Perfect Child In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Ever feel like your parents do not know what's best for you? Parents often want the “perfect” child. A perfect child might be a child who becomes a doctor, or someone who gets straight A's, or a child who is an all star athlete. That's the point, a perfect child differs from parent to parent and also from child to child. In reality everybody makes mistakes and wants to do something they're passionate about and sometimes parents just can’t accept that. In Romeo and Juliet, Lord and Lady Capulet show that parents do not always know what's best for their children when Lord Capulet plans a wedding for Juliet that she does not want, and when Lady Capulet does not have a connection with Juliet.

When Lord Capulet plans a wedding for Juliet that

Lady Capulet hires Nurse to help take care of Juliet. Even though she only has one child, she is too busy to take care of her herself. When she wants to talk to Juliet about marriage she does not want to do it without Nurse. Lady Capulet says, “Nurse give leave awhile. We must talk in secret.” Then she says, “Nurse, come back again. I have remembered me, thou’s hear our counsel.” (1.3.8-10) This quote shows that Lady Capulet feels comfortable talking to Juliet about anything around Nurse since Nurse knows Juliet better and can help make the best decision. Nurse is practically the mother figure for Juliet because her mother is not around as much. Although, Lady Capulet does not make much effort to bond with Juliet since she is closest to Nurse. Lady Capulet also proves parents do not always know what's best for their children by telling Juliet to start thinking of marriage. She says, “Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are made already mothers.”. This quote shows that Lady Capulet wants Juliet to get married and become a mother now because that's the age that she had Juliet. Lady Capulet just wants Juliet to follow in her footsteps and is not considering what Juliet wants. These examples prove that Lady Capulet does not have a connection to Juliet making it hard to know what she wants to make