Is Romeo and Juliet's death a tragedy of two families or a tragedy of a city? In the following quote, W. H. Auden says, 'The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet....is not simply a tragedy of two individuals, but the tragedy of a city. Everybody in the city is one way or another involved in and responsible for what happens.' I agree with this quote. In the rest of this essay you will read why.
One reason why it is a tragedy of a city is because almost everyone is involved. Almost the whole city attended the party which the Capulets held. Even Romeo attended the party. Now the audience of the play knows that even the city's citizens are involved.
The next reason is when Benvolio and Tybalt exchange insults. At first they just argue. Then within a blink of an eye, you see masses of people fighting. People come from all sides.
Representing the famous balcony scene from romeo a...
English: Woodcut "Verona" from "Romeo and Juliet" ...
Rosaline in Zeffirelli's Romeo and Juliet, one of ...To me, it looked as if the whole town was present at the brawl.
The third and most consequential reason is the ending of the play at Romeo and Juliet's funeral. The star crossed lovers' bodies were carried out into the center of town. All of Verona was following. There were masses of people. The whole town was present. This reason made me decide the lovers' deaths were a trgedy of a city.
In conclusion, with all the people involved in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet's death, the tragedy was of a city.