Some Shall Be Pardon D, And Some Punished. Essay, Research Paper

In the story of Romeo & Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, the sequence of events which lead to the two deaths were arguably caused by the persons assisting the two lovers in their quest for happiness. Some were with good intentions and some were with bad. The nurse was responsible, but she (arguably) also meant for the best. The apothecary indeed played a key role by providing Romeo with the poison. Friar Laurence knew all too well, what might happen to the lovers, if they rushed it, and he did all he could to provide guidance to them. And to the end of the play, The Prince forcefully cites: Some shall be pardon d, and some punished. (Act V; sc.3; l. 307) Which concludes: Everyone must be accountable for their conduct.

The nurse was a dear friend of Juliet s and only wanted what was best for her, therefore she should be pardoned. She had raised Juliet when she was a baby and provided her with whatever she needed. Advice much of the time. The advice to find love with Romeo was very much to the liking of the Capulet s daughter and the help the nurse brought to them, only made their love-life more easier to obtain. However when she offered the suggestion to leave Romeo, when he was banished, and seek other love with Count Paris, this was a contested factor in which Juliet kills herself. But because the nurse s intent was never to harm Juliet, the suggestion to marry Paris, is not one to be taken highly. The nurse s history with Juliet is what should be taken highly, and with respect to that, the nurse should not be punished.

The apothecary provided a way for Romeo to be with Juliet in the heavens, by Romeo himself, committing suicide. Adding to the crime, the apothecary also knew of the full consequences for selling such a lethal drug, and knew Romeo s plan to use it on himself. Not much was known about this apothecary, and not much can be said, but that he was an accomplice to this suicide, and therefore should undoubtedly be punished.

Friar Laurence was a father-figure for both Romeo & Juliet. The couple seeked guidance from him, and he did deliver. Instead of finding Romeo & Juliet s love, a curse on both houses, he found it to be a uniting force, where perhaps their relationship could bring an end to a feud which could be termed as ancient. Friar Laurence s intentions can be only for the better, and his philosophical mind provided much support and counsel to the ill-fated teens, and his outstanding and long-service to the community of Verona should without doubt, spell out pardon d for his life.

Finally, The Prince suggested that select persons were involved or responsible for the suicide of Romeo & Juliet. It can be argued however that the only punished were that of Juliet and her Romeo, the punishment being their deaths, the cause? Romeo s impulsiveness, which Juliet did adopt from her husband. Yes, the factors which led to the deaths should be dealt with accordingly, and those that didn t should be pardoned, but nonetheless: Each person should be responsible for their behaviour, and the others they had affected.