make bad choices. Juliet’s parents are authoritarian parents. Her parents, “display little warmth and are highly controlling” (Kopko). Juliet’s parents both treat their daughter with little respect. It is seen in Romeo and Juliet when Juliet begs her mom to postpone the marriage, “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word./Do as thou wilt for I have done with thee”(III.V.203-204). Furthermore, this shows how they could care less about what Juliet feels. This makes Juliet hopeless and she starts to feel suicidal. Although Romeo has friends to turn to, they do not help him make good choices.
In Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio and Benvolio are persuading Romeo into the party by pressuring him, “This wind you talk of blows us from ourselves./Supper is done, and we shall come too late” (II.IV.104-105). Romeo finally agrees to go in. This shows how he is heavily influenced by his peers since he follows them and gives in to peer pressure. Mercutio also tells him to keep an open mind about other girls, “You are a lover. Borrow Cupid’s wings/ and soar with them above a common bound” (I.IV.17-18). In other words, Mercutio is saying that instead of obsessing over Rosaline he should go look at prettier girls. Mercutio is leading Romeo into a trap that will lead to his death, but Romeo still goes in order to please his friends. As Valerie Ulene said, “They [teenagers] turn to friends for guidance and direction”(Ulene). This is what Romeo does since his parents do not support him while he is going through his
dilemma. Their parents both severely affected their actions as they were rarely ever there for them. Romeo’s friends pressured him into making bad choices. In order to combat negative influences, youths should focus on the good things in life instead of dwelling on their non existing love life. Teenagers should also persevere and not give in so easily to peer pressure and follow their instincts instead.