Parenting Analysis in Romeo and Juliet

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Anna Freud, the founder of child psychoanalysis, once said, “It is only when parental feelings are ineffective or too ambivalent or when the mother's emotions are temporarily engaged elsewhere that children feel lost” (“Anna Freud”). In this case, the children, Romeo and Juliet, get lost and confused, leading to their ultimate deaths. While they cannot live without each other, they also cannot live with each other either, since they end up dying together from all the conflicts piling on top on each other. Since Romeo and Juliet do not really have any parental influence in their lives, they do not know how resolve their conflict of star-crossed love. Due to miscommunication, conflicting viewpoints between parents and adolescents, and a lack of involvement in their children’s lives, Shakespeare shows through Romeo and Juliet that adults are ineffective in saving their children’s lives. Because of miscommunication, Romeo and Juliet’s parents are not informed of their teenager’s conflicts, therefore making them useless. An example of miscommunication between the adults and adolescents is when Romeo locks himself in his room depressed. Lord Montague is deeply concerned about Romeo’s seclusive ways, saying he is “to himself, so secret”. Lord and Lady Montague want to “learn from whence his sorrows grow” so they can help him with his troubles (I.i.155-163). Because Romeo alienates himself from his parents, not telling them he is heartbroken from Rosaline, his parents do not know why he is upset. If he would have had told his parents of his recent heartbreak, the Montague’s could have helped him resolve this issue. However, this does not happen and the parents end up being futile. While it is not the Montague’s fault that Romeo does not ... ... middle of paper ... ... have been effective parents that had a great impact on their children’s lives, Romeo and Juliet’s final fates could have been avoided. Much like the quote by Anna Freud, “It is only when parental feelings are ineffective or too ambivalent or when the mother's emotions are temporarily engaged elsewhere that children feel lost,” the Montagues’ and Capulets’ are ineffective in helping their children with their problems leading Romeo and Juliet to be lost in love as well as their untimely death (“Anna Freud”). Works Cited “Anna Freud.” Brainyquote.com. Xplore Inc, 2014. Web. 3 March 2014. “Family Life in Shakespeare’s Time.” Shakespeare Alive!. Bantam, 1988. p. 85-102. “Love and Marriage.” Life in Elizabethan England. Elizabethan.org, 25 March 2008. Web. 3 March 2014. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Evanston: McDougal Littell Inc, 1997. Print.

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