A Parent and a Child

           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. 

This is the poem by Shakespeare.