Romeo and Juliet

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Romeo & Juliet

This essay will be discussing how Juliet’s character changes from the beginning of the play till in Act 3 Scene 2.

In the beginning of the play Juliet is like any other young, naïve, girl in the Elizabethan times, who were not given much freedom, independence and were not treated with much respect. In the Elizabethan times Young middle class girls were married of at the age of fourteen and they were expected to be obedient and shy by the society, back then status, honour, and pride meant a lot to rich families such as the Capulets and Montagues, and marrying a mortal enemy was completely disgraceful even if it was for your child’s happiness. Parents were more concerned about their pride and honour rather than the happiness of their children. Wealthy families such as the Capulets and Montagues had to worry a lot about what the society thought of them and had to keep a good reputation for the eyes of the society. Honour was the most important thing to them.

In the play Juliet is of an age that stands on the border between immaturity and maturity. At the beginning of the play Shakespeare portraits her character to be merely an obedient, insecure, sheltered, naïve child who would leave all her life decisions up to her parents.

‘‘I'll look to like, if looking liking move (...) than your consent gives strength to make it fly’’

Here Juliet says she will not even fall in love without her mother’s consent, this proves how much she listens to her mother and values her beliefs and commands. Though many girls Juliet’s age, including her mother got married at a very young age, Juliet has not given the subject of love and marriage any thought.

When  mentions ’s interest in marrying Juliet, Juliet unquestioningly responds that she will try to see if she can love him, a response that seems childish in its obedience and immature in the conception of love.

‘‘I’ll look to like, if looking liking moving’’

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In addition, even in Juliet’s dutiful acceptance to try to love Paris, there is some seed of strong determination. Juliet promises to consider Paris as a possible husband to the precise degree her mother desires. While an impression of obedience, such a statement can also be read as a refusal through passivity. Juliet will agree to her mother’s wishes, but she will not go out of her way to fall in love with Paris.

Juliet is not to romantic and inexperienced at first when her mother asks her about love in Act 1 Scene 3, she responds by saying ...

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