Rapid growth and maturity is often found in children who have experienced hardships in their life. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the hardships encountered by Juliet come in the form of love and lovers. As Juliet is continuously faced with difficult situations throughout the play, her character is forced to mature rapidly. Juliet’s maturity can be traced from her opinions on love and marriage, her behaviour toward family members and her responses to Romeo.
Juliet’s growth to maturity was shown to us in many different ways throughout the play. One way the reader can see her growth is through her opinions on love and marriage. When Lady Capulet asks Juliet about her opinion on marriage, Juliet replies “It is an honour I dream not
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In addition, after learning of the feast being held at her house and the suitors attending, Juliet states “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move.” (I.iii.98). From this comment, the reader is told that Juliet is not keen on looking for marriage as she telling the Nurse and Lady Capulet that she will take into consideration her father’s choice of fiancé if he is good looking. One can infer from this that Juliet’s heart is not in the idea of marriage as she refuses to get to know the man better. However, after meeting Romeo and falling in love with him, the idea of marriage suddenly becomes very appealing to Juliet. During Romeo and Juliet’s conversation on the balcony, Juliet says “If that thy bent of love be honourable, /Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow, /By one that I’ll procure to come to thee, /Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite, /And all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay, /And follow thee my lord throughout the world” (II.ii.142-148). Here the reader is able to see how Juliet has matured and is willing to marry if she is promised true love and happiness. It also shows her understanding of the way marriage will impact her individuality, yet that she is mature enough to make her own decisions about life. Furthermore, …show more content…
When Lady Capulet calls Juliet for the first time, Juliet replies “Madam I am here, what is your will?” (I.iii.7). By addressing her mother and instantly asking what she can do, Juliet shows how respectful and dutiful she is towards her mother. From this, one can assume that she would be more gracious to her father and uncles due to the family hierarchy that was present during the setting’s time-period. Furthermore, when ask to look at suitors during the feast Juliet says “But no more deep will I endart mine eye, /Than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (I.iii.99-100). This shows how Juliet will do whatever to please her parents but not without their permission and blessings. The audience can also infer that Juliet hold her mother in high esteem by the way that she talks of getting her approval first. In spite of her obedience, Juliet matures by standing up for herself in front of her parents. When Lady Capulet tells Juliet of her arranged marriage to Paris, Juliet cries “He shall not make me there a joyful bride. /I wonder at this haste, that I must wed /Ere he that should be husband comes to woo. /I pray you tell my lord and father, madam, /I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear /It shall be Romeo,” (III.v.117-122). From this, the reader can see Juliet’s character development as she becomes insistent to not marry Paris and challenged her parents wishes. It shows her
Juliet Capulet is a innocent young girl, especially towards the beginning of the story. When Juliet expresses her innocence, she truly wasn't expecting to find the guy she was going to like for the rest of her life. As, Lady Capulet calls to talk to her about marriage, Lady Capulet says, “Marry, that
...ught about getting married to someone. When her mother asked her of marriage, it was something she had not dreamed of. Because of the use of Shakespearean language, Shakespeare is able to show his readers the change Juliet goes through throughout the play by the language and the tone he uses. Juliets love for Romeo changes her. Before she would always tell everything to her mother and do what she was asked to do. But then she decided to marry Romeo without consulting anyone in her family. She did things that she would have never done if she hadn't met Romeo. Juliet is a dynamic character because of the changes she goes through. Shakespeare is able to show the audience that a character no matter how they are in the beginning of the story, their decision and the events that influence their lives can change them making them a dynamic character.
Instead it is the wife’s duty to inform her child that she must prepare herself for marriage. Lady Capulet was married at an age younger than Juliet is. She says, "By my count I was your mother much upon these years that you are now a maid" (1.3.73-75). It is time Juliet leaves her nest and adds to the family’s fortune. The mother is the one to tell Juliet this news because she was put into the same situation as her daughter. During the ...
Gazella, Katherine. “. Young Love in The Twenty-First Century.” Social Issues in Literature: Coming of Age in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, ed. by Vernon Elso Johnson, Christine Nasso, 2009. Print.
Considerable expectations are placed on Juliet due to her gender. As a female, Juliet was expected to marry the man of her family’s choosing, granting her no control over her future. Capulet and County Paris discuss whether Juliet is fit to be a bride. Although age plays a factor in this decision, Capulet is deciding his daughter’s fate based on the expected gender roles of her being the sole female daughter of the family, “ She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;/Let two more summers wither in their pride/
Juliet is shown to be immature in a opening scene where her father tells the bride-seeking Paris his daughter is not old and grown-up enough to marry. "My child is yet a stranger in the world, she hath not seen the charge of fourteen years. . ." (Lines 8-9, Scene 2, Act 1). It is also shown during the balcony scene when she agrees to marry Romeo after knowing him only a day and she is not even sure herself that Romeo wants to marry her. "If that thy bent of love be honorable, thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow. . . And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay, and follow thee my lord throughout the world" (Lines 142-143, 146-147, Scene 2, Act 2). After he marriage she is told by her nurse she is to marry Paris. In a blind fury she runs to Friar Lawrence with a knife to her body, thinking that her only option was to dye or hear a plan presented by Friar Lawrence to get her out of a second marriage. "If in thy wisdom thou canst give no help, do thou but call my resolution wise, and with this knife I'll help it presently. . .'Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife shall play umpire. . ." (Lines 53-55, 63-64, Scene 1, Act 4).
