Did someone say that teenage children can\u2019t make lovers? Brooke did : in lines 1650 – 54. But not because he is disgusted by the thought of twelve as a girl\u2019s legal age of consent. To the contrary even. It is the generally accepted standard. As it was in the beginning of human civilization, is now, and ever shall be : at least until the Victorian standard of decency begins to interfere. But that moment lies still more than two centuries in the future<\/p>\n
Brooke\u2019s real concern is laid out in the preface. One that makes Romeus and Juliet examples of the bad that happens when people ignore good advice and become prisoners to their desires. And, according to a code of honour that still rules Islamic life, Juliet brings shame over her family on pain of death. In such a context Juliet can\u2019t make decisions she will live to regret. She simply has no choice :<\/p>\n
\nWhen he had told at length the wife what was her due,
\nHis duty eke by ghostly talk the youthful husband knew;
\nHow that the wife in love must honour and obey,
\nWhat love and honour he doth owe, and debt that he must pay.
\nThe words pronounce\u0301d were which holy church of old
\nAppointed hath for marriage, and she a ring of gold
\n…………………………………………………………………….<\/span><\/em><\/span> (lines 763 – 768)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nAt the wedding ceremony a wife promises to follow her husband wherever he must go. In good times and in bad. But in this case she is prevented :<\/p>\n
\n“Ah, Juliet,” quoth he, “the mistress of my heart, ……………<\/span> (1635)<\/em>
\n(1636 – 1643)<\/em>
\nThou shalt undo thyself for aye, and me thy trusty friend.
\nFor why, thy absence known, thy father will be wroth,
\nAnd in his rage so narrowly he will pursue us both,
\nThat we shall try in vain to ‘scape away by flight,
\nAnd vainly seek a lurking place to hide us from his sight.
\nThen we, found out and caught, quite void of strong defence,
\nShall cruelly be punishe\u0301d for thy departure hence;
\nI as a ravisher, thou as a careless child,
\nI as a man who doth defile, thou as a maid defiled;
\nThinking to lead in ease a long contented life,
\nShall short our days by shameful death: but if, my loving wife,
\nThou banish from thy mind two foes that counsel hath,
\nThat wont to hinder sound advice, rash hastiness and wrath;
\nIf thou be bent t’obey the lore of reason’s skill
\nAnd wisely by her princely power suppress rebelling will,
\nIf thou our safety seek, more than thine own delight,
\nSince surety stands in parting, and thy pleasures grow of sight,
\nForbear the cause of joy, and suffer for a while,
\nSo shall I safely live abroad, and safe turn from exile,
\nSo shall no slander’s blot thy spotless life distain,
\nSo shall thy kinsmen be unstirred, and I exempt from pain.
\nAnd think thou not, that aye the cause of care shall last;
\nThese stormy broils shall overblow, much like a winter’s blast.
\n………………………………………………………………….<\/span> (lines 1644 – 1666)<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\nStaying behind leaves her depressed. When her worried parents suggest to find her a husband (a patent remedy against her prolonged mourning for Tybalt), Juliet denies to have a lover already. Not that she has much of a choice, but Brooke has her accountable for the consequences all the same. 1<\/span>\u00a0 In the Shakespeare version, however, she is ‘star crossed’, and has no say in the wedding negotiations. Which leaves her a victim of unlucky circumstances.<\/p>\n
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\nThe same for that zealous preacher who was prepared to die fighting for his Lord, but who avoided the chains when the opportunity to die a martyr presented itself :\u00a0 \u2018I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day…\u2019<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Did someone say that teenage children can\u2019t make lovers? Brooke did : in lines 1650 – 54. But not because he is disgusted by the thought of twelve as a girl\u2019s legal age of consent. To the contrary even. It … Continue reading