Act 5, Scene 3: The Heavy Price for Peace

Prompt E:
The relationship between Friar Lawrence and both Romeo and Juliet is an important one, as it plays a big part in the plot of the play.  He has a fatherly connection with the two lovers and treats them as his own and makes it his duty to see their happiness fulfilled.  He also prioritizes their safety, like when Juliet finds Romeo dead and he offers to hide her, "Come, I'll dispose of thee/Among a sisterhood of holy nuns./Stay not to question, for the watch is coming./Come, go good Juliet. I dare no longer stay."  Both these priorities of his truly show how much he loves Romeo and Juliet and how much he cares for them.  He is willing to jeopardize everything to help the young lovers unite, displaying his paternal compassion for them.  He is the caring father that loves them no matter what, as their real fathers will not stand for the two to be in love, much less encourage their marriage.

Act 3, Scene 5: The Juliet-Disownment-Marriage Method of Obedience

Prompt D:

This image is a representation of the donkey-stick-carrot method of obedience, in which a carrot would be put in front of the donkey and a sharp stick would be put behind the donkey, forcing the donkey to move in the way one wishes by directing it with these tools, as the donkey will want the reward of the carrot and will not want the punishment of getting poked by the stick.  This mirrors how Lord Capulet is forcing Juliet to do what he desires by giving her what he thinks is a reward, which is marriage to Paris, and prevents her from disobeying by placing the looming threat of being disowned over her.  This method also shows the two options Juliet faces: marry Paris and accept the "reward" or harm (kill) herself.

Act 2, Scene 6: Friar Lawrence on Love

Prompt A:
As Friar Lawrence tells Romeo and Juliet, "The sweetest honey/Is loathsome in his own deliciousness/And in the taste confounds the appetite/Therefore love moderately. Long love doth so/Too swift arrives as tardy as too slow", it reminds me of how much of life's seemingly good things, such as money or sugar, is detrimental when in excess and the need for it fades.  Usually when something desirable is obtained in large amounts, one becomes sick of it and the demand for it decreases.  This quote can be applied in daily life, as this is the foundation of how the supply-and-demand system works.  As people want something, like how Romeo and Juliet want love, they request it a lot, but when they have too much of it, they get bored and waste it.  Friar Lawrence gives good advice, not only to Romeo and Juliet, but to everyday people, that pacing oneself with desirables will make their enjoyment last longer and keep oneself from overdosing and throwing away things so easily.

Act 2, Scene 3: Friar Lawrence's Thoughts

Prompt F:
It seems to be that Romeo has fallen in love yet again.  Dear Lord!  He claims his undying love for the Capulets' daughter, but how am I to be sure he will not be fickle once again?  I have seen this young man flit between loves as a bee pollinates flowers.  This time seems to be different–already wanting marriage!  However, he must be serious, or why else would he risk his life to be with his enemy?  Love must truly be strong here.  Ay, but I shall not marry them in haste–who knows how Romeo will feel in a few days' time?

Act 2, Scene 1: Romeo, the Lovestruck Fool

Prompt C:

• Mercutio states, "If love be blind, love cannot hit the mark.  Now will he sit under a medlar tree and wish his mistress were that kind of fruits maids call medlars when they laugh alone.  Oh Romeo, that she were, oh that she were an open-arse, thou a pop'rin' pear".  This line shows what Mercutio thinks of Romeo's antics.  He believes that Romeo is foolish for running after every girl he falls in love with, causing him to be lovesick for those women who do not love him back.  From his sarcastic tone, he shows how he believes Romeo is idiotic for chasing his loves and that love is hard to obtain, for girls are rarely low-hanging fruit.  This dialogue shows Romeo's actions in an objective viewpoint, which is refreshing.  Rather than seeing his jumping over the orchard wall as a sign of true love, from Mercutio's point of view, we can observe it as a impulsive, rash action.

Act 1, Scene 3: The Question of Juliet's Hand

Prompt B:
Why does Lady Capulet wish for Juliet to be married early?
What does Lady Capulet's urge to wed Juliet to Paris say about her character and motives?
What are the differences between Juliet's relationship with her mother and her relationship with her nurse?
Why might it be that Juliet's father wishes for Juliet to be older and to want marriage, but Juliet's mother wants her to get married quickly and become a mother?
What does Juliet's reluctance to get married say about her character?

Remember the Days

I dream of a time

When a knock on the front door

Had me and my friend clinging on our bikes

Leaving tire marks through the neighborhood

Until the leafy redwoods extinguished the golden sun

Not rushing to snatch my online order from the porch

I reminisce about the days

Where a crossing of paths

Meant a mandatory performance of a secret handshake

A compilation of high-fives and fist-bumps

And a misstep meant a profusion of giggles
Not pulling out an app to avoid eyes

I think about those moments

When free time

Meant microwaving marshmallows with friends

Shrieking and squeaking

When it erupted into a puddle of smoking putty

Not scrolling in dim light through memes

Then I awake

From the blissful innocence that was childhood

Into the nightmare

Where friends become avatars

And the void of pixels consumes us all