?For never was a story of more woe/Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
Romeo and Juliet is one of the most tragic love stories to date. Ironically, all of the tragedy and woe in Romeo and Juliet could have been prevented by the delivery of any of the three letters mentioned in the play. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare incorporates the letter to Romeo from Tybalt, the epistle to Romeo from Friar Lawrence, and the note to Montague from Romeo heighten the suspense; Each letter has the potential to prevent disaster, but none is delivered to the intended person.
When Romeo came to the party at the Capulet house Tybalt was enraged. Capulet forbid Tybalt from causing a scene at the party. Instead Tybalt sent a letter to Romeo, challenging him to a duel. Romeo never received the letter; Because of this, Romeo never knew Tybalt was out to get him. When Romeo encountered Tybalt in the street he most likely would have handled the situation differently if he knew Tybalt was after him. Unfortunately he didn't handle things well at all. Tybalt and Mercutio ended in up in a duel and Romeo stepped in to try and stop it. Under Romeo's arm, Tybalt stabbed Mercutio. Romeo, seeking revenge, took the law into his own hands and stabbed Tybalt.Tybalt, here slain, whom Romeo's hand did slay.? (III,i) This was the first catastrophe. It caused Romeo's banishment from Verona. If Romeo had received Tybalt's letter the whole ordeal could have been prevented. .
The second letter is from Friar Lawrence to Romeo. The letter had been meant to explain to Romeo, the feigned death situation with Juliet. The missive was to be delivered to Romeo by Friar John. On his way to Mantua, the Friar stopped to visit a sick friend. He and the letter were quarantined and never made it to Mantua. Instead the letter was returned to Friar Lawrence. .
?Unhappy fortune! By my brother.
The letter was not nice, but full of charge,.
Of dear import; and the neglecting it.
