The Elderly In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Many of today’s youth feel that their parents and elders have absolutely no idea what they are experiencing, however, the truth is that no matter the age everyone has been in a similar situation at one point in-time. From my understanding of the play, the quote, “Do as I say, not as I do”, is a perfect way to explain the poor, yet experienced choices the elders of Verona made in William Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Julie. Romeo and Juliet make many inexperienced decisions throughout the play, but the first major example of the young versus the elderly would be when Lord’s Capulet and Montague decided to join the duel of the houses. Next, Romeo and Juliet made a very inexperienced decision when the lovers decided to immediately get married.

Although supposed to be more mature and experienced, when they realized that their men are duelling, they made the ill choice to draw their weapons on each-other as well. This foolish and immature action was demonstrated through, “My sword, I say! Old Montague is come”, (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, I, i, 71). Lord Capulet has just spotted Lord Montague walking towards them in the street, and has requested his sword, foreshadowing the family’s feud and proving his level of immaturity, instead of requesting his men stop. Also, during the duel, Prince was the person who acted as the voice of reason and demanded that the feuding stop. Although younger than both Lord’s Capulet and Montague, the Prince’s request of, “By thee, old Capulet, and Montague, Have thrice disturb’d the quiet of our streets” (W. S., Romeo and Juliet, I, i, 84-85), proved that he was the only one to see the reasoning of the situation and how childish both the elders and some of the younger’s were being. Both examples of the elders acting immature and the middle aged Prince acted as the voice of reason were needed and proved that although youth may make poor decisions, even the most experienced elders may make poor decisions at different times as well, and sometimes it is a person who has experienced a little of both to make the right

Everyone undergoes similar struggles in their life, but when it comes to decisions, even the experienced elders make some wrong decisions. Lord’s Capulet and Montague make the first immature decision when they join in the duel of families at the beginning of the play and only stop when questioned by the Prince. As well, the youth in both Romeo and Juliet lead to a very inexperienced decision when the star crossed lovers jumped into marriage. Finally, both Friar Lawrence and Juliet made very poor choices, first when the Friar sells Juliet the potion, and then when Juliet committed suicide over the loss of her beloved Romeo. “Do as I say, not as I do” was a very large part of Romeo and Juliet, and also the most prominent lesson I received from William Shakespeare’s miraculous