Identity In Romeo And Juliet

In William Shakespeare’s famous Romeo and Juliet identity plays a large role in the progression of the play and how the characters are treated. Pieces of identity such as family name, gender, and social class are the basis of how characters interact within this play. Family names are the main cause of issue in this play, being one of the most important parts of identity. Gender identity majorly affects women in this play, while social class affects servants.

One major example of how identity affects the characters in this play is family affiliation. As soon as a Montague heard that someone was a Capulet, they were done being nice, and vice versa. It sparked immediate hatred to speak to someone of the other family, until Romeo and Juliet meet, that is. During the famous balcony scene in Act 2, Scene 2, Juliet says

For example, in act 3, scene 5, Lord Capulet says “Doth she not count her blessed, Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?,” speaking to Juliet. Capulet thinks his daughter is not worthy of Count paris, degrading her and treating her as a prize to be won. If Juliet were a boy she would get to choose who she wanted to marry, and her father wouldn’t be saying she is “unworthy”. This also implies that her husband will define her worth and that if she doesn’t marry someone better than her she will be shamed. Another example is when the Nurse says “You take your pennyworths now. Sleep for a week, for the next night, I warrant, The County Paris hath set up his rest That you shall rest but little.” The Nurse speaks to Juliet as she is an object for Paris to use as he pleases. Juliet should not be treated as a toy or a possession. She is a real person who should be treated with respect, just as men are. Gender identity plays a large role in this play, even though people shouldn’t be treated differently depending on their