Romeo and Juliet Maturity
Trisha
May 13, 2013
To Mature or Not to Mature? Maturity plays a key role in love, especially when it comes to young love. In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, two characters Romeo and Juliet, exhibit the importance of being mature, and the reason why maturity influences people’s actions and emotions. Sometimes maturity can be seen through Juliet, and other times it is the exact opposite and can be seen through Romeo. Firstly, Juliet expresses her maturity by respecting her elders and accepting their wishes. Juliet obediently agrees with her mother of accepting Paris’ love and marriage proposal without hesitation, even though she seemed to not be too fond of the idea, stating that she will “look to like, if looking liking move. /But no more deep will I endart mine eye/ than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (1.4.50-51). This shows that even though Juliet is just turning fourteen, she is well beyond her years when it comes to respect and maturity. However, once she meets Romeo, her priorities start to become crooked. After knowing Romeo for only a couple of hours, if not minutes, Juliet shows her true age when she finds out who Romeo actually was; saying “ If he be married/my grave is like to be my wedding bed” (1.5.148-149). In stating this, she is saying that she will rather die than marry someone else. Seeing as that they have only known each other for a short period of time, and it seems that Juliet has already fallen in love with Romeo, Juliet shows that she can be immature at times because of her rushing in to love. Unlike Juliet, Romeo is depicted as an emotional, but headstrong character that is sometimes blinded with the idea of love. When Mercutio and Benvolio thought it was a good idea to go to the party at the Capulet’s household Romeo was wise enough to realize the dangers in going to the ball saying that “ And we mean well in going to this masque, / But tis no wit to go” (1.4.50-51). By him stating this he shows
May 13, 2013
To Mature or Not to Mature? Maturity plays a key role in love, especially when it comes to young love. In the play “Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare, two characters Romeo and Juliet, exhibit the importance of being mature, and the reason why maturity influences people’s actions and emotions. Sometimes maturity can be seen through Juliet, and other times it is the exact opposite and can be seen through Romeo. Firstly, Juliet expresses her maturity by respecting her elders and accepting their wishes. Juliet obediently agrees with her mother of accepting Paris’ love and marriage proposal without hesitation, even though she seemed to not be too fond of the idea, stating that she will “look to like, if looking liking move. /But no more deep will I endart mine eye/ than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (1.4.50-51). This shows that even though Juliet is just turning fourteen, she is well beyond her years when it comes to respect and maturity. However, once she meets Romeo, her priorities start to become crooked. After knowing Romeo for only a couple of hours, if not minutes, Juliet shows her true age when she finds out who Romeo actually was; saying “ If he be married/my grave is like to be my wedding bed” (1.5.148-149). In stating this, she is saying that she will rather die than marry someone else. Seeing as that they have only known each other for a short period of time, and it seems that Juliet has already fallen in love with Romeo, Juliet shows that she can be immature at times because of her rushing in to love. Unlike Juliet, Romeo is depicted as an emotional, but headstrong character that is sometimes blinded with the idea of love. When Mercutio and Benvolio thought it was a good idea to go to the party at the Capulet’s household Romeo was wise enough to realize the dangers in going to the ball saying that “ And we mean well in going to this masque, / But tis no wit to go” (1.4.50-51). By him stating this he shows