Romeo and Juliet is a play about two young people, from rival families, who fall in love and marry secretly. However, the continuous violence and hate between their families lead to a tragic end. As punishment for killing Tybalt, Romeo is banished from Verona. The question now arises, is the punishment for Romeo fair? While some may argue that it is, I believe that it is an unfair and cruel punishment.
Firstly, it is essential to understand that Romeo made a mistake in killing Tybalt, but it was not an intentional act of violence. In the heat of the moment, Romeo lost his control due to the death of his friend Mercutio, and he was only trying to avenge his death. Therefore, banishing a young boy who acted out of desperation, rather than callousness, seems too harsh.
Secondly, Romeo is not entirely to blame for Tybalt's death. Tybalt insults and provokes him, and had Tybalt not initiated the fight, perhaps the tragedy would not have arisen in the first place. Hence, Romeo was just defending himself, and his punishment is therefore unfair.
Moreover, the punishment of banishment for Romeo meant that he would have to leave the love of his life, Juliet. Is it fair to separate two innocent, young lovers who have committed no crime other than loving each other? Romeo is banished, and Juliet cannot leave her family's home, so they are forced to be away from each other. The punishment, in this case, is not only unjust but also inhumane and cruel.
In conclusion, the idea is that an appropriate punishment should serve as a deterrent for possible future offenders, but banishment, in this case, achieved none of that. Instead, it was a harsh and unfair punishment that caused undue suffering to Romeo, Juliet, and their families. Therefore, I firmly believe that the punishment was unfair.
As punishment, Romeo is banished from Verona. Is this punishment fair? Argumentative Essay
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