What does Younger than she are happy mothers made say about Elizabethan attitudes?

Answer 1

The phrase "Younger than she are happy mothers made" from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" reflects Elizabethan attitudes towards marriage and motherhood, emphasizing the societal expectation for women to marry and bear children at a young age. It suggests that happiness and fulfillment for women were often linked to their roles as wives and mothers. This perspective underscores the limited agency women had in choosing their paths, as their worth was frequently measured by their reproductive and domestic roles. Overall, it highlights the cultural pressures of the time regarding female identity and societal expectations.