Which lines in this excerpt from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet show that Lord Capulet thinks Juliet is too young to get married
? PARIS: Of honourable reckoning are you both;
And pity 'tis you lived at odds so long.
But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET: But saying o'er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world;
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years,
Let two more summers wither in their pride,
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.
PARIS: Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET: And too soon marr'd are those so early made.
The earth hath swallow'd all my hopes but she,
She is the hopeful lady of my earth:
But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart,
My will to her consent is but a part;
An she agree, within her scope of choice
Lies my consent and fair according voice.
This night I hold an old accustom'd feast,
Whereto I have invited many a guest,
Such as I love; and you, among the store,
One more, most welcome, makes my number more.
The answer is "my child is yet a stranger in the world she hath not seen the change of fourteen years, let two more summers wither in their pride, ere then we may think her ripe to be a bride".
These are the lines that show that Capulet believes Juliet is too young to get married. In these lines, he tells us that Juliet is a "child" who knows very little about the world. We also learn that she has not yet turned fourteen. Capulet asks Paris to wait for another two years, as he thinks that by that time, Juliet will be old enough to be married.
