by Jake Stewart

Created on: March 25, 2010

            Fear is defined in the Webster’s Student Dictionary as the feeling of alarm, fright, or a state that overcomes you with dread when you don’t know what is too come.  Harold C. Goddard says that fear is the cause to all the events that result in Romeo and Juliet’s death.  Looking back to the end of the story, I would have to agree with him.  The actions the characters took were fear-driven.  From the dread of what could happen, to the awful scenes the characters could possibly see, horror is the real killer in Rome and Juliet.

             One of the main causes of Romeo and Juliet’s death was the fact that Romeo didn’t get Friar Lawrence’s letter saying that Juliet had faked her death.  In the hands of Friar John is where the letter first started off.  The friar although, could not even enter the city of Mantua because the citizens were afraid  that he would pass on the bubonic plague to others.  Not able to start his journey to Mantua, he went back and told Friar Lawrence of his miscarriage.  “I could not send it- here it is again- nor get a messenger to bring it there, so fearful were they of the infection” (Act V, Scene II)

            Romeo's death, with poison by his own hand, would never have come to be if it were not for the poor apothecary.  Romeo met with the apothecary and started talking to him.  After a while, Romeo made his request to have a death potion in exchange for a small fortune.  The apothecary knew that making this potion was wrong, but he accepted Romeo’s offer by saying “My poverty but not my will consents” (Act V, Scene II).  This apothecary knew someone would die and yet he still gave this powerful concoction to Romeo.  The reason this potion maker gave him death’s vial was that he himself was afraid to die of hunger. 

            And the death of Romeo’s Juliet occurred in the face of fear.  According to the play, Juliet never killed herself in spite of fear, but due to the fact that Romeo was dead.  Her death could have been avoided if Friar Lawrence wouldn't of ran out when he realized the guards were outside, even though he had a good idea of what Juliet would do to herself.  Friar let the fear of being discovered stop him from saving poor Juliet's life.  As he says to Juliet in the tomb "Stay not to question, for the watch is coming" (Act V, Scene III).  Juliet simply replies with "Go, get the hence, for I will not away" (Act V, Scene III).   At that , he just leaves, not even attempting to persuade Juliet otherwise, so he won't be found in the tomb with Rome and Juliet's dead bodies. 

            As you can clearly see, Romeo and Juliet's deaths should not be blamed on the stars, but simply the actions of human beings while they are in a fearful state.  It is in this state when most people do things with only one thought, how can I get away from this terrible feeling?  From selling poison to leaving a young girl in her time of need, fear, if not faced, can rule the minds of good people.

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