Generational Divide Flashcards
overview
Shakespeare uses ‘Romeo and Juliet’ as a vehicle to bring attention to the stark division between generations in an attempt to reconcile the relationship between the two. Whilst the older generation remains unwavering in the preservation of their reputation and status, the younger generation are presented as hasty and largely emotionally driven. Both generations appear to struggle to understand one another’s perspectives until it is arguably too late.
‘Let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her ripe to be a bride’
• Capulet’s acknowledgment of Juliet’s young age contrasts with Paris’ more impatient approach to their marriage.
• Lord Capulet appears to subvert Renaissance stereotypes of dominant fathers – more in line with contemporary expectations of parents.
‘It is an honour that I dream not of’
• Juliet’s obvious disinterest in marriage contrasts with Lady Capulet’s eagerness for Juliet’s marriage.
• Marriage is an important concept for the older generation but less so for the younger generation – indicative
of generational divide.
‘We have had no time to move our daughter. Look you she lov’d her kinsman Tybalt dearly’.
• Demonstrates a divide in generations through the verb ‘move’ where the use of the active verb implies a forceful nature on his behalf as ‘moves’ does not appear to give her a choice. This portrays a lack of care for his daughter’s opinions portraying a lack of unity in the family since he is inconsiderate of Juliet’s wishes.
• ‘No time’ —> temporal reference illustrates a sense of haste as Capulet wants to persuade Juliet but feels hindered by time. This shows his desire to quickly get her to marry Paris due to societal expectations. This can demonstrate a generational divide since this implies that he has not had the ‘time’ to tell his daughter about her marriage. This shows his priority of meeting social expectations since he agrees his daughter’s marriage without communicating it with her. This shows a distanced and lack of close relationship.
• ‘She lov’d her kinsman Tybalt dearly’ —> in this context, he uses it as an explanation for why Juliet is feeling sorrowful. This can demonstrate the generational divide since Juliet’s parents believe that she mainly weeps for ‘Tybalt’ not understanding or being knowledgeable of her marriage to Romeo and sorrow for his banishment.
‘I pray you tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you
know I hate’.
• ‘I pray you tell my lord and father’ —> the verb ‘pray’ demonstrates a power imbalance since it creates imagery of her having to implore her mother for more time. This idea of having to ‘pray’ to him elevates her parents’ status since Juliet has to implore and beg for longer. This creates a power imbalance in the family
• Suggests a sense of confinement or seclusion. The term “mew’s up” refers to being confined or shut away, often associated with birds moulting in a cage. This quote implies that the person being referred to will be isolated or withdrawn until the next day, possibly due to feeling heavy hearted or burdened emotionally.
‘I pray you tell my lord and father, madam, I will not marry yet, and when I do I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you
know I hate’.
showing a difference in generations. Also, in the verb ‘Tell’ which she says to her mother, this shows the generational divide since Juliet has to use her mother as a medium to communicate with other members of the older generation.
• ‘Madam’ —> formal address which shows a sense of respect for her parents. However, the term ‘madam’ can also be used to address any women within the Renaissance. This demonstrates a generational divide since this shows how she is emotionally detached and has no close relationship with her parents as she uses very formal terms as opposed to terms of endearment.
‘Hang Thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! … or never Look me in the face. Speak not, reply Not, do not answer
me! My fingers itch’
• ‘Young baggage’ —> noun ‘baggage’ creates imagery of a burden and dehumanises Juliet reducing her identity to something that is a burden or inconvenience to Capulet. This portrays the extent of the generational divide in Capulet’s dislike of his own daughter. Also, in the adjective ‘young’ used alongside the term ‘baggage’ which was said in contempt, this can imply that Capulet is criticising her youth. This portrays the generational divide in the older generations’ contempt towards the younger generations’ actions.
