Shakespeare shows the extremeness of Juliet’s love in Act 2 scene 2 where Juliet calls out for Romeo and questions certain aspects of her life. As conflict of Juliet’s feelings can be seen in act 2 scene 2 where she says “deny thy father, refuse thy name” Juliet uses imperatives “deny” and “refuse” which suggest she is prepared to do anything to be with Romeo. She no longer wants to follow what her father tells her to do which shows how powerful love can actually be. She shows no duty by saying forget my father, I just want you and I’ll do anything for you, even if it means giving up my name. This shows the extremeness of Juliet’s love for Romeo however it also shows her lack of duty. However this could be seen as a childish attachment, as going against your father during Elizabethan times was considered to be crazy as the fathers were the lords of the house. In-addition to this Juliet is a girl which adds to the shock as girls were meant to be more subservient. Therefore it seems that Juliet is not thinking through the consequences and is just acting upon her rash feelings. As Juliet is willing to disown her family name and honour just for Romeo which shows the extreme amount of love and one’s trouble that can go through just to be with someone. As the “father” is presented as an obstacle and the imperative “deny” reflects a sense of battle and protest. This shows that Juliet is willing to fight with her own as Juliet wants to fulfil her dream of being with Romeo. The noun “name” reflects a sense of bond which holds Juliet from marrying Romeo, but as I said; she is prepared to break away from it known as the family feud. As the “father” was known as a symbol of power and socially had control over the family. As women and children were the commodity of the man of the house, by going against the norm, Juliet risks losing everything. At this point Shakespeare demonstrates how lovers at this time had to face so many hardships in order to achieve something in love in their life. This shows that when Juliet goes against her father she’ll have no family as she would be disowned by the rest of the family as they would follow the fathers instructions, Juliet would then be without family. This shows immense amounts of love for Romeo from Juliet however it shows some duty as she acknowledges her father and her name, she knows she’s a Capulate. I think that Shakespeare explores the idea of value. Just as language is ambiguous, so are value judgments. As the Friar reminds us, "virtue itself turns vice being misapplied” and “vice sometimes by action dignified." Within a flower, for example lies both poison and medicine. Similarly, the deaths of Romeo and Juliet are tragic but also bring new life to Verona. The Friar's own role in the play contains this ambiguity. Although he tries to help the lovers, his actions lead to their suffering. Shakespeare's message is that nothing is purely good or evil; everything contains elements of both.
I think Shakespeare explores how much of Romeo and Juliet involves the lovers’ struggles against public and social institutions that oppose the existence of their love which causes Juliet a conflict of feelings. Such structures range from the concrete to the abstract: families and the placement of familial power in the father; desire, social importance placed on masculine honour. These institutions often come into conflict with love. As these institutions represent obstacles for Romeo and Juliet. The enmity between their families, coupled with the emphasis placed on loyalty and honour to kin, combine to create a profound conflict for Romeo and Juliet in their love life, who must rebel against their heritages. Further, the patriarchal power structure inherent in Renaissance families, wherein the father controls the action of all other family members, particularly women, places Juliet in an extremely vulnerable position. Her heart, in her family’s mind, is not hers to give. The father’s desire and the emphasis on social civility demands terms of conduct with which the blind passion of love cannot comply for Romeo and Juliet.
In act 3 scene 2 Shakespeare shows Juliet’s confusion between love and duty when Romeo kills her cousin Tybalt. She shows very little feelings of love ere as she insults Romeo but covers it up with some words of admirations to show her conflict of feelings. However Juliet is confused about her feelings, either to have duty for her family or have love for Romeo through the use of “serpent heart, hid with a flow’ring face”. Shakespeare uses “Serpent heart”, which Juliet uses whilst letting her feelings known towards Romeo’s actions. Where Juliet wonders how she even fall for Romeo in the first place through the use of the word “serpent.” This has been used by Shakespeare to imply religious connotations but could also imply Romeo is cunning which confuses Juliet’s feelings on which side to take her family or Romeo. Alternatively the word “serpent” could symbolise the devil in the form of a snake as in the story of Adam and Eve. This could also suggest that Romeo is the devil within him but doesn’t look like it from the outside because he is “hid”. The devilish ‘serpent’; is sneaky and mysterious, which suggests Juliet’s wonders if she even knows much about Romeo. As Shakespeare’s use of an Oxymoron shows the contrast of Juliet’s feelings and to show how different they are from each other, shows how Juliet’s confusion about her priorities; should she love Romeo or should she weep for Tybalt as she is his cousin. It shows that Juliet believes that Romeo is two faced; he’s got an ugly personality and a beautiful face.
