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Sexism in Romeo and Juliet
Sexism in Romeo and Juliet
Sexism in Romeo and Juliet
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Oh Feminist Theory, Oh Feminist Theory, Where Art Thou Feminist Theory? In the book Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, there are many examples of the feminist theory. The feminist theory states that in many books and other media, women are undervalued and mistreated. I found three examples of this in the book. The first example is when Paris is trying to convince Capulet to get married to his daughter, Juliet.”’ She’s the hopeful lady of my earth./ But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart./ My will to her consent is but a part’”(1.2.15-17). This shows the feminist theory with arranged marriages. This was very popular in Shakespeare's days but today may seem like an injustice. This may be because she does not even know him and does not love him. Another example is when Romeo and his beloved Juliet plan to get married and go through with it.”’ Come, come with me, and we will make short work./ For, by your leaves, you shall not stay alone/ Till holy church incorporate two in one’”(2.6.35-38). The reason this scene is so wrong is because Juliet is very young. At this time it was quite common for people to get married young but at the age of 14, today that would be viewed as wrong for the boy and girl especially if she was 14 years old. …show more content…
Look, love,what envious streaks’”(3.5.5-6). The reason I chose this quote is not because of the wording but because of the actions in it. In this scene Romeo and Juliet are waking up after having sexual intercourse. This is an extreme problem today because Juliet who is a girl is only 14 and is already having sex with a guy a few years older than her. This also can show that back then women were just viewed as objects, even in
Gender Roles are norms set by society that dictate what types of behavior would be deemed appropriate and desirable for a person based solely upon their actual or perceived gender. Gender roles have been placed on society since the beginning of humanity and we can find examples of gender roles even in holy texts, such as the Holy Bible. Examples of gender roles found in the Bible are, I Corinthians, 11:14 and 15 which states “Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory?”, this quote states the obvious long hair is feminine, you are a man,short hair is masculine, it is wrong to do anything feminine because
One clear representation of the reverse gender roles displayed throughout the novel is when Juliet proposes the idea of marriage to Romeo. On the balcony, following Romeo’s profession of love, she states, “Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow” (Rom.2.2.146). During the time of Romeo and
but this wasn't about the marriage, but to arrange her way out. Lord Capulet thinks she is talking about arranging the marriage as she also met Paris there, but she also went to plot with the Friar. The audience. reaction to this maybe that Juliet is selfish, deceitful but very. clever. I am a snob.
William Shakespeare 's play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, (Romeo and Juliet) includes two very rash, passionate characters who refuse to listen to the demands of their families. This ends with them paying the ultimate penalty, death. In Pamela Berkman’s story, “Duty”, there is a grieving mother who is not grieving as much as one usually would over the circumstances involving the death of their child. In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare and "Duty" by Pamela Berkman, there are two main female roles that are progressively changing along with the plot and as they interact with other characters and are thus labeled as "complex characters". These characters would be Juliet, from Romeo and Juliet, and Lady Capulet, from "Duty".
When studying a play like Romeo and Juliet, it is easy to assume that it factually portrays the era in which it was made. A plethora of characters in the play such as Capulet, do in fact represent people of this era. However, when researching deeper into the context of the Elizabethan times, Romeo and Juliet, to little/no extent represents Juliet as an ordinary girl living in this period. Shakespeare has crafted Juliet through characterisation (speech and action) as a character that culturally and socially defies Gender roles, marries younger than the social normality and is not looked down upon after taking her life. These all rebel against how young women were seen and represented in the Elizabethan times.
In Shakespeare's day this would have been considered rude and disrespectful as they where very serious about their religion in these times. I think this is because she is only 13 and not as mature as say a 17 which is the age at which females would usually get married in Shakespeare's day. The audience would be calm and peaceful at the romantic things going on, on the stage. At the start of this scene Romeo is telling Friar Lawrence of his love for Juliet, but it is obvious that Romeo's heart rules his head, we can see this because one minute he is saying he is obsessed with Rosaline then he goes to the party and is now obsessed with Juiliet and that he is a very emotional man.
