We were born in a certain place, in a certain time, and with certain
people who are called our family. It is something that we cannot change (unless
we travel in time), because we have a blood union with them, and sometimes we
have things in common. In spite of the fact that people say “they are the
people who are always going to be with you”, this blood union is not as
important as the relationships we built through the pass of years. In fact, we
can see a clear example of it in one of the greatest works of Shakespeare, “Romeo
and Juliet”.
The relationship between Juliet and her parents is quite atypical. Her
father, someone who does not care if Juliet is happy or not, just wants to see
her married to Paris even when he told her that she is "free to
choose" her own mate. Lady Capulet, a distant woman who loves her daughter
even when she do not demonstrate her love, lives in a fantasy world in which she
has to do everything her husband say. In addition, the Nurse is the one who cares
and loves Juliet even more than her own mother. She is her confident and plays
the role as if she was Lady Capulet. Without having a blood union between them,
the Nurse was the person who raised Juliet and knew her personal desires.
In my opinion, there are people who do not care about their own family
and treat them like if they were strangers. As a result, they find friends who
play that role and built a non-traditional family with them. However, I cannot
imagine living in the medieval age having a distant relationship with my
parents. So, my question is: do you think family is overrated? Do you believe
that friends are the family we choose?
Very interesting point, Cata. I totally think that family is overrated. Of course there are families that are almost perfect and great love can be seen; however, there are a lot of families that cares just about their interests living their own life, doing things with selfish interests and convenience. Everyone, ever since they are little kids, is just brainwashed into thinking Family is everything, when it is not. Some families acts terribly but they hide behind this social belief that family is everything and you have to respect them no matter what; some people usually say that family is and will be there for you when everyone around you won't care about. This is not true, the concept of life is build according to the experience lived, whether positive or negative. For instance, Juliet’s father just cares about his social status, his name, and his appearances; he doesn’t care about his daughter’s happiness or her welfare. Juliet’s mother just follows the social conventions of doing what her husband tells her to do; he follows the social constraint of how a wife should be. I think that family is molded from conformity and obedience instead of choice and personal commitment. A real family is the one that has proved to be loyal, trustworthy, dedicated; most importantly, the one that gives support when needed, gives love without anything in returns, and takes care about each. We don’t have to respect them because society tells us to do so but because we want to. Family can be overrated, as well as friendship; two concepts that mean different things to different people, it all depends on the experience lived.
ResponderEliminarIn my humble opinion, having a family is important. I don't know if you have taught children whose parents are not present at all, and sombedoy else has to take care of them. Most of the time, these children have quite a lot of problems, not that the rest do not have problems, it's just that some of them don't care about a thing, and in my personal experience, I've seen how they are angry with the world. Probably, they wish they were with their dad, mom, or at least someone who really cared (of course that there are exceptions). Family, therefore, is important. However, I do agree with you up to a point, because we have been sold for years this sort of "ideal family" in which everybody plays a particular role and everything works out just fine. As far as I know, this occurs only in movies, and since we've been exposed to movies and media in general our whole lives, our inner self wants to achieve the ideal of the perfect family, for as Natalyn said, we have been brainwashed.
ResponderEliminarSo, once more, to me family is important, but it is dangerous to assume roles which don't exist at all, and by appearing to be someone who you are not.