Discussion Topic
Quotes from "Romeo and Juliet" expressing lack of freedom due to parental decisions
Summary:
In "Romeo and Juliet," quotes expressing a lack of freedom due to parental decisions include Juliet's lament, "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name," highlighting her struggle with family expectations, and her plea, "Good father, I beseech you on my knees, Hear me with patience but to speak a word," showing her desperation against her father's authority.
What quotes show Romeo or Juliet's lack of freedom due to parental decisions?
Go with Juliet on this one. Romeo is really hard to do for your topic, because Romeo's parents are essentially absent from the play. On the other hand, Juliet's parents are prominent characters in the play.
In Act 1, Scene 2, Capulet and Paris are talking about Juliet. Paris wants to marry her soon. Lord Capulet has no problem with Juliet marrying Paris.
Let two more summers wither in their pride,
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
The only thing that Capulet doesn't agree to is the timing. He wants Paris to wait two more years, and then Capulet will give his daughter away. Notice that Juliet has no say in the matter. A few lines later Capulet does tell Paris that a part of the decision is Juliet's, but when she is old to marry is up to dad.
Capulet...
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changes his mind about having Juliet wait to marry. He moves the wedding date up to that week. He thinks it will cheer his daughter up after the recent death of Tybalt.
Well get you gone: o' Thursday be it, then.
Go you to Juliet ere you go to bed,
Prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day.
Lady Capulet goes off to tell Juliet the "good" news.
Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn,
The gallant, young and noble gentleman,
The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church,
Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.
Obviously Juliet is not happy about her parents telling her whom she will marry. Especially since Juliet is already in love with Romeo . . . and married to him.
This next quote from Act 3, Scene 5 is my favorite though.
But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next,
To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Capulet is making it clear to Juliet that she has no say in the matter. He plans on dragging her to church to marry Paris if need be.