Family in Romeo and Juliet

Fathers who own their daughters. A cousin who must be avenged. A name that decides who you can love.

The quotes

13 quotes, in the order they happen.

Two households, both alike in dignity

Chorus · Prologue · family · hate

Two families, both important, both as good as each other. And they hate each other.

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.

Chorus · Prologue · hate · family

Neighbours killing neighbours. Their hands are dirty with their own city's blood.

Younger than she are happy mothers made.

Paris · Act 1, Scene 2 · youth · family

Paris wants to marry Juliet at thirteen. Girls younger are already mothers, he says.

This precious book of love, this unbound lover

Lady Capulet · Act 1, Scene 3 · love · family

Juliet's mother sells Paris to her like a beautiful book. Juliet has not even seen him.

O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?

Juliet · Act 2, Scene 2 · love · family

Not where are you. Why are you Romeo, a Montague? Why the one name I cannot love?

That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet

Juliet · Act 2, Scene 2 · love · family

A name is just a word. Romeo would be the same person with any other name.

A plague o' both your houses.

Mercutio · Act 3, Scene 1 · hate · death · family

Dying, Mercutio curses both families. The feud killed him and he was not in it.

Romeo is banished

Nurse · Act 3, Scene 2 · fate · family

The Nurse brings the news. To Juliet it is worse than ten thousand dead Tybalts.

Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow-face!

Capulet · Act 3, Scene 5 · family · youth

Juliet says no to marrying Paris. Her father screams insults at her.

I think it best you married with the County.

Nurse · Act 3, Scene 5 · family · love

The Nurse tells Juliet to forget Romeo and marry Paris. Juliet never trusts her again.

Death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.

Capulet · Act 4, Scene 5 · death · family

Her father finds her 'dead'. Frost on a flower. Too early.

All are punish'd.

Prince · Act 5, Scene 3 · hate · family · fate

The Prince blames everyone. Both families lost children. So did he.

O brother Montague, give me thy hand

Capulet · Act 5, Scene 3 · family · hate · death

The fathers shake hands over their dead children. The feud ends too late.