This is a critical overview of Romeo and Juliet, in contrast to the uncritical interpretations of 'top' critics. My kids all complained about the foolishness of this work, when they read it in secondary school, especially as they were expected to 'practically' agree with the romantic thesis that is prevalent. They saw right through it! If allowed other theses such as the one offered here, it may have been a work they thoroughly enjoyed exploring and, more importantly, a work from which they each learned key life lessons.
First. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. It is not a romance. Second. Romeo and Juliet are disobedient to their parents as neither follows the edicts set down by the parents. Third. Friar Lawrence does the marriage at the high altar of the cathedral in Verona, this is the right spot to marry the royalty or the nobility or even higher-end merchant class people (common people would get married on the church's porch or garden, depending then go into the church or cathedral for the marriage blessing (which was not required but done if their Lords required it, however getting a blessing was not the same as being married at the high altar). So. By being married at the high altar, Romeo and Juliet will not be divorceable - which will make the families very uncomfortable. Next. County Paris wants to marry Juliet and does not know she is already married to Romeo. County Paris is a widower (likely), he is in his mid to late 20s and has small children at home, they need a mother. Also, Juliet is rich. Consider that 3 in 10 women of that time and place (12th century, Italy) died in childbirth over a lifetime, which was about 40 to 45 for the monied classes and less for the common/serfs. Additionally, Juliet's mother is not Lord Capulet's first wife, she may be the second or third or fourth, Lord Capulet must be about 50 to her Lady Capulet's 28 or 29, the pair also do not sleep together. Lady Capulet indicates that she had Juliet very very young. Then there's that thing with Tybalt, he's likely not married, in his early 20s, also possibly a widower - but almost certainly he is having a relationship with Lady Capulet. So, why is Romeo so murderous? He wasn't initially but has certainly been exposed to a lot of violent death, in the medieval era there were 120+ crimes punishable by death. So. Everyone is callous at a certain point.
This is a critical overview of Romeo and Juliet, in contrast to the uncritical interpretations of 'top' critics. My kids all complained about the foolishness of this work, when they read it in secondary school, especially as they were expected to 'practically' agree with the romantic thesis that is prevalent. They saw right through it! If allowed other theses such as the one offered here, it may have been a work they thoroughly enjoyed exploring and, more importantly, a work from which they each learned key life lessons.
First. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy. It is not a romance. Second. Romeo and Juliet are disobedient to their parents as neither follows the edicts set down by the parents. Third. Friar Lawrence does the marriage at the high altar of the cathedral in Verona, this is the right spot to marry the royalty or the nobility or even higher-end merchant class people (common people would get married on the church's porch or garden, depending then go into the church or cathedral for the marriage blessing (which was not required but done if their Lords required it, however getting a blessing was not the same as being married at the high altar). So. By being married at the high altar, Romeo and Juliet will not be divorceable - which will make the families very uncomfortable. Next. County Paris wants to marry Juliet and does not know she is already married to Romeo. County Paris is a widower (likely), he is in his mid to late 20s and has small children at home, they need a mother. Also, Juliet is rich. Consider that 3 in 10 women of that time and place (12th century, Italy) died in childbirth over a lifetime, which was about 40 to 45 for the monied classes and less for the common/serfs. Additionally, Juliet's mother is not Lord Capulet's first wife, she may be the second or third or fourth, Lord Capulet must be about 50 to her Lady Capulet's 28 or 29, the pair also do not sleep together. Lady Capulet indicates that she had Juliet very very young. Then there's that thing with Tybalt, he's likely not married, in his early 20s, also possibly a widower - but almost certainly he is having a relationship with Lady Capulet. So, why is Romeo so murderous? He wasn't initially but has certainly been exposed to a lot of violent death, in the medieval era there were 120+ crimes punishable by death. So. Everyone is callous at a certain point.