To what extent has Juliet grown since the start of the play

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                                      Charlotte Garrod                                      11WB

To what extent has Juliet grown since the start of the play?

The play “Romeo and Juliet was written in approximately 1595, by William Shakespeare. It is set in Venice, Italy, in Venetian society women played little role in anything other than to be a wife to their husband and a mother. This is why many Venetian women married at such an early age. The play is about 2 families whom are separated by a long forgotten ancient feud.

Throughout the play of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ we see Juliet emerging as a woman. There are many people that influence this growth. However there are also many people which inhibit and even try to prevent her from growing from a child into a woman. Romeo  encourages Juliet to grow and develop into an independent woman whereas Juliet’s parents and Paris  try to prevent Juliet from growing independently. Her parents try to govern Juliet’s life by making all of her decisions for her. Fate also plays a very important role in the ways that Juliet grows and emerges as a woman.

In Act 1 Scene 2 Paris asks Capulet if he can marry his daughter Juliet. However, Capulet is rather reluctant to let Juliet marry at such an early age as “She hath not seen the change of fourteen years”. He thinks that because Juliet is only 14 years old she is too young for the responsibility of marriage. Capulet then tries to persuade Paris that Juliet is too young. Nevertheless, in response Paris says that, “Younger than she are happy mothers made.” This conversation tells us that Capulet is trying to delay the marriage between Juliet and Paris whereas Paris is trying to rush the marriage. Marriage for Paris is a simply utilitarian, he wants to marry Juliet so that she can be the mother of his children, he does not care for the fact that Juliet may have no or little feelings for him.

When we meet Juliet in Act 1 Scene 3, she is having a conversation with her mother. This is a very important scene as it starts to tell us of Juliet’s relationship with her mother. The conversation is just before the party at the Capulet’s house, the party where Juliet meets Romeo, who is to be her future husband. “How stands your disposition to be married”, Lady Capulet is curious about Juliet’s inclination to be married. She wishes her daughter to think of marriage as she thinks that it is time for her to get married. However, Juliet replies that she is not yet ready to get married, as she says, “It is an honour that I dream not of.” Lady Capulet then goes on in an attempt to persuade Juliet that she should seriously consider marriage, she tells her to “think of marriage now” she then tells Juliet about the women who are younger than her (Juliet was around 13 years of age “Younger than you, Here in Verona, ladies of esteem, Are already made mothers.”

As this does not seem to sway Juliet towards the idea of marriage Lady Capulet goes on to explain how a valiant young man seeks her for love

“The valiant Paris seeks you for his love”

As a result of all of Lady Capulet’s persuasion Juliet makes a promise, she says;

        “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move;

        Bu no more deep will I endart mine eye

Than your consent gives strength to make it fly.”

This is where we first see the extent of Juliet’s innocence, her immense lack of understanding and the naïve disposition, which provokes her to accept her mothers, will. Juliet obeys the power of her parents, without any questions. We know this as she essentially says, If when I look at Paris it generates a reaction in the depths of my heart then once I have your permission I will love him.

In this conversation Lady Capulet’s views on marriage and love are very much like Paris’s view which we saw in Act 1 Scene 2. She thinks that Juliet should find a handsome nobleman, much like Paris, and marry him. She does not really consider the fact that Juliet may not want to marry him as she does not marry him. In this scene we see Juliet as a very naïve character, and in a later scene we see the complete antithesis of her character, where she is no longer a naïve young girl, who does everything her parents command her to do. We see her as an independent and sophisticated married woman.

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Act 1 Scene 5 is the scene set at the party at the Capulet’s household. Juliet’s mother introduces her to the County Paris, but before that, she sets eyes on Romeo, of the House of Montague.

Romeo is not aware the Juliet is from the house of Capulet, he thinks she is exceptionally beautiful. He describes her as “a snowy dove, trooping with crows”, the dove symbolises purity, peace and is associated with the colour white, however crows symbolise hatred and are usually associated with the colour black. This can be linked to the theme of the feud which ...

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