Patriarchy In Romeo And Juliet Essay

How does the poor treatment of women result in increased tragic events in Romeo and Juliet?

In the dramatic tragedy Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, gender inequality reoccurs throughout the play as a consequence of patriarchy. Shakespeare uses this imbalance as a catalyst to increase tragic events in Romeo and Juliet. During Shakespeare's time, women were often objectified and restricted from their freedom to determine their future. Shakespeare uses this gender inequality to further explore important themes such as family honour and the social status of women in society. By presenting Juliet as a figure in the play who yearns for freedom and attempts to escape her family's bondage, Shakespeare creates a symbol of female independence

Her determination for love made her death more tragic in this play. When the Nurse and Lady Capulet are chatting, Lady Capulet asks Juliet’s opinion on marriage. Juliet replies “It is an honour that I dream not of”(1. 3. 71) indicating her lack of interest towards marriage and also the refusal of her mother’s proposal of marrying someone. This suggests that Juliet is different from most of the girls her age, and does not consider marriage as a necessity. Lady Capulet still insists “Think of marriage now”. (1. 3. 75) In a way forcing her into a marriage with Paris, this can also be seen in Juliet’s father, Lord Capulet, while Lady Capulet euphemistically Juliet to Marry Paris Lord Capulet is a lot more authoritative. When Juliet wishes to postpone the marriage with Paris, He threatens to disown her: “hang, beg, starve, die in the streets”. (3. 5. 203) Lord Capulet does not see Juliet as a daughter, but more as a tool for the Capulet’s honour, and if she does not obey, then she serves no purpose, and he is willing to abandon her. The nurse has also mentioned her husband's comment when Juliet was a baby she “fall backwards when thou hast more wit…”(1. 3. 46) which portrays the inevitability of Juliet's situation in this marriage. Juliet falling on her back when she reaches the age of consent is a reference to Juliet

Juliet’s “fate” is to be married to Paris for her family's honour, it is shown in many scenes that it has been long planned for her since her birth, but she wishes to elope with Romeo and go against her family. Friar Lawrence stated previously “Poison hath residence and medicine power.”(2. 3. 24) implying that the love of Romeo and Juliet is a poison, it will be purposeful if they use it properly, but it can also backfire on them. When Romeo and Juliet are married, Friar Lawrence foreshadowed once more “These violent delights have violent ends”(2. 6. 9) All the audience who watches this play knows from the prologue that Romeo and Juliet will eventually die, this further enhances the power of fate in Romeo and Juliet, although both Romeo and Juliet are passionate lovers, they still live in a world where family and masculine honour are prominent. When Juliet waves Romeo goodbye she soliloquizes: “As one dead in the bottom of a tomb.”(3. 5. 55) The lover foreshadows her and Romeo’s death, the next time they ever see each other is the time of their death, which establishes a dramatic irony. Juliet attempts to escape her fate by defying her father’s will, but in doing so, she discovers the limit of her power. Juliet, as powerful as she thinks she is, is still a woman in a male-dominated world.