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How did miscommunication/misunderstanding lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet?

Before we examine the miscommunication that leads to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, let's first consider the context that had made it possible. Romeo and Juliet are two lovers from rivaling families (the Montagues and Capulets, respectively) who have met and married in secret to preserve their forbidden love. After Romeo kills Juliet's cousin, Tybalt, in a duel that had also claimed the life of his dear friend, Mercutio, Romeo is banished from Verona by the Prince. To make matters worse, Juliet is ordered by her father, Lord Capulet, to marry another man: Paris, a kinsman of the Prince. In order to escape these unfortunate punishments, Juliet (with the help of Friar Laurence) creates a plan: Juliet will fake her death and be "laid to rest" in the Capulet crypt, where she will there await the return of Romeo. Romeo is to be informed of this plan through a letter sent by Friar Laurence.


Unfortunately, a terrible miscommunication occurs which is two-fold: 1) Lord Capulet, misinterpreting his daughter's compliance as eagerness, decides to bump up her wedding date to the next day rather than having it as planned later in the week, and 2) Friar Laurence's letter, which was given to Friar John, is never delivered to Romeo because Friar John is sequestered after an outbreak of infectious disease.


This results in Romeo hearing of Juliet's death from a friend... and believing her to be actually dead. Devastated by this news, Romeo buys poison and consumes it in the Capulet crypt. Juliet wakes from her deep slumber to discover that her husband has killed himself, and she too joins him in death by plunging his dagger into her chest. Had it not been for these feats of bad timing and poor communication, we can only assume that Romeo would have received the letter and Juliet's plan would have been carried out successfully. 

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