Change Is Inevitable – Progress Is Optional

“Love can change a person the way a parent can change a baby – awkwardly, and often with a great deal of mess.” – Lemony Snicket. Teenagers go through a phase in which they change physically and/or mentally. There are many factors that influence these changes such as environment, media, personal experiences, etc. One of the most common factors that give birth to these changes is love. Teenagers will rebel and change their values, beliefs and character in order to be with or accepted by those that they love. Juliet Capulet, the female protagonist from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is a good example of a teenage character who develops into a mature adolescent throughout the story, using her experiences and emotions of love. In the beginning, Juliet starts off as an innocent, young girl who is very dependent on her parents. After Juliet meets Romeo, she slowly starts to change until she finally develops into an independent and mature adult-like character.

Juliet first appears in Act I Scene 3 and is introduced to readers as polite, young and obedient. To begin, Juliet enters and presents herself by saying, “Madam, I am here. What is your will?” (Shakespeare 1.3.7). With this quote, it is perceived that Juliet addresses Lady Capulet as Madam and is willing to go to her mother’s aid whenever needed thereby displaying her polite nature. Subsequently, Lady Capulet decides to talk to Juliet about marriage to which Juliet responds, “It is an honour I dream not of.” (Shakespeare 1.3.67). Juliet’s innocence and youth is interpreted as she reveals that she had never reflected upon marriage or other thoughts related to this matter concerning her future. As the conversation progresses, Juliet’s obedience is demonstrated when she comp...

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...d that Juliet’s confidence gets her ready to fly from her nest as maturity, independence and assertiveness takes over her character.

In conclusion, one can see that Juliet’s love for Romeo influences her to break away from being the shy, obedient girl into a young, independent woman full of wisdom and maturity due to her rebellious nature. Juliet had indeed been a blind stranger to the world as her father had stated in a conversation with Paris. Throughout the play, she awakened her senses, allowed her heart to open up and broadened her perspective while providing her with joy, growth and death. This is perfect to show that as Barbara de Angels once said, “Love is a force more formidable than any other. It is invisible – it cannot be seen or measured, yet it is powerful enough to transform you in a moment and offer you more joy than any material possession could.”