Romeo & Juliet - Greed over Love with Tragic Outcomes

Greed Over Love with Tragic Outcomes

Youth must often suffer for parents’ mistakes and the children involved in the classic tragedy by William Shakespeare, “Romeo and Juliet”, suffer greatly for them. The parents of the Capulet and Montague families channeled energy into a very destructive, tragic outcome. Being too late to correct this negative behavior of hatred, disregard of feelings, and manipulation results in the most tragic events of all and the worst fear of any parent: the death of their child.

The first and perhaps most obvious conflict displayed throughout the play is the rivalry between the Capulet and Montague families. The hostility apparent in the relationship between the two families is something that creates a negative personality in the children. Specifically, the environment of intolerance that they grow up in teaches them that it is acceptable to hate. Hatred is learned, not inherent. Even the servants of the house are involved in the hostile setting of the household. “A dog of that house shall move me to stand.” (I, i, 12) This displays the elevation of aggression that exists among the members of each house. This quote was even said by a mere servant of the Capulet family. It explains how the antagonism between the Capulets and Montagues has gotten so bad that the smallest things could result in a fight. Besides the hatred, the children are taught feelings of superiority over members of the opposite household. This air of preeminence adds to the frequent exchange of insults that members of each family often share. The fights that break out due to such defamation are what lead to the deaths of Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, and later to the deaths of Romeo, and Juliet. Such heavy losses all originate from the initial superiority and hatred that surrounds the environment created by the children’s parents.

The second idea that caused children of the Capulet and Montague households to suffer is the parent’s disregard of feelings. A perfect example of this is Juliet’s arranged marriage to Count Paris. Juliet was only thirteen years old, yet her parents were making major adult decisions for her to satisfy their own need. Although Juliet was still mourning the loss of her loved cousin, Tybalt, Capulet and Lady Capulet disregarded her feelings and moved on by planning her marriage to Paris the same day Tybalt is killed by Romeo. “…much of grief shows still some want of wit.” (III, v, 76) This is Juliet’s own mother telling her that her mourning is stupid. A mother who truly cares for her daughter’s well-being would help her get through the tragic death of Tybalt and try to lighten her grief. In response to Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris, Lady Capulet once again manifests a care for herself over her weeping daughter. “I would the fool were married to her grave.” (III, v, 145) This is, not only foreshadowing to Juliet’s eventual suicide, but also a concern for her family name over her daughter’s wishes. Capulet, Juliet’s father, shows that his attitude is no better than his wife’s. He becomes enraged and calls her such words as “green-sickness carrion”, “baggage”, “disobedient wretch”, and “hilding.” (III, v, 161-175) Such insults and harsh words show that Capulet is much more concerned with how he will be viewed by Paris and Paris’s kinsman, Prince Escalus of Verona. This is not only selfish but also cruel and callous to young Juliet. A second example of such disregard is the banishment of Romeo Montague. The Capulets vehemently demanded Romeo’s execution after he killed their cousin, Tybalt. On the surface, it may seem that they are seriously outraged at the death of their kin. Later, however, when the Capulets brush off the death while talking to Juliet, it is obvious that it was not the true cause of their fervent demands of the Prince. The crime is not exactly what they wanted punished; it was that Romeo was of their rival’s household. They completely disregarded the impact on Romeo’s family, and,