Explanation Of Virtue In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Virtue has positive connotations across all interpretations of the word. The most common definition refers to moral characteristics. When people speak about another’s virtue, they mention honesty, courage, and kindness, to name a few. Virtue is also about accepted moral standards, so the normalized virtuous qualities change even though the meaning stays the same. For instance, in archaic terms, virtue refers to a woman’s sexual purity, and it was considered a desirable quality to have to find a husband. However, most people now disagree with that ideology. The word virtue can also take on another spin: the power or strength of a divine being. People mostly use this connotation in Christian contexts when referring to a person's ability resulting

There are two interpretations here: either her character was noble, or she remained chaste to everyone except Prospero. It was the former because of the context in which he used the word. He says “a piece of virtue” as if she were only one of the meanings, out of the several it could be. Rather than being sure about her chastity, he seems confident in her ability to be a good person. He says, “She said thou wast my daughter,” as though what she says should not be questioned because of the type of person she is. In the author's notes, “piece” is defined as an example or model. Therefore, Miranda’s mother is the model of virtue. Knowing her helps to understand Prospero and who he surrounded himself with before being banished. He trusted people, like Alonso and Gonzalo, and quickly thought differently of them when they betrayed him. Since Miranda’s mother is not badly thought of, it must mean that she is a person who remained in Prospero’s good graces because of her

Prospero speaks poetically, like other powerful people in the play. This tells us he was raised to use certain words and phrases to show it, like “virtue.” Just that word makes this whole passage feel more sophisticated and civil. Prospero also used the word another time to describe the power of his cloak in Act 1, and again in Act 5 to mention the act of righteousness. These uses give the reader a sense of superiority in Prospero's character. He uses a pure word like “virtue” to make himself seem like a good person that suffered at the hands of others. Making sense of his character gives the reader an idea of the motive behind his actions throughout the play because he influences