Romeo and Juliet
3 May 2019
I am in the middle of Act III. I underestimated the amount of sexual innuendos Shakespeare is capable of making. I have learnt that “wherefore” means “why” and not “where”, and in the wherefore art thou scene, Juliet is actually asking him why is his name Romeo, meaning a Montague. And not trying to find him. Revelation.
(a few days later)
I have now finished Romeo and Juliet. Indeed, as what the tumblrs say, Romeo and Juliet were teenagers who loved and that is that. Juliet was 13, a ripe age to wed and reproduce in the story, given that her Lady Capulet’s age is given to be 26 which is just twice of Juliet’s. to think my own Mom only got married at 26. And perhaps there’s the cultural evolution thing going on in pre-industrial Italy (likely to be after or in the late part of the Renaissance), whereby people gradually have their children at later and later ages. And it is very possibly normal at that time for girls to marry at like, 13, immediately after getting their first periods. But based on current standards that is paedophilic to day the least. And Capulet threatening to disown Juliet if she does not heed his orders to marry? Not cool at all. Again, I understand that arranged marriages are very usual and normal last time, and even now in more backward countries.
In today’s context, Romeo’s relationship with Juliet would be seen as either promiscuous or bordering on the “child rape” thing. Though explicit sex is not mentioned in the play. Romeo’s age is estimated to be between 14-15 based on some sources, and up to 19-20 in others. Shakespeare did not mention it. But again, it is likely to be young, because the Montagues did refer to Romeo as a younger one. Even in present day there are girls who get pregnant at ages of 7 and younger, but it is still pretty ridiculous how their lady bits and their hormones can support a foetus and black magic it into a baby. I would like to make an uneducated guess that something in the air of last time, like some chemical, gives rise to higher occurrence of precocious puberty.
In the play, Juliet is considered pretty old, at least old enough to be a mother. And it is unlikely that in the short spam of 500 years our anatomy has evolved much. Hence, I would predict that even though it is now illegal and taboo for children around the age of thirteen to be made to give birth, out parts are still very much as ready as Juliet’s was, for child bearing. And may I say that young bodies have stretchier collagen and are more flexible and makes the vagina and cervix easier to stretch during labour to pop out a baby. But still, imagine penetrating a 13-year-old. It is way too small, especially if Romeo is as older estimates of around 20 years. Juliet would be very injured.
Also, about Paris. I do not know his age but he is likely around the age of Romeo or older. And to matchmake a female child with an older guy…
And nowadays whenever teenagers want to fall in love there is the adage that if Romeo and Juliet can do it, so can they. And there is always the refutation that no, teenagers are not ready for love. Because even in Romeo and Juliet, though they did love, their immaturity made the love last less than a week, or merely five days, from Sunday to Thursday. And in the meantime, they and at least six other people died. Let’s see if I can remember. Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Montague’s Wife, and the last pair, Romeo and Juliet. And it is partly the friar’s fault too. Like seriously, fake death and elope to Mantua. How about skip the fake death part and go straight to eloping? Its either make Juliet’s parents sad that she would rather be disowned than marry Count Paris or make them sad that she died.
And the friar, once he realised that the letter was not sent, he should have run straight to the grave. There is no time. He needs to stand next to, or in the bushes staring at Juliet’s coffin, and makes sure no one commits suicide. Because, of course Romeo will want to be with Juliet when he dies.
Another reason why I think teenagers have no business falling in love. Less than a day. That was all it took for Romeo and Juliet to kiss after meeting for the first time. Ok, perhaps they have seen each other around Verona before. And as two hot people are, noticed each other. However, their love progressed way too fast. I get that that was the 16th century and all. But you don’t get married the next day lol.
I am in the middle of Act III. I underestimated the amount of sexual innuendos Shakespeare is capable of making. I have learnt that “wherefore” means “why” and not “where”, and in the wherefore art thou scene, Juliet is actually asking him why is his name Romeo, meaning a Montague. And not trying to find him. Revelation.
(a few days later)
I have now finished Romeo and Juliet. Indeed, as what the tumblrs say, Romeo and Juliet were teenagers who loved and that is that. Juliet was 13, a ripe age to wed and reproduce in the story, given that her Lady Capulet’s age is given to be 26 which is just twice of Juliet’s. to think my own Mom only got married at 26. And perhaps there’s the cultural evolution thing going on in pre-industrial Italy (likely to be after or in the late part of the Renaissance), whereby people gradually have their children at later and later ages. And it is very possibly normal at that time for girls to marry at like, 13, immediately after getting their first periods. But based on current standards that is paedophilic to day the least. And Capulet threatening to disown Juliet if she does not heed his orders to marry? Not cool at all. Again, I understand that arranged marriages are very usual and normal last time, and even now in more backward countries.
In today’s context, Romeo’s relationship with Juliet would be seen as either promiscuous or bordering on the “child rape” thing. Though explicit sex is not mentioned in the play. Romeo’s age is estimated to be between 14-15 based on some sources, and up to 19-20 in others. Shakespeare did not mention it. But again, it is likely to be young, because the Montagues did refer to Romeo as a younger one. Even in present day there are girls who get pregnant at ages of 7 and younger, but it is still pretty ridiculous how their lady bits and their hormones can support a foetus and black magic it into a baby. I would like to make an uneducated guess that something in the air of last time, like some chemical, gives rise to higher occurrence of precocious puberty.
In the play, Juliet is considered pretty old, at least old enough to be a mother. And it is unlikely that in the short spam of 500 years our anatomy has evolved much. Hence, I would predict that even though it is now illegal and taboo for children around the age of thirteen to be made to give birth, out parts are still very much as ready as Juliet’s was, for child bearing. And may I say that young bodies have stretchier collagen and are more flexible and makes the vagina and cervix easier to stretch during labour to pop out a baby. But still, imagine penetrating a 13-year-old. It is way too small, especially if Romeo is as older estimates of around 20 years. Juliet would be very injured.
Also, about Paris. I do not know his age but he is likely around the age of Romeo or older. And to matchmake a female child with an older guy…
And nowadays whenever teenagers want to fall in love there is the adage that if Romeo and Juliet can do it, so can they. And there is always the refutation that no, teenagers are not ready for love. Because even in Romeo and Juliet, though they did love, their immaturity made the love last less than a week, or merely five days, from Sunday to Thursday. And in the meantime, they and at least six other people died. Let’s see if I can remember. Mercutio, Tybalt, Paris, Montague’s Wife, and the last pair, Romeo and Juliet. And it is partly the friar’s fault too. Like seriously, fake death and elope to Mantua. How about skip the fake death part and go straight to eloping? Its either make Juliet’s parents sad that she would rather be disowned than marry Count Paris or make them sad that she died.
And the friar, once he realised that the letter was not sent, he should have run straight to the grave. There is no time. He needs to stand next to, or in the bushes staring at Juliet’s coffin, and makes sure no one commits suicide. Because, of course Romeo will want to be with Juliet when he dies.
Another reason why I think teenagers have no business falling in love. Less than a day. That was all it took for Romeo and Juliet to kiss after meeting for the first time. Ok, perhaps they have seen each other around Verona before. And as two hot people are, noticed each other. However, their love progressed way too fast. I get that that was the 16th century and all. But you don’t get married the next day lol.
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