Romeo And Juliet: Arranged Marriages

Short Research Paper

Arranged marriages is a marriage planned and agreed by the families of the bride or groom without neither of them having a say in this or even knowing about this matter. Marriages in the 14 century was completely different than it is now. Back in the day, most marriages were arranged by the family. According to Elizabethan England, “Couples may even only see each other for the first time during the wedding day itself.” At times women would marry young and too older men who were financially stable and could support them. An arranged marriage is not like the usual love then marriage it is actually the opposite. Marriage would come first and then everything else such as love would come afterwards. The groom of the

In conclusion, arranged marriages are not based on love and your choice of spouse, but what families believe is best for you and would fit you best.

In the book,” The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet”, by Shakespeare, William. When Paris first approaches Capulet about Juliet’s hand in marriage, he was reluctant because she was his only child, the rest of them had died. Capulet told Paris, “My child is yet a stranger in the world. She hath not seen the change of fourteen years” (i.ii). Paris points out the fact that many girls her age are married and become happy mothers by saying, “Younger than she are happy mothers made” (i.ii). Capulet agrees even though he was still reluctant,but he tells Paris to go and try to woo her at a family party they had that night. Juliet falls in love with Romeo when she sees him instead of falling in love with Paris. The role of women in the Italian Renaissance were ruled by their parents, and their husbands. For instance, after Romeo was banished Capulet decides that Juliet had to marry Paris. she had to marry Paris or her family would disown and no longer claim her as their daughter. Capulet tells Juliet “An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, For, by my soul, I’ll ne’er acknowledge thee good. Trust to’t, bethink you.

He is basically saying if Juliet does not obey him and marry Paris she can die in the streets and starve he would never speak of her again, she would be dead to him.If a family has a bad reputation in Verona they would not want their daughter or son to marry them because it may reflect badly on them. When Juliet went to her mother Lady Capulet says that she will have nothing more to with her if she does not obey her father. Lady Capulet tell Juliet Paris is a great match for her. Even if two families were enemies for