Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet.

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Explore Shakespeare's presentation of

Juliet in Romeo and Juliet

.'The play was written in the 1600's, at this time the role of women was vastly different than their role in today's society. The woman was to be the dutiful housewife, being expected to run the house cook meals and look after the children. In wealthy families girls were subject to their fathers will. Marriage was a business contract, not about love, but to keep land and wealth within a family.

Girls were raised to be obedient to their parents. Children in the 1600's were to be seen and not heard a lot like later Victorian times. The girls were not to be formally educated they were to stay at and help their mothers with everyday jobs such as washing and cleaning. However this is no longer the case. Women are more and more frequently following the same career paths as men. They also have more rights. Both of these mean women are now equal to men.

In the play, Juliet is fourteen, her father feels she should want to become a wife. " She hath not seen the change of fourteen years" However unlike other marriages at the time her father wants her to be happy and try to love a gentleman called Count Paris. Her father is aware of her feelings. However Lady Capulet seems to want Juliet to marry and does not consider her happiness, she uses the argument   that " younger than you here in Verona ladies of esteem are made already mothers she reinforces this by telling her "I was your mother much upon these years"

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Juliet has a close and trusting relationship with the nurse who has looked after her since birth. She is Juliet's mother figure. The nurse uses terms of affection for her such as " what lamb!" We first see Juliet in the scene between Lady Capulet and the Nurse. This is also the scene when we see Juliet talk to her mother for the first time in the play. " Madam I am here what is your will?" this is formal. Juliet trusts her parents and respects their wishes, by accepting marriage, however this is before she meets Romeo.

Romeo and ...

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