How Old Romeo

How Old Romeo

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william-shakespeare romeo-and-juliet

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While answering a different question , I wanted to find out Romeo's age in the Shakespeare play Romeo and Juliet . It's well known that Juliet is 13, and generally assumed that Romeo is older (hence the occasional modern-day accusation that he's a paedophile), but what's the actual evidence for the latter? I've looked up about this online and found various places saying essentially that we don't know Romeo's age, but I'd be interested to see all the textual (or extratextual) evidence regarding this.
Shakespeare's main sources for Romeo and Juliet were
There is no evidence that Shakespeare read any of the French or Italian sources for this story, such as Pierre Boaistuau or Matteo Bandello .
In Brooke's narrative poem, Juliet is sixteen years old ("At sixteen years I first did choose my loving fere," she says), while in Shakespeare's play, her mother says, "[s]he's not fourteen" (Act I, scene 3).
Brooke does not mention Romeus' age. Near the beginning of the poem, he introduces him as
One Romeus, who was of race a Montague,
Upon whose tender chin, as yet, no manlike beard there grew,
so he's probably not much older than Juliet.
According to Painter, who follows Boaistuau, he is
Both Brooke's and Shakespeare's Romeo seem younger than this. Based on Romeo's and Juliet's relative maturity, I would argue that Shakespeare's Romeo is not much older than Juliet. In the introduction to the New Cambridge Shakespeare edition of Romeo and Juliet (second edition, 2003), G. Blakemore Evans writes,
Critics have often pointed out that Juliet is a stronger personality than Romeo and that she wins through an almost frightening maturity more quickly. We sense this in her poised and playfully serious exchange with Romeo at their first meeting (1.5) and it is underscored in the famous window scene (2.2), where she shows herself more thoughtful, prudent and realistic than Romeo, though no less deeply engaged, in sensing the tragic threat involved in such 'sudden haste': (...)
(He then goes on to quote Act II, scene 2, 116-220: "Although I joy in thee, ...")
We don't know much. About the only concrete data is that he's described as a "youth". We also know that his parents and Juliet's parents are social peers, which implies that they're of roughly similar age, but leaves room for him to be considerably older without violating the text.
I think his flightiness and moodiness makes an interpretation of "mid to late teens" most justified, but I think you could justify a pedophile interpretation if you thought it made an interesting performance. I suspect that it would not, but I suppose it would be up to a director to try it and find out.
There is a more interesting question in the age of Paris, who is often portrayed as considerably older and a figure of disgust, but that isn't a requirement of the text. It is also possible to portray him as only slightly older and a sympathetic figure, one whom Juliet might have made a tolerable match were she not overcome by what she imagines to be true love. Setting up Romeo as a much older man could have some interesting implications for his unjustified murder of Paris.
It is noteworthy, I think, that Juliet is considerably younger than women were usually married in England at the time. Shakespeare's wife was in her late 20s, and that was much more the custom . Marrying Juliet off at 12 or 13 would not be impossible, but definitely unusual. Shakespeare often used foreign settings to gain some distance from everyday British customs. Romeo and Juliet are characters of exaggerated emotion, which fits well with the behavior of young teens, and less well with more mature characters.
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Ok, I realize this movie is ten years old, but …
There’s a simple question. How old is Romeo? Sure, we all know that Juliet is 13, the Nurse comes right out and tells us. And often I think that we then make the leap and assume that Romeo is 13 as well.
But that’s hardly true, is it? Would that imply that Mercutio, Tybalt and Paris are also all about 13 ? Surely it was the case that men simply chose younger wives ( Capulet is much older than his wife, is he not?), and actually we can assume that Romeo and the others are what, maybe late teens, early 20’s?
It wouldn’t stage well these days to point out that age difference, of course. I can just imagine R&J being closed down because it promotes pedophilia or something. But honestly I’m cool with it (the age difference, not the pedophilia!) The more I read the play, the more I appreciate that Juliet is the most mature person in it. That she’s 13, surrounded by people generations older than her, is quite impressive. I don’t need to make her older to justify anything, and I don’t need to make Romeo younger to get it to balance out.
