Gender Roles In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

William Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet takes place in a society indisputably dominated by males. There is no such thing as an independent woman in Verona, as the men determine every decision. This is especially true in the case of the Montagues and Capulets, two formidable and influential families that have been in conflict for decades. In both the Montague and Capulet families, the men are the all-powerful breadwinners and decision-makers while the women truly serve no other purpose than conceiving heirs. Romeo and Juliet, the ill-fated star crossed lovers for whom the play is named, are forced into their desperate scenario because of this traditional patriarchal society. Due to the gender roles and oppressive conditions forced upon them, Romeo and Juliet experience feelings of great frustration and anger. Combined with the exhilaration and

Contrary to what others may believe, the patriarchal society depicted in Romeo & Juliet is the primary reason for Romeo and Juliet’s death. In medieval Verona, the gender roles are perspicuous and inflexible. As stated in Text 2, “the men bear names and stand to fight for them; the women, the weaker vessels, bear children and fall backward to conceive them.” Due to these standards set by the patriarchal society, Romeo and Juliet are boxed into personal prisons. Romeo has no future except for a life of following in his father’s footsteps and defending the Montague name at any cost. Juliet has been groomed and conditioned since birth to act as a perfect society wife: someone who will supply heirs and smile at social events. She lives without hope, well versed in the knowledge that she will no have voice in whatever match her father forces her into. When these two equally discouraged and hopeless teenagers meet, the spark between them is as much about love as it is about rebellion. As asserted in Text 1, “a subjective feeling springs