Romeo and Juliet Open Response

Romeo and Juliet Open Response In Romeo and Juliet, the maturity level between Romeo and Juliet differs drastically despite their age difference because of the way Juliet thinks through any decision she is going to make and the way Romeo makes careless and irresponsible decisions. First, Juliet's higher level of maturity is expressed through the way she thinks through the consequences of any decision before she makes it. For example, when Juliet is talking to herself on the balcony without knowing Romeo could hear her, she says," O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?/ Deny thy father and refuse thy name"(II.ii.26). After Juliet meets Romeo for the first time and realizes that she really likes him, Juliet thinks through what would happen if she actually got into a relationship with Romeo. Juliet realizes that their families being arch rivals is a huge problem and tries to come up with a solution for this which contradicts the way Romeo makes his decisions. Next, Romeo's careless and irresponsible decisions show his level of maturity. For instance, when Juliet tells Romeo that her family will kill him if they find out he is here, Romeo says," Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye/ Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet"(II.ii.27). Even though Romeo knows it's not safe to stay in the Capulets' house any longer, he decides he doesn't want to leave Juliet and stays. Romeo does not think through the consequences of this decision and makes an irresponsible decision which differs from how Juliet makes her decisions. The way Romeo and Juliet make their decisions clearly shows that Juliet is more mature than Romeo despite their age difference. Throughout Act II, Romeo and Juliet have different priorities and concerns which shows the difference in their level of maturity, even with the difference in their age.