Romeo can be older and still be rash and impetuous. Juliet can be young and be the smart one. Better than trying to imagine 13yr old Tybalt saying, “I hate the word as I hate Hell….”
While looking at the trivia for Luhrman’s movie, I learned something interesting. Apparently Natalie Portman auditioned for the role of Juliet. But because of her small frame, in her words, “Leonardo looked like he was molesting me.” The director said the same thing I said above, only backwards — “Leonardo was 21, but could look 18 – and she made him look 21.” In other words he looked too old, not that she looked too young. So that certainly backs up the idea that you have to cast R&J of roughly equivalent ages to avoid squicking out your audience.
I have always read Romeo as being on the upper end of 15, or early 16. (Some of the arguments I’ve heard putting him toward 18 always seemed inexplicably “off.”) This way, he’s just young enough to be so wanton and so reckless with his sentiments (c.f., the Rosalind fiasco), but not quite old enough to have had enough experiences to jade him accordingly.
Hope you don’t mind my commenting here. I enjoy your reframing of Shakie, which, as someone who taught Shakie for more years than he wishes to remember, is a rare thing indeed. Cheers & best.
Did it occur to anyone that Juliet might be older than Romeo? The whole he's not old enough to have a beard thing places him between 12-15. No more than a year younger or about a year or 2 older than Juliet in Shakespeare's version.
The nurses states ‘she hath not seen the change of fourteen years’, which means Juliet is 13. Romeo was certainly no younger than 16 as he is involved in sword fights and witty banter. He must also be older to correspond with the maturity and ages of Benvolio and Mercutio.
Thanks Doc! Nice to hear the encouragement. As a complete non-academic who basically reads and talks about Shakespeare for fun, I hold a deep seated insecurity that one day I’m going to say something stupid and all the people who do Shakespeare “for real” are going to laugh at me :).
Of course you’re welcome to comment here! I actively encourage it!
The Juliet in the original novel – Romeo and Guilietta – is eighteen. Why did Shakespeare reduce her age? What is the difference between casting a play now to casting a play from a small acting company in Shakespeare’s day? What were the realities of the London in which he existed? If anyone is interested in a few more facts and speculations visit my blog at: http://rogertudor.wordpress.com/
Originally (ie Shakespeare’s company) Romeo would have had a beard – and would have been played by a ‘mature’ actor – boys without beard were ‘sexless’.
Modern (i.e. post German Romantic) make him younger than he originally was.
a 21 year old would have been right – but suggestions of molestation to modern audiences wipe out the possibilities.
Interestingly, on stage, actors much older than 21 get away with the role.
why yes sir.. i read this because i have to in class.
I belive that shakie reduced juliet (or Gullieta)’s age because his plays were often based on italian culture and often included italian characters and at the the time it was common in italy for women/girls of a very young age to carry children and were seen more sexually mature than they were in england at the time and so ‘shakie’ maybe have been trying to make his plays more acurate, I apolagise if I seem stupid but please remember i am only a 14 year old who has just finished his yr9 S.A.T’s
You’re 14, and you just voluntarily dove into a conversation about Shakespeare’s intentions in making Juliet 13? I hardly think that makes you stupid. My memory of reading Romeo and Juliet at 14 was of being done with it as quickly as possible :). Thanks for the contribution!
I agree with you Duane. This kid is Far from stupid!!
Actually, girls often memorize large portions of the play in junior high – because it’s ‘young love’ lol & because of the films. In my day it was the Zeffirelli film, in my daughters’ it was Leonardo DiCaprio’s. My youngest, bless her heart, who was NOT a reader, knew all of Juliet’s dialogue by heart.
I’ve taught Jr HS English & seen this happen LOL It’s GREAT because it draws kids into Shakespeare 😀
i've just been doing R&J in school and my teacher said she'd been researching the play and found that he was seventeen sorri if i sound a geek or moody or anything i don't mean to
I think it's awfully creepy that Juliet was like 13. My little sister is very mature for her age but it makes my heart sick to think of her in a similar situation of Juliet. It's also really creepy how Mary (of the bible) was my age and she's all like 'yeah i trust you angel person-knock me up god!'
