Romeo And Juliet Sexism Quotes

The play Romeo and Juliet is about two star-crossed lovers that would die for each other. It might seem romantic, but it is an example of an unhealthy relationship because it shows sex discrimination, violence, and codependency. Sexism shows up multiple times in the play Romeo and Juliet. The stereotype of women being weaker than men is portrayed throughout the play. For example, in Act One, Scene One, Sampson says, "'Tis true, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Montagues men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall" (W. Shakespeare, 1597). Before Sampson said this, Gregory had said that weaklings get pushed up against the wall. In response, Sampson stated the previous quote, in which he is saying that is why girls get pushed up against the wall, because they are weaker. He is claiming that all girls are weak. This is just one of the many times that this kind of sexism shows up in the play.
Violence shows up in the play Romeo and Juliet many times. The two sides tend to throw insults and threats until it escalates into a physical fight. For example in Act 3, Scene 1, Mercutio said, "Good King of Cats,

The fact that Juliet would go to the length of killing herself just because she can't be with Romeo is an obvious sign of being codependent. For example in Act 4, Scene 1, Juliet says, "God joined my heart and Romeo's, thou our hands. And ere this hand, by thee to Romeo sealed, shall be the label to another deed, or my heart with treacherous revolt turn to another, this shall slay them both"(W. Shakespeare, 1597). In this quote, Juliet is saying that she doesn’t want to marry anyone other than Romeo and since she is being forced to do exactly that, she says that she will solve the problem by killing herself. This is just one of the many times that drastic measures of codependency shows up in the