Juliet has a complex relationship with her mother, who loves her but remains distant. However, the Nurse has cared for Juliet since she was a baby and still works as a nanny for the Capulets. Consequently, it is not surprising that Juliet sees the Nurse as more of a maternal figure than her own mother. Furthermore, Juliet’s father prioritizes finding a suitable spouse for her quickly rather than her emotional well-being. He tells Paris that although Juliet can choose her own partner, it must be from a limited pool of approved candidates, with Paris being his preferred choice.
In Act 3, Scene 5 of the play, Lady Capulet assumes that Juliet is crying because of Tybalt’s death and tells her to move on. However, this response is both unkind and incorrect. Lady Capulet questions why Juliet is still crying for her cousin’s death and suggests that tears will not bring him back to life. She further advises Juliet to stop showing excessive grief as it indicates a lack of intelligence. (Act 3, Scene 5, lines 70-73)
Her refusal to marry Paris is met with anger rather than understanding. Juliet believes that there is no reason why marrying Paris would not bring her joy, but Lady Capulet tells her to discuss it with her father: “Here comes your father now, tell him so yourself / And see how he will take it at your hands” (3.5.124-125). Lady Capulet does not truly take a side, but it is evident that she does not fully support her daughter. The conflict between Romeo and Juliet’s loyalty to their parents forms the basis of their dilemma, known as filial duty.
In both the medieval world of Verona and Elizabethan England, the responsibility of children to their parents extended beyond mere respect and household chores. During this time, parents, especially fathers, held complete authority over their children, leaving little space for discussion or dissent, particularly for daughters. Thus, Juliet demonstrates great deference towards her parents. When her mother initiates a conversation about her potential marriage to Paris, Juliet responds obligingly, despite not being genuinely interested in getting married. She avoids contradicting her mother’s wishes.
Juliet expresses her willingness to try and like Paris, as indicated by the quote “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move” (1. 3. 98-100). However, she adds that she will not allow her eyes to be attracted to anyone whom her parents have not approved of. This highlights her sense of duty towards her family. The fact that she falls in love with Romeo goes against her obedient nature, and she is fully aware of this. She believes that her relationship with Romeo and her responsibility towards her family cannot coexist.
The protagonist realizes that for their union to succeed, either she or Romeo would need to separate from their respective households. The themes in this story include hastiness, as Romeo quickly falls in and out of love, and the couple’s rushed decision to marry without considering potential consequences. They were likely infatuated rather than truly in love, being captivated by the idea of being in love. It is unlikely that they could have developed such deep affection after just one conversation. Additionally, with the exception of Benvolio, every character in this play acts selfishly.
Juliet failed to inform her parents about Romeo and instead chose to fake her own death, a selfish act that greatly distressed them. The Capulets were equally selfish for forcing Juliet into a loveless marriage. The ongoing feud between the two families also demonstrated their selfishness. In an attempt to avoid trouble, Friar Lawrence fled upon witnessing both families enter the tomb. Tybalt’s decision to kill Mercutio further showcased his selfishness. Romeo, too, demonstrated a lack of consideration for Juliet when he killed her cousin. The primary issue at hand was the long-standing feud between the families, which ultimately led to the tragic outcome.
They should have resolved their differences long ago. They were not even aware of the reason behind their animosity. Stereotypes – Some individuals from the Capulets and Montagues have never crossed paths, yet they hold a deep hatred for each other. Why? All because of a person’s surname. Dreams – The entire story unfolded within a dream that predicted their destiny. This served as a warning for Romeo, but he opted to disregard it. Decisions – Numerous challenging decisions needed to be made. The Friar faced a difficult choice when deciding to marry them. He could have informed their parents and avoided this responsibility, but he took the risk, fully aware that it could lead to chaos.
Juliet was faced with a challenging choice: whether to marry Paris or follow her heart and marry Romeo. She also had to decide whether to appease her parents and fulfill their wishes or defy them. The families ultimately decided to end their feud to prevent further loss of life. Romeo and Juliet were willing to make sacrifices, giving up their relationships with their families in order to be together. Their meeting and love, as well as their tragic deaths, were seen as the result of fate bringing them together.
It was in the stars. Moral lessons There is more to love than lust. Romeo and Juliet failed to take the time to know each other and establish a deep intimate relationship. They hastily entered their relationship despite their young age. Even individuals much older than them are unaware of love’s true meaning. However, it is possible that they genuinely experienced mutual true love. Labels hold no significance- Their last name served as a label. Their names were the barrier that nearly kept them apart. Yet, love transcended that obstacle. They met in secrecy and swiftly fell deeply in love.
Love knows no limits. Take heed of guidance – Had the families heeded the Prince of Verona’s counsel and reconciled, the tragedies of Mercutio and Tybalt’s deaths could have been avoided. If Romeo and Juliet had heeded the Friar’s counsel, they would not have perished at such a tender age. The Friar warned them against impulsive and irrational actions. However, destiny had different plans for the ill-fated lovers. Abstain from seeking vengeance – The families pursued revenge for matters unrelated to them and rooted in the distant past. Forgiveness and letting go were necessary.
When both parties are stubborn, it often requires the tragic death of two young lovers for them to realize the error of their ways. Tybalt insults Romeo and challenges him to a fight. Mercutio comes to defend the family honor and engages in a duel with Tybalt, even though Romeo tries to stop them. Unfortunately, Mercutio is killed by Tybalt. In a fit of anger and guilt, Romeo then seeks revenge and kills Tybalt. This chain of events illustrates the consequences of acting hastily. Romeo and Juliet should have taken the time to carefully consider their actions before rushing into marriage. Marriage is a lifelong commitment that should not be taken lightly, especially when one is in the impulsive stage of adolescence.
