Juliet in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is 13 years old, about to turn 14. This is explicitly stated in the play, where her nurse and mother discuss her age, noting that she "hath not seen the change of fourteen years" and that her birthday is "a fortnight hence" from mid-July, placing her birthday at the end of July (Lammas Eve)
. This age is a notable departure from Shakespeare's sources, where Juliet was typically portrayed as older-around 16 or even 18 years old. Shakespeare’s choice to make Juliet so young emphasizes the themes of youthful innocence and the tragic consequences of early marriage and love
. Romeo, by comparison, is generally considered to be about 16 years old, slightly older than Juliet
. In summary:
- Juliet is 13, nearly 14 years old in the play.
- Romeo is about 16 years old.
- Shakespeare deliberately made Juliet younger than in earlier versions to highlight the tragedy and cultural context of youthful love and marriage.
