William Shakespeare's masterwork, "Romeo and Juliet," is unabashedly a tragedy. One reason to support this claim is that the hero and heroine of the play (teenagers Romeo and Juliet) take their own lives, as they see it as the only way they can be together. However, even though that scene is the most remembered when you even mention Romeo and Juliet, there are also more tragic elements to the play, even before the deaths occur. I feel that the play can definitely be considered a tragedy because it seems that even from the very start of the play, that fate is going to completely destroy their relationship. I feel that Shakespeare certainly ensures that all of the tragic events that take place in the play, eventually lead up to the deaths of the two young lovers. I believe that deception and corruption in Verona also hinders the love between Romeo and Juliet, their love is clearly not allowed to blossom as a result of their families feud, and this is definitely a characteristic of a tragic play. Furthermore, I believe that the parents of the two young lovers are most definitely to blame for this play's tragic dimension, as they are at the heart of the hatred that separates the Montagues and the Capulets. I will discuss these theories in more detail as my essay progresses.
From the very outset of the play, Shakespeare clearly states, through the Chorus, that this play is most certainly destined to be a tragedy. A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life. Here, even before the play has properly began, it is stated that it's going to be a tragedy because of the deaths of the two main characters of the play, Romeo and Juliet. However, before this tragedy occurs, there are still many more harrowing events that take place. For example, when Romeo and Juliet first meet each other in act two, they are immediately intrigued by one another. However, they then learn that they are from the opposing families of Montague and Capulet: "His name is Romeo and a Montague, the only son of your great enemy.