Youth and age are in conflict in Romeo and Juliet - Explore how this affects the characters are most deeply affected and why.

At the start of the play the youths of both families are in conflict in the streets of Verona and the Prince calls them “rebellious subjects….have thrice disturbed the quite of our streets ”(Act1 Sc1 L71 and 83). The Prince is an important figure because even though he can stop the fighting between each family he can’t save Romeo and Juliet’s lives. When we first see Montague and Capulet they appear old and foolish compared with the aggression of the youths. Lady Capulet deflates her foolish old husband when he calls for his sword and she replies “a crutch! Why call you for a sword?” (Act1 Sc1 L67)

When we first meet Romeo he is a youth who is sick with love: “ay me, sad hours seem long.” (Act1 Sc1 L153) Tybalt is represented as the figure of age prepared to stop Romeo “this Montague our foe.” On the other hand Capulet welcomes all the young people to the party and calls Romeo a “virtuous youth” but later changes his mind and lady Capulet refers to Romeo in act3 scene5 as “that same villain”

Juliet is a young thirteen year old and falls instantly in love with Romeo. She is obedient to her parents until her love for Romeo makes it impossible. She clashes with her parents over her arranged marriage to Paris crying in act 3 scene 5 “he shall not make a joyful bride” and her father calls her a “baggage, disobedient wretch.” Further in act 3 scene 5 the theme of the inability of old age to understand the feelings of the young is shown when Capulet shouts at Juliet “get thee to church on Thursday or never after look me in the face”….”we have a curse in having her.”

Before she falls in love lord Capulet thought that he could keep Juliet in control but she is prepared to risk disobeying her father and fake death so that she could be with Romeo. This is another example of the conflict that is shown between the young and the old throughout the play. Just as the nurse is Juliet’s older helper so is the friar Romeo’s adviser and these are examples of when youth and age are not in conflict in the play.

In the play age ends up destroying youth because in some ways the older Capulets and Montagues are responsible for the deaths of the younger members of the families and all are equally punished. Death and life are ever present in the play. Of the untimely death of all the six characters who die in the play, only lady Montague is not young. This emphasises how the play concentrates on the passionate worlds of the young and the way in which it is they who must pay the price for the quarrelsome foolishness of the old that leads to so many tragedies.