The Relationship Between Parents and Their Children in "Romeo and Juliet"
The relationship between parents and their children in "Romeo and Juliet"
In the play “Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet have dysfunctional relationships with their parents. In this essay I will look at the relation between children and their parents and how their lack of communication led to their rebellion. I will also look at the mother-figure portrayed by the Nurse and the rather figure displayed by Friar Laurence.
Both Lady Capulet and Lady Montague have dysfunctional relationships with their children. Lady Capulet barely knows her own daughter, Juliet. Juliet lie’s to mother several times about weeping over Tybalt’s death and Lady Capulet has no idea about Juliet’s young marriage. Juliet is trapped by the control that Lady Capulet forces on her and as a result Juliet rebels. Lady Capulet says “for I have done with thee,” after Juliet doesn’t want to obey her wishes. Lady Montague acts as a concerned mother asking, “O where is Romeo? Saw you him today?” However, later in play she is absent and has little to say about or to Romeo.
However, in contrast, The Nurse portrays a motherly figure towards Juliet. She knows Juliet better than anyone else in the play; she says “I can tell her age onto an hour.” She describes Juliet as a “lamb” and a “ladybird”. They share a very close bond because the Nurse raised Juliet as her own daughter. When Juliet rebels against her parents by marrying Romeo, the Nurse is in the midst of it all. She organises their wedding and their wedding night. The Nurse thus encouraged the rebellion.
Nevertheless, both fathers are estranged to their children. Lord Montague lacks communication with Romeo. The fact that Montague does not go by himself to talk with Romeo, but instead asks Benvolio, is evident that they do not have an open father-son relationship. Lord Capulet tells Juliet “Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look
In the play “Romeo and Juliet”, written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet have dysfunctional relationships with their parents. In this essay I will look at the relation between children and their parents and how their lack of communication led to their rebellion. I will also look at the mother-figure portrayed by the Nurse and the rather figure displayed by Friar Laurence.
Both Lady Capulet and Lady Montague have dysfunctional relationships with their children. Lady Capulet barely knows her own daughter, Juliet. Juliet lie’s to mother several times about weeping over Tybalt’s death and Lady Capulet has no idea about Juliet’s young marriage. Juliet is trapped by the control that Lady Capulet forces on her and as a result Juliet rebels. Lady Capulet says “for I have done with thee,” after Juliet doesn’t want to obey her wishes. Lady Montague acts as a concerned mother asking, “O where is Romeo? Saw you him today?” However, later in play she is absent and has little to say about or to Romeo.
However, in contrast, The Nurse portrays a motherly figure towards Juliet. She knows Juliet better than anyone else in the play; she says “I can tell her age onto an hour.” She describes Juliet as a “lamb” and a “ladybird”. They share a very close bond because the Nurse raised Juliet as her own daughter. When Juliet rebels against her parents by marrying Romeo, the Nurse is in the midst of it all. She organises their wedding and their wedding night. The Nurse thus encouraged the rebellion.
Nevertheless, both fathers are estranged to their children. Lord Montague lacks communication with Romeo. The fact that Montague does not go by himself to talk with Romeo, but instead asks Benvolio, is evident that they do not have an open father-son relationship. Lord Capulet tells Juliet “Hang thee, young baggage! Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look