If it were not for the feud between the Montagues, Romeo's family, and the Capulets, Juliet's family, they would be a very good match. By all accounts, the Montagues and Capulets are equal in social, financial and political status in Verona. In the Prologue, Shakespeare tells us they are "Two households, both alike in dignity." Romeo is presumably the equal of Count Paris, who, in Act I, is very eager to marry Juliet and is...
If it were not for the feud between the Montagues, Romeo's family, and the Capulets, Juliet's family, they would be a very good match. By all accounts, the Montagues and Capulets are equal in social, financial and political status in Verona. In the Prologue, Shakespeare tells us they are "Two households, both alike in dignity." Romeo is presumably the equal of Count Paris, who, in Act I, is very eager to marry Juliet and is certainly acceptable to both Lord and Lady Capulet. The adults who do know about Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse and Friar Lawrence, believe it is a good match and go out of their way to assist the couple.
Romeo and Juliet also seem to be very much in love. They fall in love at first sight and even speak in a rhymed sonnet the first time they meet. They appear to be soulmates, especially during the balcony scene when they express their emotions quite readily. Juliet is at first worried that she has been too forward but Romeo allays her fears and pledges his love, asking her to marry him on her balcony before they have known each other for longer than an hour.
The problem, of course, is the violence and hatred of the rivalry which often spills into the streets. Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, hates the Montagues and there is certainly no love on the part of Mercutio, Romeo's friend, for the Capulets. Unfortunately, this hatred destroys what should have been a perfect match between the children of aristocratic families "both alike in dignity."
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