Gender Inequality in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

In “Romeo and Juliet,” a play written by William Shakespeare, women were portrayed as ranking below men and always expected to act poised and subdued. If they attempted to possess any more power than what was given to them by men, others would view them as stepping out of their place and misbehaving. In most scenarios, when a man is talking to a women, the words and phrases that they use have a connotation of being very dominant and controlling. In the play, the female characters are expected to act in pristine behavior when they leave their respective households, but the male characters are almost encouraged to be rowdy and rude with one another. Most times, when the women go out into town, they are sent with a man to accompany and “protect” them, while even young boys are permitted to roam the streets freely. For example, Peter demonstrates his job as the guardian of the Nurse when he states, “I saw no man use you a pleasure; if I had, my weapon /should quickly have been out, I warrant you: I dare /draw as soon as another man, if I see occasion in a /good quarrel, and the law on my side” (II.4.144-146). When the Nurse went out to meet Romeo for Juliet, she was forced to have a man accompany her for protection. As she was not trusted enough to leave the Capulet Household on her own, it implies that women were not thought of as capable of taking care of themselves, while men can come and leave as they please. For instance, Mercutio shows a prime scenario involving male privilege when he states, “Good Peter, to hide her face; for her fan's the fairer/ face” (II.4.98-99). When Romeo went out to greet the nurse in the same scene, he was traveling solely with Mercutio, Benvolio, and he