Romeo, Juliet and the Blame Game

Do you accept responsibility for your actions, or do you play the blame game? When things go wrong, as a result of your choices, do you accept accountability or do you blame someone else?

At this point, with year 10 classes in mind, I would like to take a short detour into the world of Romeo and Juliet. Students may recognise my favourite quote, a line delivered by Friar Lawrence,

‘Within the infant rind of this weak flower / poison hath residence and medicine power”

In other words, a situation has the potential to be helpful or unhelpful depending on the choices made. Those who know the play may remember, these lines of dialogue foreshadow the priest’s involvement in the tragic ending of the play. In the final Act, Friar Lawrence accepts responsibility for his actions. He admits he married the couple in secret. He admits he gave Juliet a sleeping potion (so she could avoid marriage to Paris). He admits he failed in his efforts to contact Romeo (so Romeo did not know Juliet was in a death-like sleep). Nevertheless, audiences (and the Prince) accept Friar Lawrence’s actions were motivated by peace and love. However, even though his intentions were pure, the outcomes were not as he intended. The waring families may have buried their hate, unfortunately the cost was higher than Friar Lawrence, Romeo or Juliet ever imagined.

You may be wondering how this reference to literature relates you.

The answer to this question is best found within your Self. What message about choice, consequence and responsibility will you take from this example?

Do you recognise the times where, even though your intentions were good and you planned a particular outcome, circumstances delivered a different result? Importantly, at these times, are you willing to accept responsibility for your actions?