Examples Of Societal Norms In Romeo And Juliet

Ryley Oswald

Mrs. Wegwerth

Honors, LA 9, Hour 4

Wednesday, January 4th

Societal Normalities Represented in Romeo and Juliet

In the play Romeo and Juliet, Juliet faces the social norm of getting married at a young age and the mistreatment of the woman in the play. One example of this social norm being represented in Romeo and Juliet is when Lady Capulet, Juliet's mother, discusses the idea of marriage with Juilet. Juliet then says that she hasn’t thought of marriage. Lady Capulet states that she too was married at a young age and that many other girls were getting married at the time:

LADY CAPULET.

Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you/

Here in Verona, ladies of esteem/

Are made already mothers. By my count,/

I was your mother much upon these years/

That you are now a maid. Thus then in brief:/

The valiant Paris seeks you for his love. (1.3.71-76).

This norm impacts Juliet by making her reluctant to marriage. Juliet hasn’t thought much of marriage since she is still quite young. Despite Juliet not wanting to marry yet she meets a man that she loves, Romeo, and marries him. But soon enough Lord and Lady Capulet are forcing Juliet to marry Paris, the man that asks Juliet's hand in marriage. Juliet is now far from reluctant and is now pleading and begging to her parents to not go through with the marriage. Not only does she not love Paris but she is already betrothed to another man, Romeo. So Juliet reacts to the social normality by begging to her parents to not get married and discard the marriage