Now I realize that the women of the past had to grow up much faster than the women of the present, who are generally sheltered and live at home until they become 18. So don't get me wrong-I love r&j as much as the next person-but I picture Juliet at about the age of 16-17 (still really young, but at least not a teenie-bopper) and romeo at about 20-21.
Take into consideration that ppl In the Bible days, at least around Mary’s time, didn’t live as long as ppl today. If they made it past 40 they were very fortunate. And if you think about God “knocks up” every woman.
Actually im doing Romeo and Juliet at school right now and in the book it says she is 13 and he is 26, in those days it was expected for the man to be twice the age as the girl. (it was just tradition)
Then you have a bad book, Rachel, if it makes statements like that :). The truth is, Shakespeare didn’t say — therefore nobody knows. Everything else is just somebody’s guess, no matter how well researched.
He can’t be too old because (and i quote)
“One Romeus, who was of race a Montague, Upon whose tender chin, as yet, no manlike beard there grew, Whose beauty and whose shape so far the rest did stain”
obviously he had not reached puberty yet (no beard yet)
Not having a beard doesn’t mean you haven’t reached puberty, it means you haven’t reached the end stages. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facial_hair
I began puberty when I was in 5/6th grade, and didn’t even begin needing shaving for quite some time.
For males, Beards come out anytime between 17 – early 20s, while puberty can begin between 11yo – 13 yo.
But you are not quote Shakespeare there, you are quoting Brooke:
Shakespeare changed lots of things, what's to say he didn't change Romeo's age?
I agree with Dr J- I like to think of Romeo as being in the 15-16-17 range. I am a vehement supporter of age-appropriate actors to play R&J…It's sickening to see 20 year olds playing Juliet. I'm 14, so I'm starting to worry that I'll never be able to play Juliet…
Your name is Mimi and in a book called Saving Juliet, the main character Mimi, plays Juliet all her life.
Just been reading through some of the comments on Juliets age and Romeo and Juliets marriage…
I've been doing a lot of research for an essay I have to write on the topic and one source (Cambridge Introduction to Shakespeare by Emma Smith) said that although most people presume that marriage at that age was a normal thing to do it wasn't. having the couple married so young was unusual and holds some sort of significance and probably would have weirded out audiences at the time. its also important to note that all other accounts of a Romeo and Juliet saga extend over a number of accounts and shakespeare has compressed this to under a week depending on what resource you listen to. In other accounts the pair have time to fall in love however for our R & J its instant which leaves us begging the question…is it love or something else? if you look at one of the resources 'shakie' based his version on "Romeus and Juliet" by Brooke's then it becomes apparent that it was about lust, sin, etc everything that shouldn't be done. however shakespeare has taken Brooke's story and transformed it into legendary lines of inspiration that send the reader into the heady daze of "love". we question it because its too fast,it can't be real, lasting, love.
just thought I'd put my two cents in…albeit getting slightly off topic but oh well =] goodluck!
Count Paris who was to marry Juliet was at least 25. And thats another thing. I can’t see Romeo being young and killing all these guys that are much older than him.
Back in the day, it was common for people in their early- to mid-teens to marry and have children. It was considered that, as soon as you were physically able to have kids, it was right to marry and have kids. Nowadays there's a bunch of useless, arbitrary rules with regard to the matter. Not to mention the decline of society, by which most teenage girls (and guys) are far too irresponsible to do so (not meant to offend those who are responsible, but it's simply a fact). My wife and I got married at 17, had a beautiful daughter at 19 and we are doing very well (we are now 21 and our daughter is almost 2). I'm not bragging, simply stating that it can be done. In the play, Romeo is most likely in his mid- to late teens. I'd have to look at it again (haven't read it since I was 13…) to be sure, but it sounds about right for the time.
This is incorrect and a common misconception. Although it would be common for people to marry and have kids younger (17 -20ish) it was still uncommon for people to marry at 13. That would be just as absurd as now days, it wasn’t a common thing done amongst ordinary working class people but it was done amongst rich and wealthy families sometimes. So this is an indicator of both Juliet’s families wealth and the type of people they were.
Yes, most teens are horridly irresponsible. That's mostly because of the labor laws at the beginning of the twentieth century. Before that time period people were either children or adults. Of course, everyone, as soon as they were physically able, were expecte
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