Romeo and Juliet Theme of Marriage

Romeo and Juliet marry for love, a choice that is standard today. But in the world of the play, marriage for love, rather than money or social position, was a radical and dangerous choice. Romeo and Juliet, the children of rival families, fall in love against their parents' wishes and marry in secret. Their union reflects a new focus on individual passion and inner conviction – and in the play, it comes dangerously in conflict with social and familial expectations. Romeo and Juliet pay a heavy price for marrying for love – their clandestine union propels the lovers towards their tragic deaths.

1. How does Juliet's dad (Capulet) first react when Paris asks to marry Juliet at the beginning of Act 1, Scene 2?
2. When and why does Lord Capulet decide Juliet should marry Paris?
3. Friar Laurence doesn't think Romeo's love for Juliet is any more genuine than his former crush on Rosaline but he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet anyway (2.3.9). What explanation does the Friar offer? What does this suggest about the nature of his character?
4. Explain why Romeo and Juliet marry in secret. What are the consequences of such secrecy?
5. How would you characterize the Capulets' marriage?

Juliet's conflict with her parents about whether or not she should marry Paris reveals that, for Juliet, marriage is a way of formally recognizing a shared emotional bond (love). For her parents, however, marriage is a means of securing wealth, status, and stability.

When Romeo and Juliet marry for love, they redefine what marriage is all about in the 16th century (social status, economic security, and pedigree).