In Shakespearean times, families did not just consist of mother, father and children; often cousins, aunts uncles and even grandparents would share a house, making 'extended families'
Females in the family unit were only meant to be there to bare the children and to stand by there husbands. In Juliet’s case she was brought up completely by her nurse, this is the reason that they are so close. Although she did not see very much of her parents, she still had to respect them, and if she did not, it would be considered a sin.
Women are more independent now because they can control when they have children with birth control. This allows them to explore careers and have opportunities equal to those of men. These have given women in general much more power and are no longer an accessory for men or a means of having children.
Throughout the play the Nurse continually appears. At the beginning of the play the relationship between her and Juliet is clear. From the outset and throughout the play the trust, protection, willingness, mischief, and loving care of the Nurse are shown.
The Nurse has a lot of affection for Juliet. She plays more of a mother figure to her than her natural mother, Lady Capulet, ever does. The Nurse was actually Juliet's wet nurse, which shows that she has been there all through Juliet’s life, and it is proven that a bond between a baby and one who feeds it is very strong.
It shows that the nurse is quite a caring person; taking on the job of a full time nurse is hard. However, she shows love continually throughout the play. Although the Nurse is Juliet's servant, the attitude of that is hidden, as they are very close. Act 1, scene 3; is where we first see the Nurse.
This is the scene that we can gather her background information. The two sit together reminiscing on the "good old days". She can remember the exact date of Juliet's birth, a sign of a close connection.
Today people get married because they love and trust each other and would like to be committed to each other. Men and women both have equal responsibilities and marriage is not essential for having children. Whereas in the 15th Century people married because their parents had arranged the marriage as they thought it was a suitable match.
Juliet did not want to marry Paris this is clear in the play when Juliet says, "I will not marry yet.’ This shows that she is not prepared to marry just anyone, especially not somebody who means nothing to her and that she wants her marriage to mean something to her. She wants to marry for love.
During the 15th Century, only wealth and security were relevant in a marriage. To Juliet, these qualities did not matter at all. This is made obvious with her devotion to Romeo. The audience find it easy to sympathise with Juliet, as she is a very young girl whose life seems to be going from bad to worse. It seems as though no-one has given any thought to why Juliet does not want to go through with the marriage to Paris, and it is also obvious that her feeling don’t matter in the eyes of her parents. All they want from Juliet’s marriage is her to be in a secure and stable environment.
Romeo has been infatuated with Rosaline, a niece of Capulet. In order to catch some time with her, Romeo and his friends slip into a masque ball at Capulets house, as a masque affair, they can easily disguise themselves. There, Romeo catches his first glimpse of Juliet, Capulets daughter. In one of Shakespeare's most memorable scenes, Romeo steals into the garden and professes his love to Juliet, who stands above on her balcony.
This scene is always appealing to the audience as everybody loves the idea of love at first sight, and that’s exactly what it is. Romeo believes that Juliet is the most beautiful person he has ever seen. When Juliet speaks for her love for Romeo, she tells him that his name is not relevant and she will love him no matter what. Romeo also agrees that their love for each other is too strong and also refuses to let a name get in the way.
Romeo’s love for Juliet is apparent when he says,
“Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars”
And also when he says
“ With love’s light wings did I o’erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out; And what love can do, that dares love attempt:”
Although the language used is much different from today, it is made obvious to the audience what the two lovers are saying, as it is spoken very softly and quite beautifully. Their love for each other is obvious to the audience, even without actions. The words of this scene say and do everything.
A lot has changed since the play was written in the 15th century when it comes to love, marriage and family life. However I believe that the play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ would have the same affect on an audience back then as it would on a modern day audience.
Romeo and Juliet does not make a specific moral statement about the relationships between love and society, religion, and family; rather, it portrays the chaos and passion of being in love, combining images of love, violence, death, religion, and family in an impressionistic rush leading to the play's tragic conclusion.
That is what makes it so interesting. In the play, love emerges as an amoral thing, leading as much to destruction as to happiness. But in its extreme passion, the love that Romeo and Juliet experience also appears so exquisitely beautiful that few would want, or be able, to resist its power.