Shakespeare's Contradictory Love and Marriage Customs Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, was written in the times of Elizabethan England. During this time marriage was common, but love was not. Many found it “crazy to marry for love” (Love and Marriage 1). Most Elizabethan English marriages were arranged by the children's parents, primarily for “social or financial purposes” (Daily Life in the Elizabethan Era 189). Most upper-class families arranged marriages very early in their children's lives and had little or no say in the arrangements. However, people from the lower classes had more choices when it came time to find a partner. These marriages determined how the two would prosper, how much money the families would receive, the families' social rank, and a “legal right as heads of families” (189). All men and women were expected to marry, but very few were expected to love. Shakespeare accurately portrays the marriage norm through some of his characters. Lady Capulet, Juliet's mother, believes that her daughter should marry Paris for her rich possessions, as well as Paris. Likewise, Mercutio mocks Romeo for being “in love” with Rosaline, and sees him as a fool. These characters follow the norms of love and marriage of Elizabethan England. However, Shakespeare's main characters, Romeo and Juliet, want to marry for love within the first day they meet. Even though their families are enemies, they want to believe in love, unlike many people in this time period. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, many characters follow the cultural norm of love and marriage in Elizabethan England, however some characters do not. In Elizabethan England, marriage was... in the center of the paper... placed in reality they are very rare. Shakespeare's writing both supports and conflicts with traditional Elizabethan concepts of love and marriage. Evidently, this contradictory comedy was a success, despite challenging cultural norms, considering it is one of his most famous works. Works Cited “Everyday Life in the Elizabethan Era.” Elizabethan World Reference Library. Ed. Sonia G. Benson and Jennifer York Stock. vol. 1: Almanac. Detroit: UXL, 2007. 181-194. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Network. March 17, 2014.Davis, William S. Life in Elizabethan Days. Np: Biblo & Tannen, 1988. Print.Dodd, AH Life in Elizabethan England. New York: Putnam, 1961. Print. Ross, Maggi. "Love and Marriage." Life in Elizabethan England 10:. Np, 2008. Web. 16 March 2014.Singman, Jeffrey L. Everyday Life in Elizabethan England. Westport: Greenwood, 1995. Print.