Romeo and Juliet is fine, I think
it has some funny moments, and, obviously, it is a real tragedy, but I would hardly
consider it one of my favorites, or even something I’d read, or watch, for fun.
I think a lot of people have said this, but it really isn’t apparent at all why
the Montagues and the Capulets are fighting, which is an example of one of the
problems I have with the book- it’s like Shakespeare just needed them to not
like each other for the story, without coming up with a reason why.
I think
people are really hard on Romeo and Juliet (the people- not the play). They are
extremely immature, Romeo especially. He seems very in love with the idea of
loving Juliet, before he even really knows her. I think eventually the way he
speaks about her reflects genuine feelings, but, at first, it sounds like he’s
just excited to love someone, and it doesn’t really matter if it’s Juliet or
not. But they’re young! Really young! I think it’s to be expected that they are
immature and inexperienced.
One thing I really liked is that when Paris wanted
to marry Juliet, her dad agreed, but only if Paris can get Juliet to agree. I
guess back then the girls didn’t really have a choice who they wanted to marry,
and I think “it’s fine with me, if it’s fine with them,” is an appropriate
response if anyone ever asks anyone else’s parents permission to marry their
child (which is weird a gross and a tradition I hope dies). However, it wasn’t
really like he was giving Juliet a choice, because he doesn’t really want her
to make any decisions for herself, and, also, obviously, business is more important
to him than his own child’s wellbeing. And, Capulet pretending that he wants
his daughter to marry someone she loves, and he wants it to be her choice, is
his only slightly redeeming moment as a father. Juliet’s mom was also very
young when she got married and had Juliet, shown when she said “Well, think of
marriage now; younger than you… I was your mother much upon these years…” Also,
Capulet shows that the age gap between them has caused some problems when he
said “too soon married are those so early made,” when he was talking to Paris
about Juliet being too young to get married. However, you’re the one who decided
to marry a prepubescent girl, buddy. I really hate Capulet and I think he’s a
horrible father.
I agree that when you're young, you aren't exactly 100% sure about anything. It's a stage in life where your going through puberty and changes due to hormones which makes it hard to know what you really want or do not want. I think its important to remember that marrying early was a huge part of their culture and that if you didn't participate in it you were either crazy or labeled because you weren't conforming to normal traditions. If we put ourselves in their shoes it actually isn't that crazy but in today's society its hard to fathom parents doing such things.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem strange for Shakespeare to have these two families against each other for no apparent reason other than they hate each other. I do think that Romeo and Juliet are too young and inexperienced to really know what it means to love and get to know each other to actually know what it feels to love someone. Then again, they are very young like 12 and 13 years old. But, marriages were back then had two people marry at very young age, and for most high in society families, the marriages were more based on agreements or joining between the two families, rather than love matches between the two who were getting married. It was how societies did going back to ancient times like the roman empire and the middle ages. All and all, Romeo and Juliet are just two very young kids who are rebellious and things can get crazy at that age.
ReplyDeleteI agree on your point about how immature they are, Romeo especially. Juliet at least said no to her mother when asked if she was ready for marriage. Romeo, however, originally went to the Capulet's party because he wanted to see Rosaline. He was apparently so in love with her but once he found Juliet who was beautiful and also interested in him, he decided Juliet was better probably because it would take less work to get her to like him. In class we talked about how families were very different and marrying young was not uncommon. Juliet's father isn't all that concerned with her well-being when it comes to marriage because it is the norm for that time. Everything with wealthy families is merely political and Juliet is just a possession for him to give away. Even if she had been a boy, Capulet probably wouldn't care all that much because boys are sent away when they are young.
ReplyDeleteI do believe you have some great points! It is strange that Shakespeare does not state why the Montagues and the Capulets hate each other. It distracts me as a reader from the whole plot because I can not stop wondering why they hate each other. I do believe, however, that Romeo and Juliet where in love. Granted, it is a fairytale kind of love that may not last, but it is love none the less.
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