Comparing Advice In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Martha Beck advised, “Everyday brings new choices,” but should those choices be made independently or with the consideration of other’s advice? Fortunately, literature can illustrate the pros and cons of letting people influence other’s decisions. For example, Romeo and Juliet, characters in a Shakespeare play of the same title, opted to disregard any advice, but was it wise? No because they perished in the end. Additionally, Iztaccihuatl and her father, characters in an Aztec myth, encountered difficulty with how decisions can negatively or positively affect lives. These works both illustrate that making decisions is a part of life that needs to be learned in order to be responsible, but that does not mean it is unwise to accept other’s

For example, in an ancient Aztec myth, a powerful and old emperor kept his daughter from marrying a husband, “For he trusted no one...to rule as he did except...Ixtla” (“Popocatepetl and Ixtaccihuatl” 106). Cynics say that even experienced people can be metaphorically blinded and wrongfully affect another’s life. Venerable people can still make mistakes; experience does not necessarily translate to wisdom. I admit that not all intelligent people are wise, but more importantly, most accomplished people have valuable experiences to pull from and give direction to others. For example, when Romeo was banished from Verona, Friar Lawrence, Romeo’s best friend and mentor, advised him to, “Sojourn in Mantua. I’ll find out your man, and he shall signify” (Shakespeare 3.3.169-170). This shows that Friar John wanted Romeo to stay out of harm’s way and abide by the Prince’s ruling until it was corrected or they found another solution. If Romeo had abided by the Friar’s advice, he and Juliet would have been living happily ever after in another city away from the Capulets and Montagues. Clearly, people who have lived through life and already made difficult decisions have sage advice that will benefit others when making similar