Pedofilia is not restricted to children of that age. A pedophile is a man or woman who has a sexual obsession with children who are deemed to be minors in the eyes of the law. Therefore no one can say "He is X years old" and have it be anything but a guess. Romeo and Juliet is the very famous story of the two "star-crossed lovers" (Prologue to Act I, line 6) who are doomed to fail in their attempts to overcome the feud which has dominated the Montague and Capulet families for as long as anyone can remember. By approximately sixteen, marriage proposals for the young maids were already decreasing, and they often dropped away completely- or nearly so- by roughly eighteen, for it was considered by that age that the girl (young woman, by that age) was too old to just begin bearing children; her child bearing years were considered already past her. Many people want just appropriate this storie and place it nowadays, but I'm sorry there's a huge difference in wisdom of people from the past and us. – Missouri: A person under age 15 cannot marry without approval of a judge in the county where the marriage license is sought. she's my soulmate i cant live without her. That way you could still have Juliet as the very self confident girl she is and still have Romeo confused and have the thought of sex running through his mind constantly. however as a 14 year old girl who's just played Juliet, i find the accusation that someone my age can't adequately play juliet a tad insulting. Why do we think his knowledge of human nature is so extensive? Romeo and Juliet is the classic romance story, and has been adapted over the past centuries in many different forms, but the three that will be focused on will be: the 1996 movie, the 1968 movie, and the graphic novel variation. Don't be silly, moodyteen.Other Anon was just saying that that's not pedophilia.It's hasbephilia. Here's my experience with it:I've done the play three times, directed and edited it for performance once, and conducted a master class for a high school in-rehearsal cast. Why did Shakespeare reduce her age? The idea that the first thing Romeo thinks about is sex when that couldn't be further from the truth. It is stupid to try to impose modern assumptions on societies of 4 centuries ago. They clearly underestimate the stubbornness of their parents and the hatred in their hearts which even extends to the servants who bear as much animosity towards the opposing household as they would towards a true enemy. Romeo can be older and still be rash and impetuous. I am 12 years old and I began thinking about many "abtract" things since age 7! I said I'd never MET someone that age capable of playing those roles and I meant professionally. Shakespeare never gives Romeo a specific age. I don't think anything about this play is supposed to be of a pedophiliac nature. do not diss R&J! No matter who says it. That is also why we want their love to be real and to make life happy for them, and why their death is so heart-wrenchingly romantic. Regarding the age difference between Romeo and Juliet. This rose is about as close to black as I've seen. There are subtle clues to Romeo's age in the text, but nothing absolute, so it again, is down to reading the clues and interpreting it for yourself. What were the realities of the London in which he existed? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_hair. However, men were rarely the same age as the women they sought for their brides. What does Mercutio mean when he says, "look for me tomorrow and you will find me a grave man"? From the behaviours both in the play and films based on the play I believe that Romeo is around 16/17. He is believed to be with his girlfriend, but her location was not determined. Juliet's mother stating that "younger than you [Juliet]…ladies of esteem are already made mothers. They are children who are *acting* like grown ups. Whether one, in all of their social sophistication, considers it to be appropriate or not, is purely irrelevant, and their views possibly being found just as ridiculous in such societies…, My feelings on this unless you have ever been in a situation like this to judge it is wrong in the first place though yes I agree it is wrong though but I have been in the situation myself many of times and it for me at least was no different than what was happening at home from all of my family practically except for one of them my cousin/brother from my abusive adoptive family members before I had ran away from home at age 13 myself and yes I was a little younger in my relationships with my adult girlfriend from PA and since then I've been far away from my abusive adoptive family members though and yes I have new adoptive parents that don't abuse me at all so my life now is slightly better at age 15 and yes on the streets at age 14 years old I got pregnant with triplets myself but ik my daughter's will never experience what I been through by me at least but hopefully by no one else either and their names are ava,nuan and snevaeh Madden and I'm Samantha Madden BTW and currently I'm 15 years old myself in LA California to and since the cops here don't really give a flying crap about victims of rape it seems like to me though and not like many crimes here in LA California ever have anything done about the crime and unless you live here in LA California don't act like you know what actually