In-addition Shakespeare uses juxtaposition and an Oxymoron to show a clear contrast within her emotions as she compliments Romeo followed by a distained insult which shows her conflicting feelings when talking about Romeo in act 3 scene 2, which is evidenced in “damned saint, an honourable villain.” A ‘Saint’ was considered to be somebody of religious importance; therefore this suggests that Juliet believes that Romeo is as important as a man of God. In comparison a “villain” has been used by Shakespeare to imply Juliet is clearly deeply torn between her families feud and love for Romeo. A ‘Villain’ was somebody who was the lowest form of human being in society; they would have been criminals who held no status whatsoever. By using these two contrasting images, Shakespeare clearly shows Juliet’s conflicting feelings of love for Romeo, yet duty to her family. She feels both anger at Romeo, referring to him as a ‘villain’ and love for him in the form of a ‘saint’. Shakespeare purposely uses metaphorical language to straight away to keep the audience enticed by the complicated hatred within the love affair. However this purposely builds tension of the love-duty conflict that is portrayed within the play. Alternatively it could also show Juliet’s naivety during this scene where she conveys her feelings of confusion as she admires yet insults Romeo. Later on in the scene it shows a quick change in Juliet’s emotions as she praises Romeo. This could suggest that she’s too naïve and she doesn’t know what she’s doing, she’s too young. This shows both feelings of love and duty therefore a good example of the conflict between the two. I think that Shakespeare explores how the forcefulness of love, as love is naturally the plays dominant theme but how this conflicts with other things for example duty. Which I think that Shakespeare is uninterested in portraying a prettied-up, dainty version of the emotion (love). But the love in Romeo and Juliet is brutal, powerful emotion that captures individuals and catapults them against their world, and at times, against themselves. But as I said old traditions which hold no value should not be dragged and imposed on to the newer generations; as they are likely not to understand their importance
In act 3 scene 5, Lady Capulet calls to her daughter which Lady Capulet mistakes Juliet’s tears as continued grief for Tybalt. “I will not marry yet, and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than Paris.” Shakespeare uses the word “hate” because hate is an extremely powerful emotion which shows ultimate disgust and anger at something or someone. By having Juliet’s character describe her feelings for Romeo in this way, Shakespeare is allowing Juliet to show duty to her family. Juliet believes that her family desire her to hate Romeo therefore she tells them what she thinks they wish to hear. Alternatively, Shakespeare may be trying to create dramatic irony; Juliet may be deliberately saying the opposite of what she feels to be sarcastic and deceitful. She knows that her feelings for Romeo are only that of love, therefore she does not really mean what she is saying to her mother.
By now Juliet becomes a woman who now thinks carefully about the decisions she has to make and thinks about the consequences of her actions as she is confused with her conflicting feelings of love and duty. In act 3 scene 5 Juliet has still not lost all of her previous character qualities in relation to act 2 scene 2, for example she is still quite insecure on what side to take, her family or Romeo. This insecurity is evident when she says, “if thou dost love, pronounce it faithfully.” This illustrates Juliet’s lack of trust in Romeo’s love for her as she does not know what to do. She needs to be able to trust him confidentially but doesn’t have total trust at this stage of their relationship, which shows she is confused. In-addition this shows that she is doubtful and wants to be assured before she takes any action this shows she is acknowledges her duty towards her family by recognising that he is the enemy and he could be playing her. Also it shows that she understands what she is giving up being with Romeo, as she wants reassurance. Despite all the hesitation, Romeo still holds the most value to Juliet; Shakespeare uses the personification “be fickle fortune,” to get across this. The word “fickle” shows how Juliet believes destiny is pathetic, silly. Therefore showing that Juliet is almost cursing destiny for putting her in this sort of situation where she has to choose between love and duty. Furthermore Juliet believes Romeo is her destiny, as in the Shakespearian era everybody believed in fate and that everything happened for a reason. However the phrase “fickle fortune,” signifies how Juliet is not concerned about what other people think, this shows she is revolting against the whole society-Juliet is willing to face the whole society to be with Romeo. At this point Shakespeare demonstrates how lovers at this time had to face so many complications in order to achieve something in love.