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Why shouldn't Romeo and Juliet get married?

The biggest and most obvious reason is that the Montagues and Capulets have a blood feud. The families can barely pass each other in the street without the situation devolving into a sword fight. It isn’t likely, then, that either family would approve of a marriage between Romeo and Juliet. Another reason they shouldn’t get married is because Juliet already has a prospective suitor in Paris, a man entirely more appropriate than Romeo, given the...

The biggest and most obvious reason is that the Montagues and Capulets have a blood feud. The families can barely pass each other in the street without the situation devolving into a sword fight. It isn’t likely, then, that either family would approve of a marriage between Romeo and Juliet. Another reason they shouldn’t get married is because Juliet already has a prospective suitor in Paris, a man entirely more appropriate than Romeo, given the blood feud. Both of Juliet’s parents express their hope that Juliet marry Paris, and it would be no small matter for Juliet to go against her parents’ wishes given the sexist environment to which she is subjected. During Shakespeare’s time, women were not given much choice in anything, and this is especially true for marriage. Given both of these factors, it is very dangerous for Romeo and Juliet to get married, and their decision to do so ultimately leads to both of their deaths.

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