Influence Of The Destinies Of The Major CharactersRomeo and Juliet is a play based on love, fate, change andtragedy.
It tracks the story of two lovers from opposing families’ancient feud, in death. Like most stories, the major charactersplay an important role, such as the decisions in which they take. Yet the minor characters also have a good deal of influence overthe ultimate destinies of Romeo and Juliet. The first minor character to be mentioned should be Tybalt. He wasa butter enemy of Romeo, and had he not been `slain’, Romeo wouldnever had been banished. In Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt kills Mercutiowhen Romeo attempts to come between the combatants and averts thefight.
Out of blind rage, Romeo kills Tybalt. “And in my tmepersoften’d valours see!” Had Romeo not decided to exact revenge onTybalt, perhaps the Capulets might have accepted him as a son. This would mean that Romeo and Juliet would not have had to hidetheir love for each other. Tybalt, indeed, had a large effect onthe lives of Romeo and Juliet, by killing Mercutio. Another minor character thought to have shaped the destinies ofRomeo and Juliet is Paris.
In Act 3, Scene 5, Lady Capuletannounces that Juliet is to marry Paris. “The County Paris, atSaint Peter’s church, Shall happily make thee there a joyfulbride. ” Juliet obviously refuses and goes to Friar Laurence forhelp. Friar Laurence devises a plan, which will prevent themarriage and reunite Romeo with Juliet.
However, this plan goeshorribly wrong, perhaps causing the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. IfParis had not wished to be with Juliet, none of the followingwould have occurred. Friar Laurence gives a letter to Friar John to send to Romeo aboutJuliet’s plans. But Friar John was unable to find Romeo. “Nor geta messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection”. This is another example of a minor character playing an importantrole.
Balthasar brings Romeo the news of Juliet’s `death’. Romeo thengoes to Juliet’s tomb and lays with her that night. He looks foran apothecary to sell him some poison, and succeeds. Had theapothecary refused to sell him the poison, Romeo might have beendelayed, giving Friar Laurence time to find him and tell him thetruth.
The above paragraphs are simply speculation on what might or mightnot have happened, but it does help explain the view that theminor characters helped shape the destiny of Romeo and Juliet. Perhaps their deaths could not be prevented. Maybe Romeo andJuliet were `pawns’ in a game to end their families’ ancient feud. It is possible that a higher force was at work here – fate. Onething is known for certain, there has never been a “story of morewoe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
