Romeo and Juliet
Lexie Morton
April 27, 2013
English/ Walworth
The Fine Line Between Control and Guidance
Parenting is a responsibility beyond compare. The parents of today’s society carry the task of raising our next generation of adults. Both modern day parents as well as children face circumstances and issues that are particular to the 21st century. With today’s newfound technology and means of transportation, the scenarios that take place in Romeo and Juliet appear utterly ridiculous to us. The formalities and customs of the 1500’s were vastly contradictory to those of our era. Young girls, as young as age twelve, were married off to adult, sometime much old men. The story of Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague is a textbook case of the “norm” in the 1500’s. Shakespeare emphasizes that extreme parental restriction and control can lead to destruction of true love, and sometimes, young lives as well. Romeo and Juliet were enamored with one another at first sight and their forbidden love fueled their intense passion for each other. After marriage, they spent one night together (in which Juliet lost her virginity) before Romeo left for Mantua as a repercussion for killing Tybalt. “And for that offense/ Immediately do we exile him [Romeo] hence.”(3.2.189-190) His untimely decision to slay Tybalt cost him access to Verona and his wife, Juliet. Juliet’s parents, recognizing their daughter’s grief (ironic because Juliet was mourning over Romeo’s banishment, not Tybalt’s death), arranged her to marry the “County” Paris. “”Marry my child, early next Thursday morn/ The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church, Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.”(3.5.113-116) For Juliet to commit to another man while she was still married and in love with Romeo opposed everything she believed in and to sleep with another man was adultery. Juliet was torn between the internal humiliation and distraught over what she would face if she was
April 27, 2013
English/ Walworth
The Fine Line Between Control and Guidance
Parenting is a responsibility beyond compare. The parents of today’s society carry the task of raising our next generation of adults. Both modern day parents as well as children face circumstances and issues that are particular to the 21st century. With today’s newfound technology and means of transportation, the scenarios that take place in Romeo and Juliet appear utterly ridiculous to us. The formalities and customs of the 1500’s were vastly contradictory to those of our era. Young girls, as young as age twelve, were married off to adult, sometime much old men. The story of Juliet Capulet and Romeo Montague is a textbook case of the “norm” in the 1500’s. Shakespeare emphasizes that extreme parental restriction and control can lead to destruction of true love, and sometimes, young lives as well. Romeo and Juliet were enamored with one another at first sight and their forbidden love fueled their intense passion for each other. After marriage, they spent one night together (in which Juliet lost her virginity) before Romeo left for Mantua as a repercussion for killing Tybalt. “And for that offense/ Immediately do we exile him [Romeo] hence.”(3.2.189-190) His untimely decision to slay Tybalt cost him access to Verona and his wife, Juliet. Juliet’s parents, recognizing their daughter’s grief (ironic because Juliet was mourning over Romeo’s banishment, not Tybalt’s death), arranged her to marry the “County” Paris. “”Marry my child, early next Thursday morn/ The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church, Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.”(3.5.113-116) For Juliet to commit to another man while she was still married and in love with Romeo opposed everything she believed in and to sleep with another man was adultery. Juliet was torn between the internal humiliation and distraught over what she would face if she was