Letter from Juliet to Her Parents
Dear Mother and Father,
I am writing to tell you how I feel about the fight that we had over my betrothal to Count Paris. I felt that I have always been I very obedient and loving daughter to both of you, although the Nurse has treated me more like a daughter then either of you have. I respected you so much that when you asked me if I liked Paris I didn’t say no because I did not want to contradict you, but instead said that I would try to like Paris. I even went as far as to say that I would not look at anyone that you did not approve of! So, it was no surprise then how shocked and hurt I felt when you told me that you were going to force me to marry Paris if I did not want to on my own free will. On the morning of our fight, when my lady mother called up so early, I wondered what unaccustomed cause procures her hither? She came with the “joyful tidings” that I was to be married to Paris early next Thursday morn at Saint Peter’s Church. Fearful of this wrought marriage, I told my lady mother to tell you, my lord and father, that I will not marry yet; and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris. She answered me saying, "Here comes your father now, tell him so yourself, and see how he will take it at your hands", clearly to me saying that she is not on my side. Then when you came in my room and attacked me, meeting my refusal to marry Paris with anger, not understanding as a loving father should. Also commanding that the marriage to him would be, with or without my consent. Do you not remember when you yourself told Paris that I was “ free to choose “ who and married and then in two years, if I said yes, then he could marry me? This really says to me that you are more interested in seeing that I marry well and soon rather than my personal happiness. You even went so far as to say that you would take all means necessary to makes sure that it will happen, including dragging me there on a hurdle and saying that I
I am writing to tell you how I feel about the fight that we had over my betrothal to Count Paris. I felt that I have always been I very obedient and loving daughter to both of you, although the Nurse has treated me more like a daughter then either of you have. I respected you so much that when you asked me if I liked Paris I didn’t say no because I did not want to contradict you, but instead said that I would try to like Paris. I even went as far as to say that I would not look at anyone that you did not approve of! So, it was no surprise then how shocked and hurt I felt when you told me that you were going to force me to marry Paris if I did not want to on my own free will. On the morning of our fight, when my lady mother called up so early, I wondered what unaccustomed cause procures her hither? She came with the “joyful tidings” that I was to be married to Paris early next Thursday morn at Saint Peter’s Church. Fearful of this wrought marriage, I told my lady mother to tell you, my lord and father, that I will not marry yet; and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris. She answered me saying, "Here comes your father now, tell him so yourself, and see how he will take it at your hands", clearly to me saying that she is not on my side. Then when you came in my room and attacked me, meeting my refusal to marry Paris with anger, not understanding as a loving father should. Also commanding that the marriage to him would be, with or without my consent. Do you not remember when you yourself told Paris that I was “ free to choose “ who and married and then in two years, if I said yes, then he could marry me? This really says to me that you are more interested in seeing that I marry well and soon rather than my personal happiness. You even went so far as to say that you would take all means necessary to makes sure that it will happen, including dragging me there on a hurdle and saying that I