20 Aug 2011
John Schedler
Methinks you have missed Shakespeare's point. Romeo & Juliet are adolescents & behave as adolescents always do -- in the absence of parental supervision. R&J is a homily of parenthood and the heartache that comes to men & women who fail to supervise & guide their children.
An even better illustration is the duel between Tybalt & Mercutio. Tybalt is a bully -- the hallmark of an absent father. Teenage boys, no adult supervision, much time on their hands, an deadly weapons to play with: what do you think is going to happen?
There is nothing deep, unusual, or dramatically symbolic in Juliet, Romeo, Tybaly, Mercutio & all the other adolescents: they are typical of their age. They are good kids who will have a grand life IF their parents stop screwing around and spend some time being parents.
If Juliet falls for some nincompoop its because her father has set no example of what kind of man she should seek.
If one hear's the opening speech of the Prince -- and his closing -- spoken in the true anger & sorrow intended, one cannot avoid the message: your kids are causing havoc in the streets because y'all are too busy with your stupid quarrels to raise your children.
This has become a test for me. If I mention R&J to a woman and all she can see is the "tragic" love story, I know she's not a grownup -- no matter what her age.
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