Romeo and Juliet

June 8, 2000

Juliet's parents played a very diverse role in her life. Juliet's parents are loving but demanding, there are conditions to their love if there is one bad time they take the easy way out. Although at times the fact that they care is evident while at others they seem to be completely selfish. Juliet is expected to do as they say at all times.

At times Juliet's parents are loving. Her father protects and speaks highly of her, "The earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she; she is the hopeful lady of my earth." He also says how her opinion and choice is important to him and that he doesn't simply ask her to obey, "My will to her consent is but a part. An she agree, within her scope of choice lies my consent and fair according voice." Another example is when her mother defends her against her father when he wants Juliet to marry Paris, "I would the fool be married to her grave!" Her parents seem to care for her very much but care about themselves a little more. They want what is best for her as long as it doesn't make them look bad.

Juliet's parents are very demanding they expect her to respect them above anything that she feels. They expect her to obey them and not think twice about anything and if she tries to explain her views they become upset, "How? Will she none? Doth she not give us thanks? Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest, unworthy as she is, that we have wrought so worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?"  

There are conditions to Juliet's parents love, if one thing is not done their way they are not happy and forget everything else. "Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!...or never after look me in the face." " Wife, we scarce thought us blest that god had lent us but this only child; but now I see this one is one too much, and that we have a curse in having her." In the beginning he was talking about her being the light of his life, and about how lucky he was to have her and because of one small incident he is ready to forget everything he felt before.

We are handed many different views and sides of Juliet's parents. Her Father is mainly concerned with the way he would look when everything is over. He probably also speaks out of anger everything he said probably didn't come from the heart. Juliet's Mother seems to mainly hide in her Fathers shadow. She will at times speak her mind but when things get serious she is mainly concerned for her own welfare.