Romeo And Juliet Gender Roles Essay

Gender roles play a major factor in defining characters as who they are to their roots. In Shakespear’s play, Romeo and Juliet, despite their young age and high social class, they as well are highly expected to follow the strict gender roles that the society of Verona holds for them. The defining of stereotypical feminine or masculine traits based on gender, is highly prominent in the play, it gives an insight to the society of the time, the mindset of the writer but also the diversity certain humans hold to defy these stereotypes. Though Romeo is supposed to exhibit a masculine nature of being assertive, practical, and decisive, his character fails to do so. As well as Juliet's character refusing to express vital feminine traits, more or less

His immature nature is constantly displayed throughout act three. The failure to possess major masculine traits of being independent, dominant, and showing intelligence eventually causes his downfall. Romeo earns justice for his closest companion, Mercutio’s death by impulsively committing the murder of Tybalt, who was the murderer of Mercutio. Romeo is furiously encountered by Lord Friar's accusations of him acting impulsively and with an ill-mind. He then also relates Romeo's actions to the ones of a woman since he displayed qualities of being weak and feminine , “Art thou a man? Thy form cries out thou art; the unreasonable fury of a beast. Unseemly woman in a seeming man! And ill-beseeming beast in seeming both” (lll. lll. 109-113) Friar's response heavily implies that Romeo's emotional breakdown is one that greatly failed to impress him. He is disappointed in Romeo for committing an act considered to be “womanish”. It is linked to a sign of weakness to one's self-esteem, which is how a man in the society of Venona shouldn't be acting. Act three greatly imposed how Shakespeare challenged the stereotypical male gender norms by utilizing Romeo as a character that isn't afraid to differ from other males by expressing emotions and acting feminine rather than acting overly masculine like

Normally in courtship the man would actively pursue a passive female for her hand in marriage. However, By actively pursuing her relationship with Romeo, Juliet plays an active role in the relationship instead of a passive one. She does not wait for Romeo to find her but instead uses the nurse and Friar Lawrence to help facilitate their relationship and marriage. Earlier in the play, she breaks conventions by proposing to Romeo. Shakespeare continues to define her character as one that is mature and aware of herself when Juliet reclaims her self-consciousness by embracing her sexuality. This sensitive topic was heavily looked down upon by society, which would prefer women to stay conservative. Juliet defies the stereotypical expectations put upon her by society by encouraging her intimate journey with Romeo. She does not refuse Romeo's advances and heavily implies that her love for Romeo is now so strong that she belongs to him, however Romeo's love has yet to take full possession of her identity, “O, I have bought the mansion of a love But not possessed it, and ,though I am sold, Not yet enjoyed” (lll. ll. 28-30) Juliet is extremely aware of her mental state in her relationship. She remains true to herself and her natural personality. By acknowledging the fact that love though would be a major part of her life, it could never condone her to lose herself. Displaying heavy traits of