Despite the attitude that Romeo and Juliet shared in the balcony scene, Romeo and Juliet both might have been aware that their families would not be accepting of their love, and therefore decided to have a secret marriage. The manner in which their society was arranged for wealthy families made the secret marriage, as well as other events of the story, possible. For example, Juliet had a nurse, who helped in the arrangement of the marriage and Romeo had a man who brought him the news of Juliet’s death. Also, characters in the story such as Mercutio, the nurse, and Juliet’s mother, expressed views about love that could be interpreted as reflections of societal views of love at that time. Mercutio’s combative view of love as represented by his
…show more content…
Lord Capulet called Juliet names including baggage, disobedient wretch, carrion and harlotry; for daring to refuse or mentioning postponement of the wedding (3.5.161-167, 4.2.14). Lord Capulet even threatened to disown his daughter if she did not comply stating, “But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you! / Graze where you will, you shall not house with me” and “An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, / For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee” (3.5.199-200, 3.5.204-205). Lord Capulet’s threats suggested that obedience to the head of family was a requirement for even staying in, or being associated with, one’s family. On pleading with her mother to intercede for her, Lady Capulet scorned her, saying, “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. / Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.” (3.5.214) Juliet’s mother might have rejected Juliet’s plea for support in order to preserve the status quo as she had given birth when she was Juliet’s age. It could also be that loyalty to her husband was very important to her. Incidentally, Juliet also showed that same loyalty to her husband, Romeo, after her cousin, Tybalt, was killed. In response to the nurse’s question, “Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?” (3.2.105) Juliet said, “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?” …show more content…
There, he threatened to kill himself because he had killed Juliet’s cousin. However, Juliet sent her nurse to the Friar’s cell to tell Romeo to come and take his farewell. So, the nurse arranged the rope ladder for Romeo to climb into Juliet’s room; there they consummated their marriage. The friar had hoped that after tempers cooled, that Romeo would be back and reunited with Juliet. The friar reasoned that Romeo and Juliet’s love would bring about the reconciliation of the Capulets and Montagues. However, Juliet’s parents had thought that she was weeping excessively for her cousin’s death so, her father arranged for her to marry Paris sooner than originally planned. In the wake of Juliet’s parents attempting to force her to marry Paris, Juliet asked her nurse for words of comfort. Her nurse, who had earlier on praised Romeo and helped arrange Juliet’s marriage to him, rebuffed her and told Juliet to marry Paris since he was the better man, “I think it best you married with the County. / O, he’s a lovely gentleman! / Romeo’s a dishclout to him.” (3.5.230-232) Juliet was so shocked at what she perceived as betrayal from her nurse, that she spiraled into complete deception and desperation. Juliet then went to Friar Lawrence for help, reasoning that the bigamy would kill both Romeo and Paris, “God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands; / And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo’s sealed, / Shall be the label to
Lord Capulet called Juliet names including baggage, disobedient wretch, carrion and harlotry; for daring to refuse or mentioning postponement of the wedding (3.5.161-167, 4.2.14). Lord Capulet even threatened to disown his daughter if she did not comply stating, “But, an you will not wed, I’ll pardon you! / Graze where you will, you shall not house with me” and “An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, / For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee” (3.5.199-200, 3.5.204-205). Lord Capulet’s threats suggested that obedience to the head of family was a requirement for even staying in, or being associated with, one’s family. On pleading with her mother to intercede for her, Lady Capulet scorned her, saying, “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. / Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.” (3.5.214) Juliet’s mother might have rejected Juliet’s plea for support in order to preserve the status quo as she had given birth when she was Juliet’s age. It could also be that loyalty to her husband was very important to her. Incidentally, Juliet also showed that same loyalty to her husband, Romeo, after her cousin, Tybalt, was killed. In response to the nurse’s question, “Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin?” (3.2.105) Juliet said, “Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband?” …show more content…
There, he threatened to kill himself because he had killed Juliet’s cousin. However, Juliet sent her nurse to the Friar’s cell to tell Romeo to come and take his farewell. So, the nurse arranged the rope ladder for Romeo to climb into Juliet’s room; there they consummated their marriage. The friar had hoped that after tempers cooled, that Romeo would be back and reunited with Juliet. The friar reasoned that Romeo and Juliet’s love would bring about the reconciliation of the Capulets and Montagues. However, Juliet’s parents had thought that she was weeping excessively for her cousin’s death so, her father arranged for her to marry Paris sooner than originally planned. In the wake of Juliet’s parents attempting to force her to marry Paris, Juliet asked her nurse for words of comfort. Her nurse, who had earlier on praised Romeo and helped arrange Juliet’s marriage to him, rebuffed her and told Juliet to marry Paris since he was the better man, “I think it best you married with the County. / O, he’s a lovely gentleman! / Romeo’s a dishclout to him.” (3.5.230-232) Juliet was so shocked at what she perceived as betrayal from her nurse, that she spiraled into complete deception and desperation. Juliet then went to Friar Lawrence for help, reasoning that the bigamy would kill both Romeo and Paris, “God joined my heart and Romeo’s, thou our hands; / And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo’s sealed, / Shall be the label to