Youth in Romeo and Juliet

Juliet is thirteen. Romeo is not much older. Everything happens too fast because the people it happens to are young.

The quotes

9 quotes, in the order they happen.

Do you bite your thumb at us, sir?

Abraham · Act 1, Scene 1 · hate · youth

A rude gesture starts a street fight. The hate is so old it runs on nothing.

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.

Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.

Romeo · Act 1, Scene 5 · love · light and dark · youth

He sees Juliet and forgets Rosaline in one line. Love at first sight, and very fast.

It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden

Juliet · Act 2, Scene 2 · love · time · youth

Even Juliet knows this is too fast. She says so. Then she goes ahead.

Wisely and slow; they stumble that run fast.

Friar Lawrence · Act 2, Scene 3 · time · youth

The Friar tells Romeo to slow down. Nobody in the play listens to this.

There is no world without Verona walls

Romeo · Act 3, Scene 3 · youth · love

Banished from Verona is banished from life, Romeo says. The Friar tells him to stop being a child.

Art thou a man?

Friar Lawrence · Act 3, Scene 3 · youth

Romeo is on the floor crying. The Friar asks him to act like a man.

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.

O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, From off the battlements of yonder tower

Juliet · Act 4, Scene 1 · love · death · youth

She would jump off a tower before marrying Paris. The Friar offers her a potion instead.