Examples Of Femininity In Romeo And Juliet

Romeo describes Shakespeare's notions towards gender identity by providing multiple scenarios where Romeo defies the “masculine” norms. Romeo goes through heartbreak and love with cousins Rosaline and Juliet from the opposing Capulet family throughout the play. In the 5 days from Romeo and Juliet meeting and falling in love, to them dying for each other, Shakespeare writes Romeo as a very emotional character and the opposite of what men “should be like” in the 1500s. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s portrayal of femininity is shown through the character Romeo by his “unmanly” actions and his profound love for Juliet.

First and foremost, Romeo falls in love with Juliet right off the bat in act 1 scene 5, and when he does, he

Romeo on the other hand, doesn't even hesitate to put himself below the woman he loves. One of the ways he does this is by describing Juliet by saying, “The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven, Would through the airy region stream so bright, That birds would sing and think it were not night” (II. II. 19-22). When talking about Juliet, he always compares her as the “light to his darkness”, and says that she “saved him” from his heartbreak with Rosaline. This quote further explains Romeo’s femininity, and opposes the gender norms, knowing that “most real men” were the head of the house as well as strong and unemotional people. Romeo’s love for Juliet is enough to risk him getting caught and banished, so when he sees Juliet on her balcony he says to her, “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” (II. II. 71-73). Meeting her on the balcony instead of waiting until morning to see her, shows how much he does even to see her face. In the quote, he explains how love causes him to do things that will get him caught or killed, but he will do it anyway because he loves Juliet. Altogether, Romeo’s femininity shows the most when he is around Juliet, which causes him to take risks, as well as, openly talk about her