The Capulets and the Montagues. Generation after generation, the family feud withstands the test of time and so does the family’s reputation and pride, both qualities that engender from their social class and the time period’s societal expectations. Romeo and Juliet are blinded by their newfound feelings and their false sense of freedom in which they, without the proper guidance of an elder's advice, are left unknowingly desperate and inescapably doomed. The two lovers live in a time period with societal expectations of the upper class, and William Shakespeare’s constant allusion to this aspect within his iconic play, Romeo and Juliet, contributes to the development of the social class motif. Many problems originate from the wealthy background …show more content…
Shakespeare consistently weaves in the reference to the wealthy background of the protagonists, in this case, through the nurse’s advice to Romeo: “Nurse: I’ll tell you, whoever has her heart will have plenty of money.” (Act 1, Scene 5, 122-124) Through Shakespeare's reference to the money that Juliet's potential lover will inherit, it is clear that the egotistical attitude of the adults in Romeo and Juliet is derived from their social background. The families’ normal lives and behavior are influenced due to this aspect, which leads the two lovers trapped within a series of confines. To escape the grudges and live freely, they dip into the world independently when they fell in love; this sparks the series of lies and miscommunications that tears the families apart and leaves the teenagers helpless, a deadly consequence of the fixation on wealth that the adults have. As the play progresses, Shakespeare has Romeo make a revelation that contradicts the mindset of his upbringing: “Romeo: Those who can count their worth are beggars, but my true love has grown so much I cannot sum up half my sum of wealth.” (Act 2, Scene 6, pg 111) The first time he understands and cherishes the value of the purity of his love for Juliet is also …show more content…
“Capulet: My concern was always to have her married...to a gentleman of noble parentage...of large estates…” (Act 3.5, 190-195) The Capulet family arranges to forcefully make Juliet the bride of a man from a well-to-do family, who exhibits their focus on the maintenance of their wealth from the seemingly default attitude of the higher class they are in. Although they may not have these intentions, they disregard Juliet's’ opinions and neglect her emotional status, leading her further into her state of despair. The secrets and miscommunication that circulate through both protagonists, their families, and their unfortunate fate originates from their objectifying attitude, which was normal and non-degrading for this social class. As a result, Juliet’s motives for her detrimental decisions form, along with the obliviousness of the parents and becomes the heart of the issue. “Juliet: Oh, tell me to leap, rather than marry Paris, from the battlements of any tower.” (Act 4.1.) The forceful marriage arrangement-which also doubles as a business deal for the Capulet family- leaves Juliet desperate and her independence stripped away--to the point of her contemplating suicide. Combined with her passionate determination to be with her true love, she is left with no choice- which leads the protagonists struggling