To what extent is 'Romeo and Juliet' a tragedy?

Question:I think this question is more erudite than some of the above answerers can grasp. It is indeed questionable if the play has the necessary ingredients of a tragedy of the classic Greek tradition. I think the play is rather untypical for a tragedy and in fact has many elements of the comedy, which usually involves two young lovers who are separated by obstacles, usually in the form or dissaproving families, marriage promises etc, which is exactly the situation here. Also, unlike other tragedies, there is no sense of 'hubris' , that is no notion that the protagonists somehow commited an act of arrogance and defiance to the 'gods' , went overboard so to speak. Romeo is behaviong decent and is reluctant to engage in a fight with Tybalt. But he ends up killing not only Tybalt but later Paris. As soon as the chain of bloodshed begins the tragedy is really unstoppable, this is where the play becomes typically tragic. All tragedies carry with them a sense of doom that which is apparent early on, a sense that it all has to end in death. Although the play is different in this respect, it is nonetheless a tragedy, simply by default since it can not belong in any other category. (Comedy or history play).

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I think this question is more erudite than some of the above answerers can grasp. It is indeed questionable if the play has the necessary ingredients of a tragedy of the classic Greek tradition. I think the play is rather untypical for a tragedy and in fact has many elements of the comedy, which usually involves two young lovers who are separated by obstacles, usually in the form or dissaproving families, marriage promises etc, which is exactly the situation here. Also, unlike other tragedies, there is no sense of 'hubris' , that is no notion that the protagonists somehow commited an act of arrogance and defiance to the 'gods' , went overboard so to speak. Romeo is behaviong decent and is reluctant to engage in a fight with Tybalt. But he ends up killing not only Tybalt but later Paris. As soon as the chain of bloodshed begins the tragedy is really unstoppable, this is where the play becomes typically tragic. All tragedies carry with them a sense of doom that which is apparent early on, a sense that it all has to end in death. Although the play is different in this respect, it is nonetheless a tragedy, simply by default since it can not belong in any other category. (Comedy or history play).

Is this a trick question? You gotta be kidding! You did read the play right?

Romeo dies and therefore Juliet kills herself. For two teens in love with their families actually clashing, I think this relationship did a lot to bring the families together. Lots of death upon love is a real tragedy and that is where it is.

To the upmost extremity extent. Two teenagers, who barely know eachother commit suicide to declare their love for the other, when neither has spent more than two hours with the other one.