Romeo and Juliet Youth Quotes Page 3
Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the 2008 Norton edition of the play.
| Quote #7 Thou canst not speak of that thou dost not feel: |
When the Romeo learns from Friar Laurence that he's been banished from Verona, he flips out and accuses Friar Laurence of being too old to understand this passionate situation. According to Romeo, if Friar Laurence were "young" and in the same situation as Romeo, he'd be "tear[ing] out [his] hair."
| Quote #8 CAPULET |
When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, Lord Capulet becomes enraged. Here, he suggests that young Juliet is a whiny ingrate before threatening to throw her out of the house. He also mocks her for pleading that she is "too young" to wed Paris. (Juliet's only 13 but the legal age for marriage, with parental consent, was 12). The funny thing is. When Paris first approached Capulet with a proposal to marry Juliet back in Act 1, Capulet admitted that Juliet is a little young to be a bride (1.2.2). We should also point out that, by this point, Juliet is already married to Romeo (secretly) so, she doesn't really think she's too young to be a wife – she just uses it as an excuse not to get hitched to Paris.
| Quote #9 CAPULET |
In Shakespeare's day, children (especially girls) had very little control over their lives. Daughters were expected to be silent, chaste, and obedient, which is why Capulet treats Juliet like a piece of property that he can just throw out onto "the streets" when she doesn't follow his orders.
