Silverson 1

Libby Silverson
Mrs. King
English 9
12 May 2015
Shakespeares View on Marriage Age
Shakespeare seems to show more than one certain bias towards early marriage.
Throughout the play small hints are made at how Romeo and Juliet should wait to make such
rash decisions and how maturity plays a hand in how they (should have) acted. 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 (Shakespeare 1001). In this scene Paris is trying to win the blessing of
Lord Capulet to marry Juliet, however, Capulet believes that Juliet is still too young for
marriage. Shakespeare may have been stating his own beliefs through Lord Capulet and trying to
express his distaste towards early romances. Within the infant rind of this small flower Poison
hath residence, and medicine power; For this, being smelt, with that part cheers each part; Being
tasted, slays all senses with the heart. Two such opposed kings encamp them still In man as well
as herbsgrace and rude will (Shakespeare 1029). In act 2, scene 3, Friar Laurence tells, in a
soliloquy, of a flower that improves health when smelt but kills when eaten. This quote is a direct
example of foreshadowing Romeo and Juliets catastrophic marriage. If the two lovers had loved
moderately and delicately they could have improved their lives for the better. However, they did
not take their time to love and learn each other; they rushed into marriage, killing both

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themselves and their chances at a happy life together. In this passage Shakespeare foreshadows
the two love birds deaths whilst warning of the hazardous outcomes of a rushed marriage.
These violent delights have violent ends And in their triumph die, like fire and powder, Which,
as they kiss, consume (Shakespeare 1040). Here, Friar Laurence is once again warning the
couple of the hazards of a rushed marriage. All throughout the play Shakespeare tells the
audience time and time again that there is danger in love, and poison in lust and passion. All in
all, Shakespeare warns the play goers of marrying too young and loving too fierce. His decision
to kill off both Romeo and Juliet in dramatic proclamations of love shows the audience that he
believed in loving slowly and waiting until you are mature and ready to marry.

Works Cited:
Shakespeare, William. The Language of Literature. Evanston: McDougal Littell Inc, 2002.
1001-1040. Print.