Book Smarts vs Street Smarts

Although Friar Lawrence had book smarts, he gave really bad advice to Romeo and Juliet, this shows his world experience isn't up to par with his book smarts. This advice caused a lot of the dramatic consequences within the play. In act 2, scene 3, Romeo goes to Friar Lawrence for advice about his love for Juliet. Friar Lawrence thinks it’s strange that last time he spoke to him; he was in love with Rosaline. “Is Rosaline, that thou didst love so dear, so soon forsaken? Young men’s love then lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes.” (Act 2, Scene 3, 67-69) Even though Friar Lawrence did not agree with Romeo’s swift marriage, he still agreed to marry them, knowing that their families were at war. Friar Lawrence did not foresee any of the consequences that were to come. And in act 4, scene 1, Friar Lawrence tells Juliet to take a sleeping potion that will make her seem dead to anyone. “And this distilling liquor drink thou off, when presently through all thy veins shall run a cold and drowsy humour ” (Act 4, Scene 1, 95-97) Shakespeare uses a foreshadowing technique to show Friar Lawrence’s naivety, as his predictions for the future weren't supported by street smarts.     

The role of women

Within the play, Romeo and Juliet, there are 3 main women characters: Juliet, Nurse and Lady Capulet. However, there are many more male main characters: Romeo, Mercutio, Capulet, Tybalt, Benvolio, County Paris, Friar Lawrence and Prince Escalus. This shows that the women’s voice in this play is not valued by Shakespeare. In addition, the topics discussed by both male and female characters are worlds apart. For example, the men discuss things such as war, love, sex, partying, fighting, honour, sports, food, peace and death. However the women within the story discuss love, marriage, and gossip. Shakespeare portrays women to only value being wives and gossipers, the Nurse says of women, “No less! Nay, bigger: women grow by men.” (Act 1, Scene 3, 99). Women are also portrayed as owned by men. Capulet shows this by offering all of the abled women to men, “Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes unplagu’d with corns will walk a bout with you.” (Act 1, Scene 5, 8-9). Imagery is used as a technique to portray women, in particular ‘women grow by men’ metaphorically relates women as a smaller person without a man.