Juliet's parents feel that now she is thirteen, she is more than old enough to be married. In Act I, Scene III, Juliet's mother tells her that she wants to set her up to be married to Paris. Juliet admits that she hasn't really thought about marriage, but will at least meet him before deciding one way or another. Of course, at the fateful party where Juliet is supposed to be getting to know Paris, she meets and falls in love with Romeo.
The love and marriage between Juliet and Romeo is private, but she is very committed. Even after learning that Romeo has killed her beloved cousin, she feels allegiance to him and despises the presence of the man her parents still plan for her to marry. She resents Paris, and when they speak in Act IV, Scene I, she knocks down all of his compliments and attempts to be affectionate or personal with her. Paris is delighted that they will be married on the coming Thursday, but Juliet dreads it. She does not want a life where she must pretend to have a happy marriage, stifle her sadness for her husband, or live with a man she does not love! Perhaps Juliet hopes that by being rude to Paris, she can get him to change his mind and call the marraige off. If nothing else, their exchange in Act IV, Scene I shows how Juliet is using Paris as a tangible focal point for her sorrow over Tybalt and her anger towards her parents.
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