Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet has various relationships
within the play. There is the relationship of lovers, friends, cousins, parents
and even caretakers. Romeo and Juliet is not about the lovers, it is about the
parents and their relationship to their child. Teenager’s experience
many relationships, but the one most important and most complicated is between
a child and their parent.
Many
parents think similar to each other; most parents care for their children, and
make their kids their first priority. It does not matter which era you are in;
parents have alike thinking. In Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ the guardian
or true parent can be Juliet’s nurse. This is a very good example of how in
some households someone else can be the “true” parent. A common second parent
or guardian is a grand parent. Children often have a strong connection and
affection towards their grand parents. In ‘Romeo and Juliet’ quoted from the
nurse she says; “Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.” The nurse knows the
child’s birth by the hour; many parents have this strong connection with their
child. This shows the strong connection with the parent and also points out the
care and affection many parents have for their children. Many parents care for
their children and don’t appreciate when their kids get hurt. If a child does
something wrong, often a parent yells at them; in most cases there is one
parent or guardian who does not like the idea of yelling at a child. Another
quote from the nurse is when she says, “God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame, my lord, to rate her
so.” The nurse is disagreeing with Juliet’s father while he is yelling at her;
this shows the care and the pain, the nurse feels, while Juliet is being yelled
at. Parents learn from their own guardians; teenagers learn from their parents.
Each generation learns something from each other; this is why many
relationships are similar. As the generations pass on, the ideas pass on as
well.
Shakespeare
is not a believer of love; he believes everyone is fake and ridiculous. If
Shakespeare looked at current teenagers he would most likely be disgusted.
Current teenagers thoughts are much different that of Shakespeare. Teenagers in
this day and age are quite different; there is technology everywhere and our
thoughts are exploding. Shakespeare would call every single teenager out there
fake, not one of them would be ideally real. Shakespeare would believe that
every teen plays a different role or personality in front of each person.
Shakespeare would call teenagers two-faced or masked. A common idea Shakespeare
has is masks on every persons face, and changing costumes. In Shakespeare’s poem “All the World’s a Stage,” he mentions
the idea of masks and costumes. This idea was also told by Neuf in class. If
Shakespeare looked at the teenagers in today’s world, he would say that every
teenager has different masks and costumes. Most teenagers’ act differently in
front of people, it depends on who the person is. In
the poem “All the World’s a Stage,” he states “And
one man in his time plays many parts.” This line specifically points toward acting differently in front of
different audiences. It describes playing different roles in different
situations. Teenagers often
act differently in front of friends, teachers, parents, and almost any
relationship. Looking back at Shakespeare’s attitude towards humans, he would
believe teenagers are stupid through they way they act, speak, or even the
actions we make. Current teenagers are crazy; they are all over the place.
Current teenagers have different thoughts going through their brain every
second. Shakespeare would believe that teenagers in this generation are
absolutely ridiculous and fake in way too many ways.
There
are so many relationships in the world, but one of the most important and
recognized is the one between a parent and a child. This relationship is most
connected from each generation-to-generation. Many children all over the world
learn the most from their parents. Parents learn from their parents, and every
child learns from their parent or guardian. Relationships are so similar
because of experiences and past memories. Many parents base their teachings off
of their mistakes or experiences. A very famous quote says “Learn from your
mistakes.” Many parents teach their kids not to make the same mistakes as they
did. Often parents also base their kids through their own experiences. In “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet’s mother states this line:
“Well, think of marriage now;
younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of
esteem,
Are made already mothers: by my
count,
I was your mother much upon
these years
That you are now a maid. Thus
then in brief:
The valiant Paris seeks you for
his love.”
This shows that Juliet’s mother
is getting her daughter married the same way she was married. She is basing her
experience and giving Juliet the same thing. In this case it seems as if she
wants Juliet to know what it is like to be married so young with so many
expectations.
Every person learns a lot from his or her
parent or guardian and this is what adds the similarity between the
relationships. As the similar tactics pass through generation to generation,
the children start to create a similar relationship. The relationship with a
parent and child itself is very connected and special, you cannot compare it to
another. A child is with their parent from the very beginning of their journey
and there is no relationship that can have more significance than that. Parents
have similar feelings toward their child as well. Most parents feel affection
and care towards their children; the parent makes the child their life. It does
not matter from which generation the relationship is from, a parent and child
will always be most connected and significant.
The
complexity and connection between a parent and a child is not comparable to
that of another. There is so much to the relationship that it cannot be less
significant than something else. Teenagers are most connected and have the most
complications with their parents, but through every generation this
relationship is the most similar.
All The World's A Stage:
All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then, the whining school-boy with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then, a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then, the justice,
In fair round belly, with a good capon lined,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws, and modern instances,
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
And all the men and women merely players.
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts,
His acts being seven ages. At first the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then, the whining school-boy with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school. And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow. Then, a soldier,
Full of strange oaths, and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honour, sudden, and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth. And then, the justice,
In fair round belly, with a good capon lined,
With eyes severe, and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws, and modern instances,
And so he plays his part. The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side,
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound. Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.
This is the poem by Shakespeare.
It seems like you did a lot of research on Shakespeare! You should cite the places where you got the information. I like how your essay seems really well thought out.
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaby! (: I'll look into that.
DeleteI really like how you structured your essay well :)
ReplyDeleteThankYouu! (:
DeleteYour essay is structured well! Use more quotes from the play as well. Great job though!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking of doing that, but thank you! (:
DeleteNice post! I could find you did a lot of research on this. good work.
ReplyDeleteThanks Miki! (:
DeleteYour essay is very clear and very nicely laid out I like how you used the example "“Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.” " about the nurse remembering Juliet's birth by hour this shows majorly how the nurse acts almost as a grandparent or godmother to her whereas her mom probably doesn't even bother remembering.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jasmine! (:
DeleteI liked the examples you used, overall, your essay was very well written good job:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Bhullar. Things to work on: your first paragraph sets up to argue for parents and is about Nurse then the final paragraph suggests Juliet's mother is your best argument (she is not a good parent), you missed the father role, you seem to view her relations with her parents as positive (it's not), the second paragraph doesn't seem to fit, and you miss modern examples. Things you did well: you researched and brought in a new piece of literature into your argument, you have good ideas (that need way more clarity), you write lots and work hard. The issue for you seems to continue to be keeping focused on ONE thing and explaining it concisely. I feel like I know what you are getting at but it's repetitive and hard to read… less is sometimes more. :)
ReplyDelete