How Old Were Romeo And Juliet When They Died In The Play Romeo And Juliet?

One of the most famous tragedies ever written is “Romeo and Juliet”. The play was written in 1594 by William Shakespeare and has been considered an epic love story for generations. The story of “Romeo and Juliet” follows two "star-crossed lovers" as their romance develops and winds up, resulting in both of their demise in Verona.

As is evident, Shakespeare made love as the most crucial part of the play.

When Romeo first met Juliet, the passion for loving her romantically grew in Romeo’s mind. But if you think that “Love” is just a word here in this play, you will misunderstand the whole importance of the play. It is because Shakespeare had shown “Love” in “Romeo and Juliet” as the most powerful, passionate yet overwhelming weapon. And it is above any other feelings, ideals, or allegiances.

The Real Story of Romeo & Juliet

There is more to Romeo and Juliet than merely two young adults who are in love. It tells the tale of two young people who are in love but are barred from being together. Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet are both from affluent households in the kingdom of Verona (modern-day Italy), but the feud between the families dates back many years. In fact, there is fighting between the two family members right at the start of the play. Romeo has chosen to stay away from the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues because it has harmed him since he was a small lad. Romeo first fell in love with Rosaline before he met Juliet, underscoring the play's emphasis on the significance of love in the lives of the characters.

Romeo meets Juliet and dances with her when he infiltrates the Capulet family's ball. Romeo is so entranced by Juliet's beauty that he slips into the family's garden to have a better look at her balcony.

He thinks to himself, "But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?" in reference to Juliet's radiant beauty. "It's in the East, and Juliet is the sun."

Romeo is directly beneath Juliet’s balcony, yet he chooses to remain invisible. He finds Juliet's eyes to be beautiful and how they "twinkle in their spheres." 

He keeps a tight eye on her movements. He wishes he were a glove on that hand so he could touch that cheek. Similarly, he is in awe of her voice. He begs the dazzling angel, "O, speak once more." And she does, regarding him!

The question "O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" Juliet enquires. ("Wherefore" means "why," therefore Juliet is not inquiring as to where Romeo is but rather as to why he is the way he is.)

So here it is the problematic issue: She asserts, “Thy name is not my enemy.”

Romeo is a Montague, making him the Capulet family's nemesis. The two adolescents' families would never approve of a relationship between them. But Juliet is against the fight. So, she queries, "What's in a name?" 

Romeo finally speaks from the shadows, and it is obvious that she is interested in him. Romeo has climbed walls and endangered his life to remain under Juliet's balcony, yet Juliet is not quite as alarmed as you might anticipate. "Stoney limits cannot hold out love," as Romeo says.

Juliet, who is more pragmatic, says, "If [my kinsmen] do see thee, they will murder thee." 

The two teenagers engage in romantic flirtation. However, Juliet expresses fear about their relationship because of the very little they know about one another. She concerns that it is "too hasty, too ill-advised, and too sudden." When Romeo pushes Juliet for a stronger commitment, she confesses that her love for him is "as boundless as the sea." 

She then had to leave Romeo when her nurse called for her. But she finds it very hard to leave him. "Parting is such sweet sorrow," she bemoans.

They won't stay apart for too long. Romeo and Juliet agree to have a private conversation the following day, during which, if Romeo truly loves Juliet, he will ask her for her consent in marriage.

The catch of the play, or rather, catches, are as follows –

• Paris, a count, is the man Juliet's family wishes her to wed.
• Due to the conflict, Romeo and Juliet's family could never support their union.
• Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, is eager to confront Romeo after learning that he attended the dance.

Now, the two manage to steer clear of issues 1 and 2 successfully. It appears that the wedding with Paris won't take place for a while. Romeo and Juliet, meantime, sneak past their relatives to reach Friar Lawrence, who is eager to assist the couple in having a covert wedding. They almost also manage to avoid issue 3. Romeo rejects Tybalt's challenge. So, is all well? Unfortunately, no!

Mercutio, Romeo's friend, makes the decision to oppose Tybalt in Romeo's stead. It's a splattered mess. Romeo tries to stop the altercation, but it's too late. Tybalt killed Mercutio. And Romeo kills Tybalt in retaliation.

Romeo is now prohibited from Juliet not just because he is a Montague but also because he killed his cousin. And he's not simply prohibited, either. He has been banished by decree. Surprisingly, this doesn't deter Friar Lawrence from coming up with a plan to facilitate Romeo and Juliet's reunion.

If we get into more detail, the story is something like this –

The play's leading man is Romeo Montague, the Capulet, and Lady Capulet's son. He's a self-indulgent melancholy who falls in passion for Juliet at a masquerade. Despite being overwhelmed by his affection for the enigmatic Juliet, he is not in a rush to wed her. Although Romeo may look to be a little boy, his parents are not too happy with the arrangement. Along with the sad love affair, the play has other minor characters. In the conflict between the two families, Tybalt, the king of the Montagues, is one of the main players.

Friar Lawrence's strategy is, to put it mildly, unconventional: it entails drugging Juliet to make her appear dead, placing her in a crypt, and guiding Romeo to her in the hopes that he might be present when (and if) Juliet awakens.

