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Gender Norms In Romeo And Juliet Essay

1537 Words7 Pages

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is set in Renaissance-era Verona, Italy, where a rigid traditional system of gender norms dictates a lot about what our characters do. Gender norms are a recurring theme throughout the entire play, with our female protagonist Juliet at the forefront. How does Juliet navigate Verona’s traditional gender norms, and how does it affect her fate? Juliet challenges and defies these norms and vastly changes her future. Her defiance exemplifies how the underdogs can fight the system as long as they are determined and strong-willed. Juliet, as only one girl being told what to do her whole life, rose against the Montagues, Capulets, and the entire societal structure of Verona. By analyzing historical norms and Juliet’s …show more content…

Honest Nurse, farewell to you. 2. Parents have always had a say in marriages, even to this day. By going out to marry Romeo in secret, she has completely forgone her position as an “ideal” subservient and dependent woman and has reclaimed her freedom and individuality. Acting on her terms allowed her to change her fate to a more desirable one, something which most women were completely unable to do. Unfortunately, this is where the couple’s luck runs out, as Romeo is banished from Verona soon after for killing a Capulet in self-defense, and Juliet’s parents arrange her wedding with Paris for a few short days away. Juliet’s disobedience would then reach a boiling point when her parents came to tell her of the marriage. LADY CAPULET. Marry, my child, early next Thursday morning, The gallant, young, and noble gentleman, The County Paris, at Saint Peter’s Church, Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride. JULIET. Now, by Saint Peter’s Church and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride. I wonder at this haste, that I must wed Ere he, that should be husband, comes to woo. I pray you, tell my Lord and Father, madam, I will not marry yet. And when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, rather than

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