Understanding the life of Willam Dean Howells will give a new light to what Editha is truly about. Howells was already involved with the country's social issues more so come 1887 when the Haymarket radicals were executed. It is through Editha that he showed his great dislike for Spanish-American war as he thought of it as imperialistic.
The main purpose is that when Juliet wanted to be with romeo so romeo killed himself and Juliet drink poison hope this helps I hope you get it right :P
