The Ill-Treatment And Absence Of Parents In Romeo And Juliet

The ill-treatment and absence of Juliet’s parents in her life caused the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Through the few interactions between Juliet and her parents in Romeo and Juliet, the reader is shown the abusive and absent household she was raised in. Though common at the time, Juliet did not get along with her parents well as they didn’t look after her and left most of the work to people like her nurse. Relationships between parents always have influences on one's life in one way or another. Whether that be overbearing parents or absent ones like the Capulets. Juliet’s father gets furious with Juliet as she refuses a marriage she does not want nor need. Capulet in this scene was displaying his need for power over Juliet’s actions and future. This interaction shows one of the multitudes of times he has lost her temper toward her. He yelled, “Doth she not give us thanks? Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest, unworthy as she is, that we have wrought So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?” (3.5.143-146). These lines demonstrate how Juliet’s father expects a lot from her despite not caring for her himself. Capulet likes to hold a lot of

Capulet says, “An you be mine, I’ll give you to my friend; An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, For by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee, Nor what is mine shall never do thee good. Trust to’t. Bethink you. I’ll be forsworn” (3.5.193-197). This reaction to Juliet’s refusal exhibits how easy to anger her father is towards her and how he has little patience or regard for her or her feelings. He has clearly been disappointed and dissatisfied with his daughter in the past and this is no new subject. Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, is not entirely innocent in this story either. In fact, she has her own issues with her