How many people died in Romeo and Juliet? is a question that has puzzled readers and scholars of Shakespeare’s famous play for centuries. The answer is not entirely straightforward, as the play’s text is somewhat ambiguous on this point. However, by carefully examining the play’s dialogue and stage directions, we can piece together a fairly clear picture of the body count.
The most commonly cited figure is six. This includes the two title characters, Romeo and Juliet, as well as Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, and Lady Montague. However, some scholars argue that the play’s text suggests that other characters may have died as well, such as Romeo’s servant, Balthasar.
