Men and women were expected to assume there places in Renaissance culture undoubtedly. The specific feminine and masculine attributes associated with Elizabethan society were a source of gender challenges in Romeo and Juliet. The unorthodox story of star crossed lovers reveals a plot of gender struggles that ultimately result in tragedy. The passionate teenage Juliet is much an opposite of a conventional Elizabethan Woman. When she first meets Romeo, the two have a profound attraction and kiss before knowing each others names. This sudden and bold expression reveals how Juliet is less modest than women at this time were expected to be. Shakespeare also uses her young and immature character to discuss arranged marriages. Juliet refuses her fathers …show more content…
So for Juliet to defy her farther was extremely brave in the Renaissance. Especially because her disobedience would have been seen as a crime against her religion. Juliet’s daring nature would be considered masculine, compared to the subservient and quiet, feminine behavior expected of her. Shakespeare uses her strong female role to challenge the Elizabethan view that labeled women as weak. Juliet’s masculine characteristics of fearlessness and courage are further reinforced when she avoids the arranged marriage by taking a drug to appear dead. However, up until this time, Romeo was facing his own gender struggles. As a young man in Elizabethan times he had to constantly prove his strength through aggression. The other young men in the play display these gender roles too. They all exhibit traditional gender stereotypes of the Renaissance, but Shakespeare uses these characteristics to reveal their danger. This is exhibited as the progression of the feuding families becomes fatal when Mercucio is killed by Tybalt. After his friends death Romeo struggles with gender roles when he
Romeo develops the theme of gender roles by being an example of society’s view of a male during this time period, Romeo also shows that he is aware of his masculinity when he states that by being around his lover,Juliet, he has become “womanly” and non-masculine, “This gentleman, the Prince 's near ally,My very friend, hath got his mortal hurt In my behalf. My reputation stain 'd With Tybalt 's slander—Tybalt, that an hour Hath been my cousin! O sweet Juliet,Thy beauty hath made me effeminate. And in my temper softened valor 's steel!”(3.1.114-120). In Verona, in Romeo and Juliet, the world of men and the measure of a man was determined by violence, sexual domination, and also conquest, Romeo displayed these characteristics with his first motive to go to the Capulet’s Ball, he went after Rosaline, Juliet’s cousin, whom he was trying to seduce, and this shows that Romeo saw Juliet by accident because he was only at the ball due to his determination to sexually dominate Rosaline and make her his. Romeo has given countless examples of the claim of masculinity through violence, but one example comes from when Romeo kills Tybalt, who had previously killed Romeo 's best friend Mercutio, and restates his masculinity as well as getting revenge on the behalf of his slain friend, “ Alive in triumph, and Mercutio slain!Away to heaven, respective lenity,And fire-eyed fury be my conduct
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
Many times in this play and in today's time, women are perceived to be fragile and submissive while men are seen as dominant, sinewy people. To illustrate, “Where I have learned me to repent the sin/ Of disobedient opposition/ To you and your behests, and am enjoined/ By holy Lawrence to fall prostrate here/ To beg your pardon. (falls to her knees)” (III.v.14-18). Juliet is showing how another adult told her to fall on her knees and beg for her father’s forgiveness for just giving her opinion on marriage earlier in the
William Shakespeare’s writing reflected and at times emphasized the gender oriented stereotypical roles and responsibilities of the English Renaissance. However, many Shakespearean characters including Benedick and Beatrice of Much Ado About Nothing challenged the standard image and characteristics of men and women.
A woman during the 16th century did not have the freedoms that a woman today enjoys. During Shakespeare’s life wives were not allowed the independence they take pleasure in today. Therefore, the role of the mother for Juliet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is not commanding or authoritative because of the time period Shakespeare lived.
The societal roles and expectations forced upon Juliet regarding her identity impact her actions and decisions. Juliet’s expected contributions to society were based on her gender,her social class and family name, and her age.
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.
Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet centres on the relationship between two young protagonists, but much of what occurs during the play is as a result of the inequality between men and women. Juliet’s arranged marriage with Paris, as well as the ancient feud between Capulets and Montagues eventually contributes to the deaths of their children.
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.
While demonstrating the strength of men, Shakespeare uses the unacceptable display of emotions, degrading of women, and the obligation to physically act in daring situations to imply that men are typically the stronger character. In this tragedy, we see the use of characterization to portray that the men are supposed
The Elizabethan era was a time that had very strict expectations of what it means to be a man or a woman. However, these expectations are not followed by Macbeth. In Macbeth, Shakespeare investigates and challenges the common gender roles of the time. Through defying the natural gender roles, he shows how people can accomplish their goals. He challenges the stereotypical Elizabethan woman through Lady Macbeth and the Werd Sisters and he investigates how the stereotypes for men are used for manipulation.
From “the fatal loins” (Prologue.5) of Lord and Lady Capulet, protagonist Juliet is born in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Early on in the play Juliet is portrayed as a very dutiful daughter to her family. After her encounter with Romeo however, she begins a rapid transformation from a naive young girl into a woman. By the end of the play Juliet’s transformation evolves her from a dutiful daughter, into a faithful wife that is willing to desert her family in the name of love.
The portrayal of gender roles in William Shakespeare’s play Othello, demonstrates the inferior treatment of women and the certain stereotypes of men placed on them by society. Both the male and female characters in the play have these certain gender expectations placed on them. In a society dominated by men, it is understood that the women are to be seen rather than heard. The women are referred to and treated much like property. If indeed they do speak up, they are quickly silenced. One woman’s attempt to be the perfect wife is what ultimately led to her demise. The expectations of men are equally stereotypical. Men are to be leaders and to be in control and dominant especially over the women. The male characters compete for position and use the female characters in the play as leverage to manipulate each other. Shakespeare provides insight in understanding the outcomes of the men and women who are faced with the pressures of trying to live up to society’s expectations, not only in the workplace, but also in the home. The pressure creates jealousy issues amongst the men and they become blind to the voice of reason and are overtaken by jealous rage, leads to the death of many of the characters.
Examining the Strong and Re-Created Women of Shakespeare’s Plays Shakespeare, his plays and representation of women have been a controversial issue. There have also been new approaches through adaptations and recreations that challenge the traditional reading of Shakespeare’s work. Critics challenge the Elizabethan idea of what it means to be a woman in England. Russ McDonald explains the distinction between masculinity and femininity in the Elizabethan era. The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare is an excellent source in making this distinction.
In the end, we can conclude that Shakespeare used a very conservative world view in his play, “Othello”. Using the characters of Othello, Desdemona, and Iago, Shakespeare reinforced the stereotypes of his time. In conclusion, gender expectations have greatly impacted the outcome of Shakespeare’s play, “Othello”, because the script of the play has reinforced the stereotypes such as girls who resist their fathers die, women who marry different race, class, and cultures die, and women who decide their own destiny die at the end. Through “Othello”, Shakespeare portrays women in a patriarchal system, and the result of the play is the consequences of gender disruptions. Therefore, there is no doubt that the gender expectations placed on both male and female characters have greatly impacted the outcome of Shakespeare’s play “Othello”.