Why does Romeo Kill Tybalt: Unraveling the Tragic Catalyst in Romeo and Juliet

Romeo’s Reactivity Leads to Tragedy

Imagine your family’s enemy hosting a party that you attend, meeting a boy whose actions later result in the death of 2 of your loved ones and many others. Romeo was the primary influence and cause of many of the tragic deaths. His secretive marriage, his murderous tendencies, and his irrational decisions were all events that led to forming his characteristics. Although Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers, Romeo is most responsible for the deaths in “Romeo and Juliet” because he is reactive, irresponsible, and hell-bent.

Reactivity Romeo is reactive, which causes many of the deaths in this tragedy. Following the secret marriage of Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio and Tybalt participate in a fight in the streets of Verona. This results in Mercutio being killed by Tybalt. This event enrages Romeo, and he then fights and kills Tybalt. Standing in the street moments after Mercutio was taken away, Romeo states, “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain? Away to heaven respective lenity and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!”. Romeo became enraged, and as a result, he made a reactive decision to kill Tybalt.

Why Does Romeo Kill Tybalt? Impulsive Choices and Their Consequences

While making this decision, Romeo neglects to consider the consequences or the fact that Tybalt is his wife’s cousin without examining the consequences or taking into account that Tybalt is Juliet’s love cousin. Romeo ignores the hardship this event will cause his family, and consequently, Romeo’s mother then dies of a broken heart. Juliet and Friar Lawrence devise a plan for Juliet to take a toxin that will slow her heart and make her appear to be dead for three days. This plan is meant to provide Juliet with the opportunity to run away with Romeo without her family knowing. However, Romeo is unaware of the plan and, in turn, believes Juliet is dead when he arrives. Romeo then quickly decides to take his life. Standing next to Juliet’s limp body, Romeo believes she’s dead and states, “Come, bitter conduct: come, unsavory guide! Thou desperate pilot, now at once run on the dashing rocks thy seasick weary bark! Here’s to my love!” (V.III.116.). Romeo saw his love dead and, again, without considering the consequences of his actions, decided to take his life. Romeo disregards the hardship this event will cause, and in turn, when Juliet awoke from her long sleep, she took her life. If Romeo had thought through his actions and had thought through the consequences, Tybalt would not have been killed, he and Juliet would have run away together, and his mother would not have died. However, Romeo made reactive decisions based on his emotions rather than his mind.

Irresponsibility in Romeo’s Actions

Another trait is irresponsibility Romeo is Irresponsible, which results in events that take part in many of the deaths in this tragedy. At the beginning of the play, Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio are all standing on a street in Verona late at night. Mercutio is persuading Romeo to attend a party with him. Romeo was aware the party was at his family’s enemies’ estate. However, Romeo states, “He, that hath the steerage of my course, Direct my sail! On, lusty gentlemen” (I.IV.119). Romeo does not take responsibility for his life and ability to make decisions while deciding to attend the Capulet’s, his family’s known feuding enemies, party, which then results in Tybalt earning to kill Romeo. This then causes Tybalt to challenge Romeo to a duel later in the play; This duel leads to the death of Mercutio, resulting in Romeo making the reactive decision to kill Tybalt. Following Romeo and Juliet’s secret marriage ceremony, Tybalt and Mercutio take part in a fight which leads to Tybalt killing Mercutio. Romeo then became enraged and killed Tybalt with no thought of the consequences or hardships his death would cause. Following this, Romeo flees the scene and runs away from what he did. Following the murder of Tybalt, Romeo states,” O, I am fortune’s fool!” (III.I.138.). Romeo runs away from his murder, therefore, not taking responsibility for his actions; this action and responsibility then lead to Romeo’s banishment. His banishment drives Juliet to wish to run away with Romeo. This is when Juliet and Friar Laurence devise the plan for Juliet to take the toxin, which leads to the death of Juliet, Romeo, and Paris. If Romeo had taken responsibility for his actions and life, he would not have attended the Capulet’s party, therefore not meeting Juliet and enraging Tybalt, preventing numerous deaths within this tragedy.

A Tragic Tale of Impulse and Regret

Romeo is hell-bent, which causes many deaths within this play. After Romeo secretly gets married in the streets of Verona, Tybalt challenges him to a swordfight. Tybalt then kills Mercutio, which causes Romeo to act impulsively and out of anger and slay Tybalt. Moments before murdering Tybalt, Romeo states, “Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain? Away to heaven respective lenity and fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!” (III.I.123.). Romeo neglecting Juliet’s feelings results in the banishment of him, which, in turn, results in the deaths of Tybalt, Juliet, Romeo, and Paris. Some may argue Romeo was just a heartbroken teen who didn’t understand the impact his actions would have. However, even at 14 years old, teens understand the difference between right and wrong and understand actions have consequences. Although Romeo and Juliet were star-crossed lovers, Romeo is most responsible for the many deaths in “Romeo and Juliet” because he is reactive, irresponsible, and hell-bent. Due to Romeo reacting to suicide, not taking responsibility for his life, and the hell-bent decision to kill Tybalt, the numerous deaths in this tragedy were a result of Romeo and his actions.

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