Parental Love In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Anne Frank, a Jewish diarist and survivor of the WWII Holocaust once said, “Parents can only give good advice or put them on right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands”. In his play, Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare explores this idea of parental love by revealing truths about the balance between caring for children and still letting them make their own decisions. Romeo and Juliet is a story about two young lovers from rival houses. Although their love for each other remains pure, when faced with trials of family, law, and fate, both tragically take their own life. Shakespeare uses the characterizations of Lord and Lady Capulet, as well as the actions of Juliet, to demonstrate how parental love can

(IV.v.71-76)

Shakespeare specifically uses the word “heaven” to emphasize how much Capulet had wanted Juliet to get married; how much he was blinded by his his hopes for her. The phrase “run mad” expresses how exaggerated Capulet’s sorrow is, even though he played a role in Juliet’s “death”. Finally, when Shakespeare uses the word “ill” to describe Capulet’s love for Juliet, it highlights how much his love for Juliet is so messed up and twisted. Capulet was so caught up in his expectations for his daughter, he forgot to really show his love by caring for her.

When parents are blinded by their love, the parental love they show meant to help can instead bring great sorrow. When Juliet receives the news that she will being marrying the County Paris, she immediately panics and refuses to her father. Then, once realizing her arguing with her father is hopeless Juliet turns to her mother and pleads for help crying, Is there no pity sitting in the clouds

That sees into the bottom of my grief? …

Or if you do not [delay the marriage], make the bridal bed

In that dim monument where Tybalt lies.

(IV.ii.78-89)

Shakespeare specifically uses the phrases “rattling bones” “reeky shanks” and “yellow chapless skulls” to paint a picture of horrors to the reader of something so frightful that one would almost rather die. The next word “tremble” emphasizes how Juliet too is horrified by these things. Despite her fear however, Juliet is so distressed from her parents’ decision to make her marry Paris that she would rather face her worst nightmares than agree. This emphasizes how much sorrow and anguish Juliet has to go through because of her parents and their blindness.

Not only can overpowering love bring sorrow to the recipient, it can also affect the bestower. After hearing of Juliet’s death, Capulet immediately starts mourning, overcome with grief. He cries out saying,

O child! O child! my soul, and not my child!

Dead art thou! Alack! my child is dead;

And with my child my joys are buried.