In Act I, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Count Paris asks Lord Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage. Lord Capulet gives three good reasons why they should wait. First, Juliet is too young. She's only thirteen, and Capulet wants her to be two years older before she marries. Secondly, Paris argues that there are girls Juliet's age who are already mothers, and Capulet responds that those girls are "marred" who have given birth...
In Act I, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Count Paris asks Lord Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage. Lord Capulet gives three good reasons why they should wait. First, Juliet is too young. She's only thirteen, and Capulet wants her to be two years older before she marries. Secondly, Paris argues that there are girls Juliet's age who are already mothers, and Capulet responds that those girls are "marred" who have given birth so young (it may be a reference to his own wife, who says in Scene 3 that she was Juliet's age when she gave birth to the girl). Third, Capulet notes that Juliet is his only child and he wants her to be happy. He urges Paris to win Juliet's love. He says that he will only agree to the marriage if Juliet is happy in the match. He says,
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart;
My will to her consent is but a part.
And, she agreed, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent and fair according voice.
Later in the play, however, Capulet changes his mind and arranges for a very quick marriage between Juliet and Paris after the death of Tybalt.
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