The Thin Line Between Right And Wrong
The Thin Line Between Right And Wrong Sergio Peniche
ENG2D
Ms. Rafuse
December 6, 2012

Sergio Peniche
ENG2D
Ms. Rafuse
December 6, 2012

Different people have different views of justice in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Lady Capulet had a vengeful view of justice, lord Montague had a merciful view of justice, and prince Escalus had a fair view of justice after the deaths of Mercutio and Tybalt. We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not. Then weep no more. I’ll send to one in Mantua, Where that same banished runagate doth live, Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram That he shall soon keep Tybalt company. And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied. (III, V, 88-93)

We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not. Then weep no more. I’ll send to one in Mantua, Where that same banished runagate doth live, Shall give him such an unaccustomed dram That he shall soon keep Tybalt company. And then, I hope, thou wilt be satisfied. (III, V, 88-93)

First of all Lady Capulet had a vengeful view of justice. She feels this way because Tybalt is her brother´s child and kinsman, and he being killed by Romeo causes her a lot of grief and sorrow: “Tybalt, my cousin! O my brother’s child! O Prince! O cousin! Husband! Oh, the blood is spilled Of my dear kinsman! Prince, as thou art true, For blood of ours shed blood of Montague. O cousin, cousin!”(III, i, 145-149). These feelings of grief, sorrow and hate lead to a desire of vengeance that causes Lady Capulet wanting Romeo’s death:

She also asks the Prince to kill Romeo:” I beg for justice, which thou, Prince, must give. Romeo slew Tybalt. Romeo must not live.”( III, i, 179-180). To conclude Lady Capulet´s grief causes a vengeful feeling towards Romeo, and a desire to see him suffer the same consequences as Tybalt. On the contrary Lord Montague had a merciful view of justice. Lord Montague had this view of justice mainly because Romeo is his son, and he has shown that he is a loving and caring father. Like in the beginning of the play when he is worried about Romeo´s sorrow and tries to find a solution for it:
Both by myself and many other friends,
But he, his own affections' counselor,
Is to himself—I will not say how true,
But to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,
As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
Or dedicate his beauty to the same.
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow.
We would as willingly give cure as know. (I, i, 143-152)

Both by myself and many other friends,
But he, his own affections' counselor,
Is to himself—I will not say how true,
But to himself so secret and so close,
So far from sounding and discovery,
As is the bud bit with an envious worm,
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air,
Or dedicate his beauty to the same.
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow.
We would as willingly give cure as know. (I, i, 143-152)

Because of this love Lord Montague tries to defend Romeo by saying that he concluded the law when he killed Tybalt.” Not Romeo, Prince, he was Mercutio’s friend. His fault concludes but what the law should end, The life of Tybalt.”( III, i, 182-184). Lord Montague merciful view of justice comes from the love of a father to his son and this is the reason why he does not wants any punishment for Romeo.
Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace ,
Profaners of this neighbor-stainèd steel!—
Will