• ‘Disobedient wretch!’ —> adjective ‘disobedient’ is used to portray Juliet as disruptive and rebellious. This portrays the older generations dislike of their children defying them. This portrays a divide in their belief that they should hold authority over their children. Then, in the derogatory term ‘wretch’ is used to further show his fury and dislike towards the younger generations’ actions. This contempt that the older generation shows can also be reinforced by the use of exclamatory language anchoring Capulet’s dislike.
• ‘Never Look me in the face, speak not, reply not, do not answer me’ —> the use of the adverbs ‘never’ and ‘Not’ alongside the act of ‘speak[ing]’, ‘reply[ing]’ and answer[ing]’ can Show Capulet’s desire not to communicate with Juliet. This shows a fragmented family dynamic in the reluctance to listen to eachother. This portrays Capulet as a member of the older generation who wishes to hold power and be distanced from the younger generation. This can show the growing generational divide in their lack of unity.
• ‘My fingers itch’ —> the reference to the body part ‘fingers’ and the sensation of having an ‘itch’ can perhaps insinuate his want to use his fingers. In this context, this refers to want to use his hand to hit and harm his daughter. This shows his disgust towards the younger generation and want to hold authority which contributes to the growing family tension and family divide.
‘A wretched puling fool, a whining mammet, in her fortune’s tender, to answer ‘I’ll not wed, I cannot love; I am too
young’.
• ‘Wretched puling fool, a whining mammet’ —> the adjective ‘wretched’ and noun ‘fool’ are both used in a derogatory fashion showing Capulet’s attempt to show a disgust and hatred towards his daughter. This can show the lack of care that the older generation holds for the younger generation. Also, in the adjective ‘puling’ this connotes to a whimpering silly child which is used to portray her as immature due to her youth. This portrays a generational divide in the older generations belief that youth is a disadvantage and makes Juliet inferior.
• ‘I’ll not wed; I cannot love; I am too young’ —> Capulet aims to mock Juliet’s reluctance to marry due to her youth. This portrays the older generation’s want for haste since he mocks Juliet’s opposing belief that she needs time. This portrays a sense of discord between the different generations in their opposing ideals. Also, this portrays her as ungrateful but can also draw attention to irony within the scene since he initially suggested that she was too young for marriage in Act 1 Scene 2. This portrays a growing generational divide since his ideals begin to deviate from his daughters and social expectations become prioritised over his daughters wishes.
‘Henceforward I am ever rul’d by you’
• Juliet understands that in order to get her father to reason with her that she has to succumb to his expectations of being authoritative over her and in control of the situation
• The use of the word ‘rul’d’ demonstrates the extent of the control the typical father should have over his father in the renaissance era, likening it to a monarch trying to control their people
• The older generation prefers to be in control, forcing the younger generation to do whatever they please, causing the younger generation to be far more reckless and deceptive.
‘My heart is wondrous light, since this same wayward girl is so reclaim’d’
• The older generation believes they know everything and control everything and so when the younger generation turns against them they are considered as unruly ‘wayward girl’
• A renaissance audience would condemn Juliet for disobeying her father and being selfish as it is the feelings of the father who matter more, whereas with a contemporary audience would applaud her for following what she wants to do
“O heavens! O wife, look how our daughter bleeds!”
• Capulet has changed his attitude from being careless about what happens to Juliet to being in such shock and grief about the circumstances that he is referring to the ‘heavens’
• The use of the exclamation mark shows his shock to the death of his daughter, contrasting his previous view of allowing death for her
• Reference to ‘heavens’ shows the depth of his actual love for Juliet even if he hadn’t shown it in previous scenes.
“For I will raise her statue in pure gold”
• Montague here ends by using an offer to Capulet for Juliet, however it is a materialistic approach.
• His offer, highlights how the older generation despite still having these emotions, still try to attempt to elevate themselves over each other to empower their status. This emphasises their lack of understanding and willingness to change.
• Renaissance audience would see that as an act of gratitude and kindness, however the contemporary audience would see it as an arrogant display of his wealth.
