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Romeo And Juliet Gender Roles Essay

2007 Words9 Pages

Gender Roles in a Renaissance Society Romeo and Juliet, the Renaissance play written by William Shakespeare, displays gender roles and expectations in a Renaissance society. The play shows two lovers crossed by fate being opposed to the roles they have been set with. Through the actions of Romeo and Juliet, they contradict the expected gender roles and serve as foils to their expectations. The male ideal in the 14th century could be interpreted as barbaric or wild. In Introduction to gender in Renaissance Italy, Dr. Heather Graham states “the masculine ideal was nonetheless one of forceful mastery.” Males were thought to be the ruling gender, the words. In today’s society, men can be expected to be respectful, obedient, and hard working. Men …show more content…

Romeo and Juliet disregard this and continue on in the pursuit of love. Romeo discovers a feat in their relationship, at the party, recognizing that Juliet is a Capulet. He then exclaims “O dear account! my life is my foe's debt” By the use of my life is my foe’s death, Romeo comes to the realization that his life is now in the hands of the Capulets. He has fallen in love with someone he is supposed to morally hate, no matter the circumstances. The consequences of these actions are presented in the book. One main example of these consequences is when Lord Capulet impresses his feelings on Juliet when she expresses her desires to delay the marriage of her and Paris. After her refusal, Lord Capulet states that Romeo needs “To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.” A hurdle thither is a sled-like device used to drag prisoners to execution. Lord Capulet is telling Juliet that she has to marry Paris one way or another. Through her actions she has lost the love of her father, he no longer thinks of her as his daughter but rather a prisoner or an

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