In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Romeo and Juliet, marriage is depicted as a status symbol, a source of security and stability, and being sweet/romantic. Firstly, marriage is presented as a status symbol by Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet in particular. In the first act, Lady Capulet attempts to persuade Juliet to marry Paris with “The fish lives in the sea, and ‘tis much pride. For fair without the fair within to hide:” (I, iii, 90-91). Her reference to the fish refers to how as it is right that fish live in the sea, it is right that a beautiful girl like her must marry a handsome man like Paris. This notion is further reaffirmed by a second quote of Lady Capulet’s- “So shall you share all that he doth possess. By having him, making yourself no less.” (I, iii, 94-95). This quote implies that through marriage to Paris, Juliet will be able to acquire the same wealth and prestige Paris has and that she will not be less of a person by being with him. Ultimately, Paris is a young, and very handsome aristocrat and Juliet is a beautiful young girl. Hence as a social climber, Lady Capulet proves to only be concerned about how such marriage to Paris, with all of his nobility and prestige, could drastically improve the Capulet social standing.
Secondly, throughout the play marriage is conveyed as a source of security and stability. The idea that it is a form of security and stability is first established by when Capulet agrees to Paris’ suitor proposal- “But, now my lord, what you say to my suit?” (I, ii, 6). Capulet first responds by saying that Juliet is too young- “ My child is yet a stranger in the world.
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.”(I, ii, 8-9). However, he ultimately changes his mind on the conditions that Paris can earn her love and respect- “But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart. My will to her consent is but a part.” (I, ii, 15-19). Hence both Paris and Capulet’s view of marriage is heavily influenced by wealth and class. This is evident as Capulet was willing to give his one and only daughter, described as the “hopeful lady of his Earth” ((I, ii, 15) to Paris with the promise that he earns her love. In their eyes, the purpose of Paris’ marriage to Juliet is to join the two noble families. By the joining of the two families through marriage, they would be able to have security and stability by acquiring greater wealth and consequently, gaining greater leverage against the feuding Montagues.
Lastly, marriage is also conveyed as traditional practice that is romantic and sweet. The Nurse establishes this idea when the Nurse recalls when Juliet was much younger and makes a very sexual reference to the time in which she will be old enough to marry; “For even the day before, she broke her brow, and then my husband- God be with his soul, ‘A was a merry man- took up the child. ‘Yea’, quoth he, ‘dost thou fall upon thy face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit, Wilt thou not Jule? And by my holidam, the pretty wretch left crying, and said ‘Ay” ((I, iii, 40-44). Through this quote, the Nurse teases that the young Juliet will “fall backward” and lose her virginity once she is of age and gets married. In the sense of virginity, the Nurse’s attitude sweetly presents marriage as a milestone every young girl must reach in growing to become a woman. Additionally, she also views marriage in a sweet/romantic manner as she eagerly reminisces of the times when Juliet was younger all in the hope that she will one day get married. “An I might live to see thee married once. I have my wish.” (I, iii, 72-73). Her excitement to the thought of Juliet finally getting married is similar to that of the emotions in which a parent would feel when their child is getting married- which is true in the sense that the Nurse served as a mother figure to Juliet. Therefore, in contrast to the ideals of Paris, Capulet and Lady Capulet, the Nurse views marriage much more sexually and with a much more sweet motherly approach.
Therefore, throughout the first act in Romeo and Juliet, marriage is portrayed as a social standing, a source of security/stability and romantic/sweet through the actions and attitudes expressed by the main characters.
Works Cited
“Shakespeare – Sparknotes”. Sparknotes.Com, 2019, https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/.