank, wealth and looks. She says this as she recommends Paristo Juliet, who meets all three requirements in her eyes. Despite knowing thatJuliet has feelings for Romeo, who is neither rich or has a high social status, she chooses someone based on her own desires, not her daughters. Although LadyCapulet may be discounting Juliet’s feelings, Lord Capulet is the person fromwhom she is taking orders. As Capulet decides to marry Juliet to Paris and she refusesto do so, Capulet threatens to reject her, stating “..
. you shall not house withme.” (3. 5. 200) Juliet’s parents do not respect the heartfelt marriage wishesof their daughter which is a clear betrayal of Juliet’s desires. Juliet andher nurse may have had a loving relationship at the beginning of the play, however when Juliet needs her most, after her parents force her to marry Paris, the Nurse betrays her. The Nurse does not back Juliet’s decisions to not marry Paris. Instead of encouraging Juliet’s affection for Romeo, the Nurse instead inputs,” I think it is best you marry the county.
.. for it excels your firstmarriage.” (3. 5.
230, 34) The Nurse’s betrayal triggers Juliet to meetwith the Friar with the intention to commit suicide if he is unable to help her– “ I’ll to the Friar to know his remedy/Ifall else fails myself have the power to die.” (3. 5. 254-55) Juliet’snurse attempts to persuade Juliet away from her young love, only because shedoes not want to risk losing Juliet to an indeterminate future once the twolovers escape to Mantua. Her selfishness risked having Juliet marry a man shenever loved, an extreme case of betrayal. Another aspect to the Nurse’sdisloyalty to Juliet involved the death of Tybalt. The nurse was very fond ofRomeo’s rival, Tybalt, and so after Romeo killed him, the Nurse lost all regardfor Romeo and was against Juliet marrying him, despite what Juliet desired.
FriarLawrence is the final person to deceive Juliet and whose betrayal most directlyleads Juliet to her death. He fails to appreciate Romeo and Juliet’s love foreach other. He believes that due to Romeo being fairly quick to overcome hisaffection for Rosaline, his new-found love for Juliet is going to be rathershort-lived. He advises Romeo, “ Wisely and slow/They stumble that run fast.
“(2. 4. 101), however he is mistaken, and does not whole- heartedly believe thatthese young lovers should wed. In addition, he has an ulterior motive: in hisperspective, he supposes that by marrying Romeo and Juliet the long-lastingfeud between the Montague and Capulet families could heal. Later in the play, when the Friar was down in the Tomb with Juliet–who was distressed aboutRomeo’s death–he had the ability to save her life. However, instead of waitingwith Juliet and comforting her, in fear of the Watch coming, Friar Lawrencebetrays her by leaving the tomb, “ Come, go, good Juliet.
I dare no longerstay.” (5. 3.
164). Overall, the Friar betrays Juliet by underestimating herlove for Romeo as well due to his own self–interest. As a result, Julietcommits suicide. Asdemonstrated throughout the play, many characters individually and cumulativelycontributed to the death of Juliet. Whether it was due to promotion ofself-interests or disregard of Juliet’s feelings, it was the self-centered andself-serving betrayals of Juliet and her feelings for Romeo that were theultimate causes that led to her demise, not fate! Lady Capulet and Capulet failureto appreciate Juliet’s choice to not marry Paris.
The nurse lets Juliet down bynot being encouraging of Juliet’s decisions to marry Romeo. Finally, FriarLawrence undermines the affection that Juliet and Romeo have for one anotherand he fails her when she needs him most. No matter how close a person may beto another, when he or she needs that person, people fail to realize how essentialtheir help and support is. When they are guided by their own interests and prejudicesinstead of the needs of the individual, it is a betrayal that can change a lifeand death outcome.
