Death by Miscommunication

Miscommunication was the key reason that Romeo and Juliet's innocent love story turned into a tragedy. The first arising problem was that the letter to Romeo was not received and therefore the plan could not be carried out. Balthasar told Romeo, “I saw her laid low in her kindred’s vault…” (5.1.20) Without the letter to tell him otherwise, Romeo could not have known that Juliet was not dead. If Friar Lawrence had delivered the letter himself, it is quite possible that Romeo and Juliet could have lived 'Happily Ever After.' This dramatic irony causes suspense and tension, whilst also being humorous, for the audience knows an important secret that most of the characters do not. This miscommunication between Romeo, Balthasar and Friar Lawrence is the most damaging to the future of Romeo and Juliet. Not only this, but the language choices of Juliet caused her mother to think that she wanted Romeo dead. Instead of confessing her love about Romeo, Juliet stated “Indeed I never shall be satisfied with Romeo, till I behold him – dead…” (3.5.93-94) This misinterpretation of dialogue caused Lady Capulet's hatred towards Romeo to be unchanged, if not heightened by the fact that he killed Tybalt, her nephew. This choice of sentence structure again causes dramatic irony as the audience knows what Juliet really means. Therefore, this inaccurate exchange of communication is the real reason to blame for the tragedy that occurred between Romeo and Juliet.