If one cares to be superstitious, doesn't Romeo & Juliet's ending seem a bit odd considering Mercutio's words?

Question

If one cares to be superstitious, the ending of Romeo & Juliet can seem affected by Mercutio's curse on both the House of Montague and that of Capulet. As he dies, from Tybalt's blow, he proclaims, "A plague on both your houses!"

However ironic, his words ring true in the end.

Answer 1

The words are the turning point in the play. Everything that happens before those words "A plague on both your houses!" is either sweet or funny. If the actions are not innocent then at least they have no long term serious consequences.

     After those words everything action results in tragedy. Tybalt is a little more headstrong than evil. It's not clear that he really intended to hurt Mercutio or if he was just a blowhard.

(1) Anyway, Tybalt is killed.

(2) Romeo is banished.

(3) Benvolio, the friendly cousin mysteriously vanishes.

(4) There are no more clowns like Sampson and Gregory.

(5) The Nurse, who was a funny character begins to transform into the ultimate evil, a practical adult who recommends to Juliet that she accept what happens to Romeo and marry the good looking Paris. After all, a hunk is a hunk. One is interchangeable for the other.

(6) Friar Laurence's machinations become more and more dangerous.

(7) The parents become more manipulative and downright nasty.

(8) Paris becomes a stalker who is eventually killed.

(9) Romeo and Juliet have only one more brief scene together to consummate their marriage and it is not sweet and tender but dominated by images of fear and of death. For the rest of the play they never speak to each other again.

(10) Romeo's mother dies

(11) The other three parents suffer in agony at their loss.

(12) Even the prince feels pangs of anger that he was not able to govern his city. He loses friends and kinsmen.

(13) Of course, R&J die young.

Answer 2

it's meant to be that way, isn't it?

its been a while since i studied it.

Answer 3

I heard a scholar say once that Mercutio isn't declaring a curse on the households at all, but rather describing himself as a plague on both houses.  Since he is related to the Pince, he knows that the Prince is going to be furious when his family blood gets spilled in the feud (and in fact, the Prince is extremely angry.)  Killing Mercutio solves nothing and does not tilt the score of the fighting families, since Mercutio is related to a third party.  His death weighs on both sides.

I've seen actors play it both ways--it makes for two very different endings for Mercutio.

Answer 4

well  ya.....

there's plenty of foreshadowing in that monster of a play

Answer 5

Perhaps that what Shakespeare intended when he wrote it.

Answer 6

Foreshadowing, my friend! Foreshadowing!