Since this is a tragic story, it comes as no surprise that Romeo only learns about a portion of the plan, that miscommunications result in extra deaths, and that—in an odd twist—the Capulets and Montagues both reconcile in the end. Still, it's late for our adolescent loves.

Despite the playmaking, Tybalt's ego is a major issue. He is a helpful and compassionate father who is concerned for the welfare of his son. Romeo's mother, Lady Montague, dies of sadness after he is kicked out of the house.

Due to his Franciscan vocation, Friar Laurence plays a mysterious role in the Romeo and Juliet narrative. Who is he, what does he do, and how old is he? By responding to this question, you will gain more knowledge about Friar Laurence and the other play's important characters. In Romeo and Juliet, he is a tutor to the youthful Romeo and the one who attempts to halt the Capulets-Montague's battle.

In addition, he makes arrangements for Romeo to stay in Mantua and works to treat the young Romeo. After Romeo is exiled, Friar Laurence must confront the topic of Juliet's early marriage to County. Friar Laurence's age isn't specified in the Romeo and Juliet story, although it's assumed that he was in his 40s when they first met. Regardless of the reality that the two are unrelated, Romeo condemns him for being affectionate to her. He was in love with Juliet when he referred to her as a "young waverer," even though this is exceedingly implausible.

The Friar was kicked out, but Romeo is still alive. The Friar adds that Shakespeare's time did not allow him to take a trip from Verona to Rome. Around 25 miles separated the two urban areas, yet a horse could easily go that distance. Friar Laurence advises Juliet to take medicine that makes her appear dead so that she can marry Paris on Thursday.

Friar Lawrence is a pivotal figure in Romeo and Juliet's connection in the play about their love triangle. The majority of Friar Laurence's acts are the outcome of a single error despite the fact that many people think he was the couple's killer. The message Juliet needed to get over to him, but he was unable to do so.

What’s the Big Confusion of this Play?

Although their ages are not stated in the play, Romeo and Juliet's characters are generally considered to be in their early teens. The two young lovers met, fell in love, and eventually got married. Even though they were young, both undoubtedly slept together. They were roughly 15 years old when the play was performed. Romeo looks like he belongs in this age group. He is around the same age as Juliet and is carrying a sword. Romeo's age in the play is made clear by his character's deeds. At first, he seems like a naive teenager with wild hormones. In the play, he develops feelings for a girl who is out of his reach. And Juliet sobbed after her Patsy Cline biopic audition as an adolescent and was rejected.

The play's original title was “The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of the Two Lovers.” The major characters range in age from 16 to 13. Their ages were considerably lower in the first edition, though. Romeo is sixteen, while Juliet is thirteen.

Dante Alighieri's “The Divine Comedy” provided the original framework for both families. The plot depends on it, and the characters' ages are frequently contrasted.

Romeo and Juliet's chronological period is extensively discussed in modern society. As they think that ageing signifies wisdom, many individuals disagree with the perspectives of older people. Shakespeare's play, however, shows that a person's level of knowledge and experience is independent of their age.

Romeo and Juliet's depiction of this dilemma is a pair of adolescents who strive to hide their relationship from one another owing to a family conflict. Later, the more experienced characters show up and deceive the young couple, which leads to their tragic deaths.

When Romeo is a teenager, he weds Rosaline in secret. His father's adversaries, the Capulets, compete for retribution. Being immature at the time of the tragedy, he is content to suffer cruelty because he would sooner die than be without Juliet. Paris, Juliet's parents, Benvolio, Romeo's companions Mercutio and Tybalt, and Paris, are all deceased.

"Romeo and Juliet" is considered an ultimate love story. Maybe that's why everyone is pretty confused about the age group of Romeo and Juliet. Whether Romeo was between sixteen and fifteen years old is hard to understand. But the story goes on, and we get attached to it eventually.

Why is the Story So Popular?

Why is Romeo and Juliet's tale still popular more than 400 years after its debut? Consider a few other questions before responding to that one.

Have you or any of your friends:

• Experiencing setbacks or poor luck?
• Ever been stuck in a situation that was beyond your control?
• Must have broken your parents' rules in order to follow them?
• Ever had a love-at-first-sight moment?

If so, you have faced some of the same difficulties Romeo and Juliet did despite being separated by four centuries.

You may have witnessed connections that are as passionately important as they are in this catastrophe. Romeo and Juliet can be divided based just on the family name, which will result in significant tension that could result in death. Age, money, colour, and religion can also have negative effects on couples you are familiar with. View Examples

Most of us can identify with the sadness of being so close to achieving something — a buddy, academic accomplishment, or a romantic relationship — and then falling short. Romeo and Juliet's tragic love story is especially heart-breaking because it was very late when the two main protagonists got their ultimate lesson. And from the very beginning of the play, the audience is aware of the character's fate, but they are unable to influence it.

Romeo and Juliet's tale has persisted in part because it has inspired a lengthy history of other works of art. The late 16th-century novel Romeo and Juliet was based on earlier poetry when it was first published. The practice of retelling the tale has persisted.

Wrapping Up,

Romeo and Juliet's tragic love story is well known to everyone. The real tale was made up of contributions from several people. Nevertheless, this post has already discussed Romeo and Juliet's time period.