Romeo and Juliet has different roles for different genders. During the Shakespearean period, when Shakespeare writes, most women had to marry when they were teen, when they were in adolescence or even before. However, the men who they were marrying were in their early to late twenties. In the household that the women lived in, the men basically owned them. The women always followed men’s word, which says that the male was the dominant gender of the society. Romeo and Juliet reflects this in a number of ways. Juliet was forced to marry Paris, by the word of her father, who said that if she did not marry Paris, she would go to the streets(Shakespeare, 3.5.154-62). Women were thought to be weaker and less important than men in Romeo and Juliet because men are trying to be the strongest out of everyone, women have a lower social status, and men think they owned women in Romeo and Juliet.
Juliet refuses to marry Paris, saying, “Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too, / He shall not make me there a joyful bride!” (3.5, 121-122). This quote shows that Juliet is disobedient and unreasonable, It is shown because as soon as talk of marrying Paris come up, Juliet breaks down crying and starts raising her voice. A little while after the last scene, the Nurse tries to give Juliet some advice, Juliet’s response is, “Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! / ... I'll to the Friar to know his remedy. / If all else fail, myself have power to die.” (3.5, 248, 254-255). This scene also shows that Juliet is disobedient and unreasonable because, Juliet blatantly goes behind her parents back to make a plan that goes against their wishes. Her actions show that Juliet changes for the worse near the end of the story.
The Woman's Part: Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1980. Kolin, Philip C. Shakespeare and Feminist Criticism. NY: Garland Publishing, Inc., 1991. Shakespeare, William.
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.
The societal roles and expectations forced upon Juliet regarding her identity impact her actions and decisions. Juliet’s expected contributions to society are based on her gender, her age, and her family name.
Global feminine icon Ani DiFranco once stated, “Feminism is self-determination, and it's very open-ended: every woman has the right to become herself, and do whatever she needs to do.” Commonly throughout history and in society women are viewed as inferior to their male companions, and individuals frequently say that the world functions as a male- dominated society. Over the years the idea of feminism, or the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of society, has sparked interest in the female population, and women are often found standing up for what they believe in and not falling custom to adhering to the male population. DiFranco’s quote depicts the morals of feminism, as it supports how women have evolved into an ever powerful force that has become custom to influencing society. Author William Shakespeare agreed with DiFranco’s ideals, even when residing during the Elizabethan era where society was male dominated. In his novel, Othello, he uses the courage of the women in his literature to depict how women should be treated, and to contrast from how little respect they once obtained. The society in Shakespeare’s Othello is strongly dominated by men who are the political and military leaders of their homeland during the Elizabethan era. These men are expected to stay loyal to their reputations and to uphold the strong sense of character that earned them their positions in the first place. In contrast, during the Elizabethan period of time women were viewed as weak second-class citizens and inferior to males, with their only job being to serve their men. Shakespeare’s views of these expectations are contrary to the standard view of women’s roles during his play, for he demonstrates his malaise over the way gender relationsh...
Throughout Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there is an overlaying presence of the typical roles that men and women were supposed to play. During Elizabethan times there was a major difference between the way men and women were supposed to act. Men typically were supposed to be masculine and powerful, and defend the honor. Women, on the other hand, were supposed to be subservient to their men in their lives and do as ever they wished. In Romeo and Juliet the typical gender roles that men and women were supposed to play had an influence on the fate of their lives.
It messed with her feelings and made her fall in love with a foe. All in all, love will toy around with your feelings and there is nothing you can do to stop it. Love is like a king who has the ruling power to controls how one acts, feels and even goes as far as controlling the relationship. As the fondness between newlyweds like Romeo and Juliet grows, the passion gains more power to control.
The Elizabethan era gender roles were much different than they are today. Women were regarded as the weaker sex, and men were always dominant. These “rules” are shown prominently throughout Romeo and Juliet, and paved way for obstacles they went through in their relationship. The gender conventions for women and men were prodigiously stereotypical and unreasonable, as they made men out to be the superior gender. Women should not have been perceived as inferior to men, and these unwritten rules for masculinity and femininity were shown throughout the play. Romeo acted very feminine which contradicted his gender conventions while Juliet did not abide by rules and disobeyed her parents. Romeo and Juliet had many ways in which they followed and