happens here in LA California centered around crimes not having any justice in LA California at all, Maybe Juliet was 13 because she was going to be portrayed by a relatively young boy onstage, Your email address will not be published. Regardless of how old anyone would prefer Juliet to be, "Even or odde, of all the daies in the year come Lammas Eve at night she shall be fourteene.". I think Shakespeare was right in leaving Romeo's age a blank, because it would be a little hypocritical to have all of that 'what's in a name' and then go and emphasise an age difference, but then he wouldn't them to have a very similar age either, because there was some intention of making Juliet seem as mature as possible, and having her younger, yet more abstractly thinking than everyone else was the best way of doing this. It seems likely that the relationship between Romeo and Juliet was more lust and youthful infatuation than real love; more the two reaching out to one another and forming a desperate, rebellious bond, as a means of gaining an outlet for the frustration created be the tension and isolation between their two families. I mean it's so much better. I’ve taught Jr HS English & seen this happen LOL It’s GREAT because it draws kids into Shakespeare , i've just been doing R&J in school and my teacher said she'd been researching the play and found that he was seventeen sorri if i sound a geek or moody or anything i don't mean to, I think it's awfully creepy that Juliet was like 13. In my mind Romeo is about 15/16, this way it wouldn't be as weird for them to love each other. How is youth and old age shown in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet? In Romeo and Juliet, why is Tybalt responsible for Romeo and Juliet's deaths. Romeo and Juliet Comparison: Old Movie vs. New Movie vs. I haven't researched that particular standpoint enough to express much of an opinion, but I will say this: I think that Shakespeare aged Juliet so young to create a few juxtapositions. Although I'm sure even the families wouldn't have an answer.That's just my take and I'm only 13 so chances are I sound immature. a 21 year old would have been right – but suggestions of molestation to modern audiences wipe out the possibilities. I would say that Romeo is in his late teens as it is very easy to picture him, as a sorry for himself teenager, I would also suggest that you read the play picturing him as a relatively emo-ish character. "That's absurd! Romeo was certainly no younger than 16 as he is involved in sword fights and witty banter. You can't put a boundary on love. Our own sense of historical self-importance seems to precede us; particularly re: eras about which we can have absolutely no sense of experience. She sees past the long-standing feud of the two families, so that she can love the man that she loves. Sir Edward Coke (England, 17th century) made it clear that "the marriage of girls under 12 was normal, and the age at which a girl who was a wife was eligible for a dower from her husband's estate was 9 even though her husband be only four years old." But to suggest paedophilia in this is absurd, obviously all opinions matter, but I think people must consider the time this was written and the great changes that have happened since, both in law and society. There is no such direct evidence of Romeo's age anywhere in the play. It's not creepy, it's just the way things were back then. But that’s hardly true, is it? Shakespeare's Romeo seems younger and more immature than Painter's Rhomeus of "20 or 21 Yeares." The Carson City Sheriff's Office needs help finding a runaway teenager. I don't find Romeo and Juliet creepy or odd at all. 6–9). So, really, we can't even use his actions as a way of estimating his age. If he'd made him a certain age maybe the men watching the play wouldn't relate too him as much and think he's too young or too old. The truth is, Shakespeare didn’t say — therefore nobody knows. I hope you had a great experience with the role. what more worthy or excellent Epitaph can be vowed for Memory, than the mutual and pitiful Sacrifice of our lives?". Wise people don't think like this , they took all the aspect as the period all the evidences because we cannot just refer to our period and give an answer. A pedophile is a man or woman who has a sexual obsession with children who are deemed to be minors in the eyes of the law. Do we think Shakespeare was totally inventing the situation? Use every man after his desert, and who should scape whipping? So, to reiterate my point, whenever i read the play, i see Romeo somewhere around eighteen. But you are not quote Shakespeare there, you are quoting Brooke: http://books.google.com/books?id=nFUOAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA3&lpg=PA3&dq=one+romeus+who+was+of+race+montague&source=bl&ots=FK-PXNWyHS&sig=1EpyV0wcsK5PZ-NmtFm6RKnT5AU&hl=en&ei=N2_ZSZLmEIeclAfjw-jFDA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPR58,M1. Actually, girls often memorize large portions of the play in junior high – because it’s ‘young love’ lol & because of the films. *The rapper Romeo, formerly known as Lil' Romeo, was born August … Yes, most teens are horridly irresponsible. why yes sir.. i read this because i have to in class. Some of its most iconic models were produced between the 1950s and the 1970s, such as the Giullietta, the Giulia, the GTA and the Spider. And