Juliet's Innocence

A fear of love and death, combined with a passionate, yet ill-fated, relationship, is bound to cause catastrophe. Romeo and Juliet’s families had a longtime feud. Their relationship was forbidden, yet they rebelled against the possible consequences that could arise during their prohibited connection. Some potential issues may have also developed because of Juliet’s age. She was just a young girl, at the age of 13, but she was introduced to very mature topics through her relationship with Romeo. Love and death were two subjects that Juliet feared, and when she forced to confront them, she began confusing the difference between the two. This alarming perspective eventually led to Juliet’s death. Juliet's strong relationship with Romeo forced

It was first seen when Juliet responded to her parents urging her to marry Paris. Juliet had presented a harsh outlook regarding love and death when she said, “Delay this marriage for a month, a week. Or, if you do not, make the bridal bed in that dim monument where Tybalt lies.” (3.5. 199-201) The “bridal bed” represents love, whereas the “dim monument where Tybalt lies” represents a place of death. The awful comparison between the two had been sparked by Romeo’s love. It was his affection that led to Juliet lashing out at the thought of marrying Paris. Juliet threats to kill herself if her parents don’t move the wedding. The threat displays Juliet acting more demanding and losing her innocence in the process. Another instance where Juliet begins to lose her innocence was when she was considering whether or not to take the potion. She states, “What if it be a poison which the Friar subtly hath ministered to have me dead … if I wake, shall I not be distraught, environed with all these hideous fears… Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink -- I drink to thee.”(4.3. 24-25, 49-50, 58) Juliet describes the potion as a possible poison. Poison was often the reaper of death throughout the play, and Juliet holds back from drinking the potion because she fears that the potion may kill her. She uses the phrase “hideous fears” while describing possible terrible outcomes caused by drinking the potion, one of which was death. Juliet eventually disregards her concerns as she drinks the potion while uttering Romeo’s name several times. Romeo represents her love at this point of the play. Juliet is overlooking the possibility of death to keep her love intact. Juliet's reaction proves her innocence being taken away by Romeo, as she is no longer afraid to die for