Every book and movie aimed at teenagers has at least some plot of love. Lately, it seems to be a very popular topic in novels turned movies to have tragically fated star-crossed lovers. This of course comes right into play in the book we’re reading in class, Romeo and Juliet. Teenagers falling in love so deep that they will do anything for each other, I mean Romeo and Juliet even die for each other.
When the question “Are 16 year olds too young to fall in love?” came up in class, I faced a dilemma on how to answer. Yes, I do believe it’s possible for teenagers to fall in love and grow old together, but, all in all, teenagers are just too stupid and immature to make it work out. Romeo and Juliet are a perfect example of this. The two of them wouldn’t have ended up dying if they had just known how to communicate properly. Even if they had both stayed alive, their relationship probably wouldn’t have lasted. I mean, they barely knew each other. Books like The Fault In Our Stars and William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet let us all believe that young love can work out, and that it’s eternal and wonderful….but if the character’s hadn’t have died, who knows how the relationships would have turned out?
Okay so it probably wouldn’t have turned out like that, but something kind of similar could have happened. Teenagers access their frontal lobes more slowly than adults do, which means their decision making skills are way below par. The frontal lobe doesn’t even fully connect until you’re about 25. This doesn’t mean you should avoid dating anyone until you’re in your late 20’s, just don’t elope in vegas on your 18th birthday.
People fall in love, get married, and have children all the time. This happens everyday to people of all ages all over the world. If you’re in love, you’re in love, no matter your age. I think teenagers are old enough to fall in love, it’s beyond anyone’s control. If two people love each other that’s enough to be in love.
People fall out of love everyday too, so you always have to be cautious of what you’re doing. Teenagers fall out of love and make stupid decisions and get married too young because they haven’t figured out yet what they’re even doing. People of all ages do this, but it’s proven that young marriages are more likely to fail.
I’m not sure where I meant to go with this, but I have my conclusion. I believe anybody is old enough to fall in love, but also fall out of love. Nothing is cement at 16, so I wouldn’t try to run away together. Just go to a movie and hold sweaty hands in the popcorn.