Romeo and Juliet, by the famous William Shakespeare, is
a story about love. Love that is ever tampered with by the ideals of others. Love,
which, even when it is true, is never left alone, no matter what. Whether it is
a matter of companionship or intimacy, the characters’ lives are made almost
impossible when people of power meddle in their lives. Juliet is given too much
forceful guidance by her parents, especially concerning her relationships, which
might be the very thing causing her to be so rash, passionate, and reckless
with Romeo.
Throughout
the play we see that Juliet’s father, Capulet, has the ultimate power and final
decision in everything involving his daughter’s life, even though he tries to make
it appear he is giving her some say in the matter. For example, he makes a
grand display of his power in act 3 scene 5 when he tells Juliet “But fettle
your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next to go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.” In previous scenes with Paris,
Juliet’s soon-to-be husband, Capulet tried to give his daughter some time by
saying that she is young, but as soon as Juliet fights against the date of
marriage in this scene, he makes sure she knows who is boss. This shows that
although Capulet wants what is best for his daughter, he is not afraid to be
harsh. The readers at this point can also infer that Juliet feels trapped in
this household with no one on her side. If, as a reader, we were to look into
this, we could say that this foreshadows Juliet’s desperate thoughts to run
away with Romeo.
Besides the
judgment from her parents, the rules and opinions of society are also weighed
against Juliet. According to her mother and society, Juliet is even lucky to be
married at this age. Lady Capulet’s views are clearly shown when she says, “Here
in Verona, ladies of esteem, are made already mothers. By my count I was your
mother much upon these years that you are now a maid.” (Act 1 Scene 3). In
response to Juliet’s unsure attitude towards marriage she is saying that she
should consider herself lucky to be married now, because Lady Capulet herself
was married and carrying a child before Juliet’s age. If that is what society
thinks is acceptable, I don’t blame Juliet for not wanting to be married
because she’s only 13. I think often times people read Romeo and Juliet
and forget how old she is because all that maters is the love story, but her
age places a whole new sense of expectation on her, especially from her mother.
In this scene particularly, her mother places pressure on her to get married
now, and to whom she wants. Juliet can’t be happy with the lack of say in these
important events.
When Juliet
meets Romeo, it triggers the thought that this perfect man, her Prince Charming
was the only way to escape from her suffocating family. All the pressure that
is piled onto her to get married to Paris, to someday have children, to be an
obedient and proper young lady tried to suppress her longings for childhood and
freedom. When she meets the love of her life, all of those feelings come
spurting out to make her even more impulsive with Romeo than she would’ve been
if she were, for example, paired with him to be married. Other variables like
the looming deadline of Juliet and Paris’s marriage, and the feud between the
Capulets and Montagues that stops Romeo and Juliet from ever being seen
together puts even more pressure on them to do something like get married, or run away together. “And I’ll no
longer be a Capulet” (act 2 scene 2).
Romeo and
Juliet’s actions are more rushed and rash because of Juliet’s family and their
ever-steady input. Even today there are lovers who can’t be together because of
race, religion, or sexuality. If we lived in a world with no restraints on
love, maybe there wouldn’t have to be tragic endings to tales like Rome and
Juliet. But, unfortunately, that is not true, “for never was there a story
of more woe /than this of Juliet and her Romeo.”
