Romeo And Juliet Parenting Analysis

Parenting is a process of encouraging and aiding the aspects of development of a child from infancy to adulthood. But the style of parenting also a reflection of culture, and its expectations in a role as a parent, the person who raises and cares for a relatively inexperienced being. Shakespeare’s play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse and Friar Laurence are similar characters, as they are both confidants and surrogate parents to Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet. They provide advice to guide the star-crossed lovers, and relieve obstacles in Romeo and Juliet’s path in becoming a couple. However, their styles of parenting often do not comply with the laws and expectations of Marriage and Parenting of Shakespeare’s time period. The

The Nurse broke rules concerning Juliet’s imminent marriage with Paris. When Mr. Capulet and Lady Capulet, force Juliet to marry Paris, the Nurse’s response shocks Juliet. The nurse says, “Romeo is banished, and all the world to nothing/That he dares ne’er come back to challenge you,/Or, if he do, it needs must be by stealth./Then, since the case so stands as now it doth,/I think it best you married with the County./O, he’s a lovely gentleman” (3.5.226). The Nurse, who originally helped Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, is supporting the side of forcing Juliet to marry Paris. However, parents are supposed to let their children have a say in marriage. According to The Ordering of Maides, Children should have some agreement to the marriage. The passage reads, “as their daughter may be best able to content, and be contented”. This contradicts what the Nurse, and the Capulets are doing toward Juliet. Finally, Friar Laurence also breaks some additional rules towards the end of the play. The Friar inevitably guides Romeo to his death, as he concocts the plan with the letter, without any leeway for error. According to The Ordering of Sonnes, parents must have authority over children’s rash decisions. The passage has, “but that one thing comes to my mind, which I have singled out, because I see much mischief comes thereupon: which is a kind of childish bravery” (194). While the passage may be a bit unclear, the underlying tone of the passage is exemplifying how children should be led away from mischief or “childish bravery”, such as Romeo committing suicide to be with Juliet. Friar Laurence caused the perfect positions for Romeo and Juliet to commit suicide, which is possibly a part of his ulterior motive to settle the dispute between the two families, as that was the outcome. However, it is unclear if Friar Laurence had any