given the fact that he has been played successfully, since the very beginning, by actors of varying ages contributes to your point. We know - from what Friar Laurence and the Nurse comment on various occasions - that he is a "young" man (2.4.119) but we don't know precisely how young. Although his age could be anywhere between thirteen and twenty-one, he is typically portrayed as being around the age of sixteen. research has shown that children at that age are only just starting to think abstractly, they are not even capable of fully comprehending what is being asked of them, pedophiles take advantage of their innocence and any one who believes that that sort of behaviour is ok is just as bad as them and should be imprisoned with the rest. She is younger than Romeo but in some ways she appears the more mature of the two. I'm 14, so I'm starting to worry that I'll never be able to play Juliet…. In fact her closest friend was her nurse and that shows how distant she was from her family. I don't know what to think since people these days have changed so much and you don't see that kinda love anymore.If anyone could answer I would appreciate it, thanks . Shakespeare references the ideas of arranged marriages and marriages at young ages several times throughout the play, obviously. ... muscle cars, project cars, exotics, hot rods, classic trucks, and old cars for sale. That's no qualifier for being able to Think. to Dana about it not being about physical attraction: i realize whole silioquy to juliet at her balcony is a big display of love and all, but it's also romeo musing on juliet's chastity. However, I have to disagree with the statement that Romeo would just be another adult manipulating Juliet's life. But honestly I’m cool with it (the age difference, not the pedophilia!) Shakespeare focuses very much on love, but also on heartbreak and how love, never really seems to work out quite how you dream. How old was Romeo? However, Romeo's age is considerably more difficult to assign. (line 1860), but nothing is said about Romeo's age except "Upon whose tender chin, as yet, no manlike beard there grew" (line 54). Earlier this year Romeo had looked forward to spending his summer holidays in London with his paternal grandmother, who is in poor health, however the coronavirus lockdown and travel restrictions at the time prevented him from flying. Thanks for this. It's all about LOVE! Have those people not read R&J? The character's origins can be traced as far back as Pyramus, who appears in Ovid 's Metamorphoses, but the first modern incarnation of Romeo is Mariotto in the 33rd of Masuccio Salernitano 's Il Novellino (1476). degree at the Royal Military College in … That she’s 13, surrounded by people generations older than her, is quite impressive. I, personally, see Romeo around eighteen, or nineteen. Finally, to all the stupid statements about pedophilia, I'd like to highlight that you cannot view a XVI-century play with today's eyes – pedophilia is a very modern concept, and at that time a 13-year old was of marriageable age. I think that Romeo's age is anonymous because shakespeare wanted men in the audience to relate to him. Tybalt doesn't have Lord Capulet standing behind him, acknowleding the duel. And we cannot rely on Brooke's Romeus and Juliet because of the massive changes that Shakespeare made to the text. It is a pointless feud which ends in tragedy. I think Romeo's age is abstract and left as a mystery because it sparks the imagination of the reader, and captures them, even captivating them to want to analyse deeper, even though the detail wasn't the most important. Log in here. . Case closed. My memory of reading Romeo and Juliet at 14 was of being done with it as quickly as possible :). Love is limitless. Like most of the other people posting comments here, I'm in grade 9, and we are reading R&J. So, what I'm getting from this is Romeo is from the ages 16-21? "To the pediphilia discussion, don't be silly.". I also think (because in my eyes Romeo is about 17) that Paris would be a few years older than Romeo. Romeo is in his teens too. I take that as offending and an insult. R&j is not a love story. 15 results per page. We must remember, Juliet falls madly in love with Romeo on sight…how old can he be? post German Romantic) make him younger than he originally was. Okay, I think Zeffirelli has it right in his 1968 film. The first: Juliet is younger than all of the other main characters, yet she is by far the most mature. How is Capulet to blame for Romeo and Juliet's deaths in Romeo and Juliet? The reason Juliet has an age is that, like now, mostly women like romantic films. I personally don't think that paedophilia had anything to do with Romeo and Juliet as in the time it was written there was no legal age of consent, and most girls had to get married and bare children so young because their life expectancy was so much shorter, a 13 year old girl was probably classed as middle aged!! Lack of experience and classical technique being the reason. But it is this, the very essence of her maturity, that makes her incredibly selfish. Here's a little "History":My mother was 15 when she met the Marine who became my father. Design 'Alfa Romeo Never Underestimate and Old man' on Men's T-Shirt in black + more colours, size S-6XL at Spreadshirt » customizable easy returns aggree with the last comment, love