Teen Rebellion In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet
Interpretation of Shakespearean Teen Rebellion
Teens have a reputation for disobeying the rules that are given to them. From a teen being scolded for not completing their chores, to being yelled at for promiscuous behavior. Teenagers often make impulsive decisions to justify their lifestyle. The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare involves two teenagers that end up giving up their lives, even after the many warnings given from their parents and peers. This play shows Shakespeare’s ingenious method of accurately portraying the way a teenager tends to act out against rules that limit their impulsive behavior. Shakespeare accurately depicts how teens act in a moment of rage when they are restrained from acting upon their impulses, or …show more content…
Psychologist Carl E. Pickhardt explains that teen rebellion “can cause them to experiment with high-risk excitement - accepting dares that as a children they would have refused. It can cause them to reject safe rules and restraints - letting impulse overrule judgment to dangerous effect.” What Pickhardt is trying to say is that teen rebellion can cause teenagers to want to engage in acts that kids would normally be fearful of, such as sex, drugs, etc., despite the warnings that are meant to prevent such impulsive decisions. During Romeo and Juliet, Pickhardt’s statement is portrayed throughout the story. For example, when Juliet says, “Take up those cords.—Poor ropes, you are beguiled, / Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled. / He made you for a highway to my bed, / But I, a maid, die maiden-widowèd. / Come, cords.—Come, Nurse. I’ll to my wedding bed. / And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!” (3.3.132-137) after hearing about Romeo’s banishment. Juliet acts like she’s in love, but actually just in lust. Juliet also makes the situation worse by being overdramatic. Crying and threatening to take her own life if she doesn’t get her way. This connects with Pickhardt’s statement because Juliet’s lust for Romeo is something that a child would not act upon. Juliet also lets her sexual impulses block her judgement on whether, or not she truly loves Romeo.
Teens have a reputation for disobeying the rules that are given to them. From a teen being scolded for not completing their chores, to being yelled at for promiscuous behavior. Teenagers often make impulsive decisions to justify their lifestyle. The play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare involves two teenagers that end up giving up their lives, even after the many warnings given from their parents and peers. This play shows Shakespeare’s ingenious method of accurately portraying the way a teenager tends to act out against rules that limit their impulsive behavior. Shakespeare accurately depicts how teens act in a moment of rage when they are restrained from acting upon their impulses, or …show more content…
Psychologist Carl E. Pickhardt explains that teen rebellion “can cause them to experiment with high-risk excitement - accepting dares that as a children they would have refused. It can cause them to reject safe rules and restraints - letting impulse overrule judgment to dangerous effect.” What Pickhardt is trying to say is that teen rebellion can cause teenagers to want to engage in acts that kids would normally be fearful of, such as sex, drugs, etc., despite the warnings that are meant to prevent such impulsive decisions. During Romeo and Juliet, Pickhardt’s statement is portrayed throughout the story. For example, when Juliet says, “Take up those cords.—Poor ropes, you are beguiled, / Both you and I, for Romeo is exiled. / He made you for a highway to my bed, / But I, a maid, die maiden-widowèd. / Come, cords.—Come, Nurse. I’ll to my wedding bed. / And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!” (3.3.132-137) after hearing about Romeo’s banishment. Juliet acts like she’s in love, but actually just in lust. Juliet also makes the situation worse by being overdramatic. Crying and threatening to take her own life if she doesn’t get her way. This connects with Pickhardt’s statement because Juliet’s lust for Romeo is something that a child would not act upon. Juliet also lets her sexual impulses block her judgement on whether, or not she truly loves Romeo.