Nearly every major decision in the play is made hastily by young characters (Romeo and Juliet marrying after one meeting, Romeo buying poison within hours of hearing false news) while the older generation is largely reactive or absent at key moments — Friar Laurence’s letter fails, the parents are unaware of the marriage until it’s too late.

This generational gap is sometimes read as Shakespeare critiquing impulsive youth, and sometimes read as a critique of the adults (the feud itself, arranged marriage, poor communication) that leaves the young characters no better options. Both readings are defensible from the text.