can happen to any age. What is the meaning of the name Romeo? Remember, her father is 'arranging' a respectable marriage for her. In terms of Romeo being ageless, you make a great deal of sense. It is generally assumed he is a few years older than Juliet. So in order to get the men's attention he made it so that most men could relate to Romeo. Shakespeare changed lots of things, what's to say he didn't change Romeo's age? But honestly I'm cool with it (the age difference, not the pedophilia!)". When such traditions were common, it was unusual in certain areas for a girl's father to just be planning her marriage at thirteen years of age- some arranged marriages were made and agreed upon before the girl had reached her first birthday. But I think yours is a gut reaction without the qualifiers. The play never states how old Romeo is, but he is commonly believed to be about the same age as Juliet, which is 14. Paris seems to be more concerned with marrying and being happy with Juliet while Romeo (in the balcony scene) is more interested in sex above anything else. I can just imagine R&J being closed down because it promotes pedophilia or something. Therefore, why name him a age at all? love does not have an age guys. Lmao people are talking about fictional people they never existed and if we look at the past The French Napoleonic code provided the legal context in 1791 when it established an age of consent of 11 years. She was 16 when they walked down the aisle together–A Catholic wedding, mind you! Top subjects are Literature, Math, and Social Sciences. We parents think that they're too young to fall in love… hei, love is bless that can happen to anyone… we just need to guide them so that they won't end up like R n J or being used by phedophilia. I just haven't met them yet. There is no love just lust in the play because not to mention that they were not even old enough to feel what true love is. B.A. But it would be TERRIBLE if they had been like 18 years old, it just seems so, I don't know why. Romeo doesn't automatically think that way about Juliet. The son of a Canadian soldier, Dallaire joined the Canadian army in 1964 and earned a B.S. He is an actor and producer, known for Honey (2003), Romeo! There are distinct differences in the writing style and syntax used in R+J and Shakespeare's other plays, as well as a distinct move away from his normal writing idiom, which had tended to be historically or classically based (as was the case with julius caeser, richard the 3rd, macbeth, troilus and cressida et al) which all had some historical basis to the original plot, whereas, R+J seems to be based on other contemporary original stories. Thinking of Romeo as 21 fundamentally changes the play into something that might as well be called Juliet, because then Romeo becomes just another adult manipulating Juliet's life for her. (Although the high school Juliet was pretty darned terrific in the role, I don't seriously think she was ready for RSC next day, if you know what I mean.) I could be completely wrong; I make no claim that I am right. I've been reading R&J and it obvious that Juliett is a matured 13 years old. Maybe thats how it was meant to be? Price: CDN$ 91.90 - CDN$ 233.99: Size : Select Size Chart Color Name: Chestnut Stony Leather Sheep, Australia, Dyed Rubber sole Shaft measures approximately mid-top from arch Animal Name: Sheep Country of … She's perfect to get in love. Romeo is the main antagonist from the Disney Junior show PJ Masks. It's IN THE TEXT. Romeo is the personification of Juliet's need for a release from the frustration and isolation between their two families. the way things are is simply a reflection of the culture at the time of it being written. Romeo is not yet old enough to understand that he would be expected to uphold the resentment and loathing in honor of his family name. God(bible) or man? research has shown that children at that age are only just starting to think abstractly, they are not even capable of fully comprehending what is being asked of them, pedophiles take advantage of their innocence and any one who believes that that sort of behaviour is ok is just as bad as them and should be imprisoned with the rest.". When arranged marriages were prevalent, girls were often married when they were around 13 to 14 years of age- i.e. Your name is Mimi and in a book called Saving Juliet, the main character Mimi, plays Juliet all her life. I do not think that Romeo and Juliet has any sort of pedophilia connotations to it, and trying to say it does draws away from the true context of one of Shakespeare's greatest works and trivializes the horror of a pedophiles abuse. Look at most of you're parents.. The depiction of his essential youthfulness is what really matters in any case. eNotes.com will help you with any book or any question. See full bio ». Better than trying to imagine 13yr old Tybalt saying, “I hate the word as I hate Hell….”. Subsequently, question is, what was the age gap between Romeo and Juliet? Modern (i.e. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. Breeders spend their lives trying to develop blue roses, but of all the missing colors, I think black is the one of most interest to the rose-buying public. Top subjects are Literature, Science, and History. Given, that was not the norm, but it did happen. Pedofilia is not restricted to children of that age.