Analyzing Tybalt: A Monologue on Responsibility in Romeo & Juliet

This assignment presents a monologue delivered from the perspective of Tybalt, a character from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, who is often blamed for the tragedy. In his monologue, Tybalt defends his actions, arguing that his challenge to Romeo was motivated by a desire to protect his family's honor and prevent potential harm from their rival community. He expresses regret for not recognizing the genuine love between Romeo and Juliet and acknowledges his aggression. However, he also attempts to shift some of the blame to Friar Lawrence, suggesting that the Friar's miscommunication played a significant role in the couple's demise. Tybalt emphasizes that his actions were driven by a perceived threat from a sworn enemy and that he never intended to cause the death of his own sister. He concludes by asserting that his intentions were to protect his family and that he should not be held solely responsible for the tragic outcome.

ROMEO AND JULIET
MONOLOGUE

TABLE OF CONTENTS
MONOLOGUE................................................................................................................................3

MONOLOGUE
Can you hear me? I am Tybalt and society finds me guilty of Romeo and Juliet’s death. Did I
force them to take that step? What would I have gained from their death? In-fact I lost my own
little sister.
People think that if I hadn't challenged Romeo for duel nothing would have happened. But the
circumstances were such that I had to challenge Romeo to show my community more powerful. I
also didn't know what would happen after that. Romeo belonged to my opponent community and
my sister wanted to marry him. It was my responsibility to protect my family and there were
chances that rival people could misuse this relationship.
There is a saying that, “Everything is fair in love and war” and I think I took this too seriously. I
had no idea that consequences would be so severe. My intent, my friends, was purely towards
protection of my friends.
My aggression towards the rival community was extremely strong because of the ongoing feud
between our families. Because of this mentality I couldn’t feel the love and emotions of Romeo
and Juliet which led me to challenge him for duel. When I found that they both were having
affair, I got angry and my only intent was to kill Romeo at that moment.
I would like to appeal to all of you that had I been left alive; I would be filled with remorse same
as my family. I could cry and cry but our tears would not have been able to bring back my
beloved, my little sister!
I regret that Romeo understood the kinship that we had entered into automatically after marriage
but I failed to so. He wanted that all the things to get resolved and for the two communities to not
remain rivals. I expect if I hadn’t been so aggressive at that moment and tried to handle the
situation with calmness then perhaps they would have been alive. However, am I the only reason
behind the Romeo and Juliet death?
In my opinion, I found Friar Lawrence as being the key responsible person for the death. When
he is not sure about the delivery of message, then he should not have taken such grave step. I can
fairly ascertain that he can be held more responsible for death of Romeo and Juliet. Just because
mine was an aggressive take on their relationship, I cannot be held more responsible than him.
The logic behind the aggression which I had on Romeo was that he ultimately belonged
to the community who was a sworn enemy and their intentions could be dangerous. A
community who always fought with our people and killed them could not be trusted. I did not

approve this relationship as Romeo might have wanted to harm my innocent sister or could have
wanted to take economic advantages of the situation. I thought this was a malicious plotting of
the rivals.
I was not the real cause behind the death of Romeo and Juliet. I never thought due to me
my sister would who I held so dear to my heart. The challenge and aggression which I showed at
that point was a natural feeling. I didn’t recognize the power of love where my sister greeted
death as an old friend when she found Romeo dead. He too took poison just because he believed
my sister to be dead. Had I known this power, I would have accepted the relationship. But
despite I who just wanted to protect my sister and Capulets cannot be held liable for the death of
these two star crossed lovers.