How is it the Prince's fault for Romeo & Juliet's deaths?

[Tdol]

Is the banishment so patently unjust? He did actually kill someone, even if the circumstances were complicated.

[Raymott]

Is the banishment so patently unjust? He did actually kill someone, even if the circumstances were complicated.

I agree. I thought the banishment was an act of clemency. It's not a good argument to say that Escalus should have been harsher, and then blame him for banishing Romeo when Romeo could have been executed for his crime.

[NarutoDude]

I guess you're right. I'll try to somehow word it so that it sounds like the Prince should've punished Lord Montague and Lord Capulet. But he punished Romeo instead.