Patriarchy In Elizabethan Times

What is patriarchy, you ask? It affected many women in the 1300s and still does today. Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet takes place in Elizabethan times, where patriarchy is inevitable. Patriarchy is usually where the father or eldest male in the family has power over the household. Women were largely excluded from any major decisions and they did as they were told. Men influenced most decisions made my woman. Patriarchy affected Juliet, Lady Capulet and the Nurse in many ways.
Juliet was the most affected and influenced by patriarchy. Her father, Lord Capulet is the head of the house. Juliet always did what her father asked her. His expectations were for her to marry and care for her children, as most women did in Elizabethan times. Juliet had

As a mother, she was obviously an influence for Juliet, even if she was not always in her life. Usually, the Nurse took care of Juliet but Lady Capulet still had an influence on her. Lady Capulet was always a loving wife, she was also obedient and supportive of her husband's wishes. Lady Capulet was an expansion of her husband's, encouraging judgement and requests. At the beginning of the play, she encouraged Juliet to talk to Paris and keep an open mind about her feelings toward him. This was probably what she was told to do by the patriarch of the family even though it was not stated in the play. Later on, when Lord Capulet is fighting with Juliet about the wedding, Lady Capulet is forced to go along with her husband's opinion. She knew that if she did not there would be serious consequences for her. “Talk not to me, for I’ll not speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee” (Shakespeare, 135). This is what Lady Capulet says to Juliet after Lord Capulet left angrily. Therefore, patriarchy not only affected Juliet, it also affected Lady

We can see this through the Nurse. The Nurse along with other servants were also supposed to listen to the patriarch of the family. When Juliet refuses to marry Paris, the nurse steps in the conversation. She intends to protect Juliet, or at least help her speak her point. Instead of being thanked she receives an insulting answer from Lord Capulet. “Peace, you mumbling fool! Utter your gravity o'er a gossip’s bowl, For here we need it not” (Shakespeare, 135). This is what usually happens to women of a patriarchal society. If you did not agree you were humiliated and treated like