If we look past the balcony and the poetry, we find a narrative about the devastating intersection of , inherited hatred , and the brutality of youth . 1. Love as a Catalyst for Violence
The Cost of Violent Delights: A Deeper Look at Romeo and Juliet Romeo & Juliet
We often forget how truly young these "star-crossed lovers" are. Juliet is explicitly identified as being only , not yet even fourteen. Her father describes her as a "stranger in the world," yet she is thrust into a political marriage with Count Paris and a secret, life-or-death union with Romeo. If we look past the balcony and the