Romeo & Juliet

[Popsicle]

In Romeo and Juliet, do you think the parents should have been involved in the lovers' relationship?

[chrissy]

I think much of the tragedy in Romeo and Juliet is because the parents were not involved. They were both very young (16 and 14 if I remember correctly) and unable to distinguish infatuation from real love. The only kind of adult supervision they had to rely on was the Friar and the Nurse who both proved to be inadequate mentors. In the end when the parents erect statues in honor of the kids, Shakespeare makes the point that Romeo and Juliet had to die before they realised how little they were involved in their lives.

[Koa]

Wasn't it rather normal in old times for parents not to care so much about their children, especially in rich families? (or maybe i'm not getting the real point of this thread...)

[chrissy]

well, I'm no expert in this but I would think since day to day life was more challenging for people in the renaissance they would have less time to devote it to their children. That's why so many families employed nurses and governers to take care of their children for them.
However, you can see how important family is to the Montagues and the Capulets when Tibalt and....ok, I can't remember who else...was killed. Whether or not it was normal for parents to be involved in their children's life, I think Shakespeare makes the point that they ought to be involved, and not leave the job up to the lower class help.

[AbdoRinbo]

well, I'm no expert in this but I would think since day to day life was more challenging for people in the renaissance they would have less time to devote it to their children. That's why so many families employed nurses and governers to take care of their children for them.
However, you can see how important family is to the Montagues and the Capulets when Tibalt and....ok, I can't remember who else...was killed. Whether or not it was normal for parents to be involved in their children's life, I think Shakespeare makes the point that they ought to be involved, and not leave the job up to the lower class help.

I'll give anyone props who can find one character in Shakespeare who dies of old age (not by implication, but explicitly stated). M-maybe there is a 'Cult of Death' somewhere out there devoted to Shakespeare?

[Edmond]

What can I say, Bad parents.

[LLBowen]

Don't blame the parents, blame the Bard. :o

Anyway: I don't think R&J is about bad parenting. It's about grown ups being blinded by their hatred for people they do not actually know.

As to whether these parents should have been more involved in their children's love affair: I don't think parents should meddle. But I fail to see, however, what that's got to do with the play.

[chrissy]

You might want to read it again!

[suitenoise314]

i dont think it's just parents.. it's family in general. To me, the rivalry seems to be more intense within the younger generation in the story. When Tibalt tells Capulet that Romeo is at the party in Act I, Capulet says he doesnt really mind and that Romeo is said to be a good kid, and to just leave him be. Tibalt is the one who cant let his anger go.
Also, if anyone has seen the Zefferilli version of the story; in the beginning their is a sense that the Capulets are more "evil" ( for lack of a better word)..the colors of their costumes (red and yellow) as opposed to the dark blue (calm?) dressed Montagues. And it is a Capulet who instigates the brawl...in the film anyhow.
Anyone else seen that version?

[chrissy]

I haven't seen it but I wonder why the film makers would prefer one family over the other. The fued itself always seemed more important than the actions of either side.