What Does Friar Lawrence Say About The Rights Of Teenagers

605 Words3 Pages

In Shakespeare's tragedy Romeo and Juliet, both Friar Lawrence's and Lord Capulet's words and actions showed two different views on the rights of teenagers. Friar Lawrence and Lord Capulet's views showed opposing thoughts on how teenagers should be treated and the words and actions from these people ultimately added to the brutality of the situation that could've been avoided. In the opening of Act II, scene 3, Friar Lawrence starts off with a soliloquy talking to himself about good and evil, this basically sums up his views on the rights of teenagers. "In man as well as herbs—grace and rude will;" This means both good and evil exist in both plants and men. When he says this it relates to his views on the rights of teenagers because it says …show more content…

He sees teenagers, particularly Juliet, as his property. He thinks he can just give Juliet to Paris. In Act Im scene 2, Paris asks for Juliet's hand in marriage and Lord Capulet's says, "My child is yet a stranger in the world, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years; Let two more summers wither in their pride Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride." He says to wait two years because she isn't yet fourteen. At that point in the play he wanted to give his daughter a few years until he thought she was ready for marriage, not bothering to see when she was ready. But after that he does say, "But woo her gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part." Which is him saying that he doesn't completely want this marriage to be forced because he wants Paris to try to get Juliet to like him. In Act III, scene 4, Paris says that it is not a good time to talk about marriage because Tybalt has just died. So he offers to leave. But Lord Capulet calls him back, "Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender Of my child's love. I think she will be ruled... Aquatint her... And bid her (mark you me?) on Wednesday next—" Lord Capulet has just given Paris consent to marry his