Title: Why does the Prince banish Romeo from Verona?  - eNotes.com
Headings: Why does the Prince banish Romeo from Verona?
Romeo and Juliet
Why does the Prince banish Romeo from Verona?
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Content: however, the Prince can't let the street fight and killings go unpunished. The Prince decides to banish Romeo from Verona. And for that offence
Immediately we do exile him hence. Approved by eNotes Editorial Team
Alec Cranford
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The Prince banishes Romeo from Verona for killing Tybalt in a duel in the streets. Although he has announced that he will execute anyone from the Montague or Capulet families who sheds blood in the streets, he decides to only banish Romeo because Tybalt had killed Mercutio. As the Montagues point out, Romeo had thus basically done what the law would have otherwise done in killing Tybalt. Additionally, Romeo had attempted to avoid Tybalt's challenge, and fought Tybalt (who was by that point Romeo's kinsman by virtue of his marriage to Juliet) only when Mercurio had been slain. Romeo is nevertheless devastated by the news, as he has just married Juliet and views banishment as a disaster. Although the Friar is very persuasive in telling Romeo that he should be grateful to only receive banishment, Romeo is, in a way, proven correct. His banishment to Mantua leads inexorably to a series of misfortunes that culminate in his and Juliet's deaths.