Taking into account the social and historical context of the play, analyse Shakespeare's presentation of Juliet. Explore how this character might be portrayed in performance.
Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare changes the attitude of Juliet as she becomes more independent as the play develops.
In Juliet's first scene, she demonstrates her obedience and lack of experience in the world, outlining herself as inexperienced and in many ways dependent on her parents and nurse. She has not given marriage a second thought but she does want to do what her mother asks. However, when asked in act one scene three if she would like to marry Paris, Juliet replies with 'It is an honour I dream not of,' this means that although marriage is an honour, Juliet does not want to get married until she is ready. This would have shocked the audience, because rebelling against her parents and the social rules of the time. Lady Capulet is very keen on Juliet to get married, Juliet, on the other hand, has no interest in becoming a wife. Even her father considers her too young to settle down. This may be a reflection on his feelings about his own wife. In Elizabethan times girls were not allowed to act, so a boy would have played the part of Juliet, in their performance in this scene Juliet needs to seem not bothered about getting married, but in a polite way.
Throughout the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare changes the attitude of Juliet as she becomes more independent as the play develops.
In Juliet's first scene, she demonstrates her obedience and lack of experience in the world, outlining herself as inexperienced and in many ways dependent on her parents and nurse. She has not given marriage a second thought but she does want to do what her mother asks. However, when asked in act one scene three if she would like to marry Paris, Juliet replies with 'It is an honour I dream not of,' this means that although marriage is an honour, Juliet does not want to get married until she is ready. This would have shocked the audience, because rebelling against her parents and the social rules of the time. Lady Capulet is very keen on Juliet to get married, Juliet, on the other hand, has no interest in becoming a wife. Even her father considers her too young to settle down. This may be a reflection on his feelings about his own wife. In Elizabethan times girls were not allowed to act, so a boy would have played the part of Juliet, in their performance in this scene Juliet needs to seem not bothered about getting married, but in a polite way.