Lady Capulet is very materialistic and she wants Juliet to gain wealth and status by marrying Paris ‘’Share all that he doth possess’’. In addition, because she got married at a young age, therefore she thinks it’s right for Juliet to be married at a young age ‘’I was likely your mother at just about your age’’. Moreover, she constantly urges Juliet to marry Paris without any sense of consideration for Juliet’s opinions or feelings, about the alliance of the marriage. Furthermore, this illustrates her cold attitude towards love and marriage as she only talks about Paris Social position and wealth.
Juliet’s arranged marriage with Paris, as well as the ancient feud between Capulets and Montagues, eventually contributed to the deaths of their children. In Act 1 Scene 2, Paris asks Capulet, ‘But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?’ which shows that Capulet and Paris are discussing Juliet’s possible marriage without consulting her, perhaps implying they think she is too nave to decide on her future. They are arranging her marriage for her, which implies that men are very controlling of women’s lives, especially those of their daughters. The scene establishes how Juliet is subject to parental influence, and how she is very constrained since her father can force her to marry whoever he wants. Juliet’s status as a woman leaves her with no power or choice in the decision of whom she should marry.
Considerable expectations are placed on Juliet due to her gender. As a female, Juliet is expected to marry the man of her family’s choosing, granting her no control over her future. Capulet and County Paris discuss whether Juliet is fit to be a bride. Although age plays a factor in this decision, Capulet is deciding his daughter’s fate based on the expected gender roles of her being the sole female daughter of the family, “ She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;/Let two more summers wither in their pride/ Ere we
He did not give much thought on how Juliet feels about the marriage and agrees to marry the two even though Juliet had not given him consent. For example, when Paris asks Capulet if Juliet would love him; Capulet responds, "Of my child 's love: I think she will be ruled. In all respects by me; nay, more, I doubt it not." (4.3.13-14). Capulet’s relationship with Juliet is superficial; he does not understand or know his daughter well. By creating the wedding, he causes Juliet to become desperate as she would be marrying someone she doesn’t love. To add to the matter, instead of trying to understand his daughter’s perspective, he becomes aggressive and gives her with an ultimatum. Capulet shouts, “Disobedient wretch! I tell thee what: get thee to church o 'Thursday, Or never after look me in the face.” (3.5.160-163). By forcing Juliet into marriage, she becomes desperate and causes her to begin considering death as a way out. "I 'll to the friar, to know his remedy; If all else fail, myself have power to die." (3.5.241-242). Capulet’s controlling and aggressive parenting forces Juliet to marry someone she does not love. Furthermore, this causes Juliet to starts considering suicide as a way out. Capulet’s actions to forcefully marry Juliet to Paris brings her death because it results in the Friar’s potion plan which would cause the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. If Capulet did not
The audience is first introduced to Juliet in the exposition of the play. Juliet attracts the attention the Count Paris and her father (Lord Capulet) wisely says that Juliet “is yet a stranger in the world” (Act I.2.8) and should be allowed “two more summers” (Act I.2.10) to grow until she is ready for marriage. This implies that Juliet is young and has not yet matured to level where she is eligible to be married. Lord Capulet’s love for his daughter leads him to protect her from the prospective marriage until she is “ripe to be a bride” (Act I.2.11).
Ultimately, Romeo and Juliet become embodiments of impulsiveness. Through their rash words and actions in the tragedy “Romeo and Juliet”, Shakespeare sets forth that both are too hasty in their decisions, leading them into unfortunate events. As the plot unfolds, Romeo and Juliet’s futile love is torn apart by their family’s hate and animosity towards each other. Despite their constant struggle to let their love survive, it is doomed from the beginning of the tragedy. It is plain that lack of foresight and wisdom leads to disaster all around.
Pleasing their husbands, parents, and families were all things women should aspire to do. At the beginning of the play, Juliet follows gender conventions. She always obeyed her parents and did what they wanted her to do. After Juliet meets Romeo, things change dramatically. Juliet breaks gender conventions by denying her parents request for her to marry her suitor Paris, something that was unheard of in Elizabethan times. It is said that “Marriages were usually arranged by the families of the bride and the groom in order for both sides to benefit from one another” (Women's Rights in Romeo and Juliet 1). When Juliet's father finds out she does not want to marry Paris, her father says “Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!
Also, Romeo spots Juliet for the first time at her father’s party and his first words about her are “Yo, she’s bangin’!” I wrapped pearls around the stick to give others the feeling that she has her daddy wrapped around her finger doing everything for her. Juliet is a spoiled brat who can’t do anything for herself and everyone else works hard to make her happy. In Act 3 Scene 5 Capulet is shouting at Lady Capulet because he is mad at Juliet for not wanting to marry Paris. He says “I have worked hard to provide Juliet with everything she needs to be happy.
New York: The Free Press, 1973. Cox, Marjorie C. “Adolescent Processes in Romeo and Juliet.” Psychoanalytic Review 63 (1976). 379-392. Faber, M.D.