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Masculinity In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

707 Words3 Pages

Have you ever fought against a gender role? Was it because you were sick and tired of following that role or just felt that it was restraining you? In Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Romeo is very emotional which portrays femininity while Juliet speaks out her opinion to her father which portrays masculinity. During the Renaissance era, men and boys were expected to be strong, to be superior, and to make all the decisions while women and girls were just seen to be mothers and to obey their fathers and brothers. Those who did not follow these guidelines were seen as weak and a disgrace to their family. Romeo and Juliet are a different couple challenging the fact that each character displays a different gender trait that goes against what was the norm.
When Mercutio dies, Romeo considers whether it is worth it to fight Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt. “O sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate and in my temper softened valor’s steel!” (Act III, Scene i, 75-78) Romeo feels like meeting Juliet has made him …show more content…

“Now, I swear by Saint Peter’s Church and Peter too, he will not make me a joyful bride there. This is a strange rush. How can I marry him, this husband, before he comes to court me? Please, tell my father, madam, I won’t marry yet.”(Act III, Scene V,116-123) Juliet is surprised by this news. She feels that this is a “strange rush”. She swears that Paris will not “make me[her] a joyful bride there[Saint Peter’s church]”. Juliet finds it strange that Paris has not come to “court” her or get to know her and they are getting married soon. She goes on to say that she “won’t marry yet”. Obviously she broke this when she married Romeo. Because she stands up to Capulet’s controlling will, the action connotes “masculinity”. Unlike girls back then, she does not automatically follow her father’s wishes. She chooses to voice her own

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