In "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, the Prince decrees that Romeo is to be banished from Verona as punishment for killing Tybalt. This decision comes after a series of events, including Tybalt killing Mercutio, which leads to Romeo avenging his friend's death.
The Prince chooses banishment instead of a harsher punishment, such as death, for a couple of reasons. Firstly, he recognizes that Romeo was initially trying to avoid conflict when Tybalt confronted him, indicating that Romeo's actions were partly driven by the circumstances rather than pure malice. Secondly, the Prince is aware of Romeo's and Juliet’s noble status and the tragedy of their love, which influences his decision to give Romeo a chance for redemption rather than executing him outright. The Prince’s punishment reflects a balance between maintaining order in Verona and acknowledging the complexities of the situation that led to the violence.