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The Teenage Brain In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

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Teenagers, the infamous age in between elementary years and adulthood, have existed since the first human evolved. In Shakespeare’s most well-known tragedy the entire play is based on the behavior of immature teenagers. In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet demonstrates to readers through her actions that she reflects the claims in the brochure regarding the teenage brain.
Juliet proves to readers throughout the duration of Act I in Romeo and Juliet that her impulsive and rebellious behavior is a result of a developing brain. To start, the pamphlet, The Teen Brain, claims “Genes, childhood experience, and the environment in which a young person reaches adolescence all shape behavior” (pg.1). In other words, one’s family, the way they were …show more content…

“I’ll look to like, if looking liking move. But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make [it] fly” (41). In this quote Juliet is telling her mother that she will look at Paris, her arranged suitor, to see if she could ever like him, but she will not allow herself to love him anymore than her mother’s permission allows. When looking back on what the pamphlet stated regarding an environment’s effect on behavior, Juliet is being pressured to marry someone she has no interest in because it is the way she was raised. This example clearly demonstrates how Juliet’s future behavior could be a result of the way she was brought up. An additional example of Juliet exemplifying the behavior of a changing brain is shown to readers during the Capulet’s party. “Then have my lips the sin that they have took” (59). In this quote, Juliet is kissing Romeo, and is completely disregarding the fact that she has known him for a very short amount of time. The Teen Brain provides an explanation, once again, for her performance. “The parts of the brain responsible for more “top-down” control, controlling impulses, and planning ahead, the hallmarks of adult behavior, are among the last to mature” (pg.1). We can conclude that Juliet’s

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“Romeo and Juliet The mysterious working of the adolescent brain’ Now and days love makes people do crazy things in life like in william shakespeare Romeo and Juliet,”The mysterious working on the adolescent brain” by Sarah Blakemore.some background information for romeo and juliet is that their young love and mood swings caused 6 deaths in the story .The background information from the Neuroscientist is that Sarah Blakemore is talking about the prefrontal cortex is still developing around your 20’s or below that affected Romeo and Juliet that could be why some of the deaths happened. In Romeo and Julliet due to the fact to the adolescent brain development caused mood swings and self consioucones,unncessary risk Romeo mood swings are what ultimately led to suicide.

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Romeo and Juliet, a tragic love play written by Shakespeare, circles two adolescents in lust, which some can say it can portray teenagers in real life. When watching or reading, it is common to see both Romeo and Juliet making shallow decisions, resulting to the end of their lives. Science can show the way human brains develop from the rear to the front, which can explain why teenagers are more prone to making illogical choices during this era. The outcome of Romeo and Juliet can be connected to the studies of the adolescent brain.

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In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, there are many aspects of the play which are linked to the teenage brain and how it functions. The teenage brain does not work the same as it does in adults and therefore helps the plot of the play move along quickly. Many of the parts that function in the adolescent brain can be seen in almost every decision that Romeo and Juliet make. Many studies have been created to take a look at how the adolescent brain works. There are some key elements to the brain of adolescents that show why most teens make these impulsive and adventurous decisions.

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