Suicide in Romeo and Juliet

O my love, my wife,

Death, that hath sucked the honey of thy breath,

Hath had no power yet upon thy beauty.”     [Romeo—5.3.92-93]

Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet presents a tragic tale of young love that ends in dual suicides.  Romeo first takes his life when he wrongly believes Juliet has killed herself during his banishment.  When Juliet awakes she finds both Romeo and Paris dead, and so she too claims her life: “O, happy dagger, This is they sheath.  There rust, and let me die” (5.3.174-175).

Suicide is still a major cause of death affecting teenagers like Romeo and Juliet.  What could have been done to prevent Romeo and Juliet’s suicides?  In your groups, you will research ways to prevent suicide for troubled teens.