ipl-logo

Social Expectations In Romeo And Juliet

1222 Words5 Pages

According to the time period being examined, men and women are held hostage to social expectations set for that time, and this is prevalent within the play of Romeo and Juliet. Written by William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet is a play of unexpected love, yet there are certain expectations for men and women that are hindrances to the characters. Men and women in this play are constricted to living a certain lifestyle due to many factors such as their gender and status. The characters actions are greatly affected by their social expectations, and this iron-grip on their personality drives a few characters to regretful decisions. In the play Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare reveals the social expectations for men and women in the play, and from there he describes characters whose actions and emotions have been greatly …show more content…

Both men and women are held hostage to act according to their set expectations, and if you acted differently, you were frowned upon. Throughout the play, problems prevailed for both genders when the topic of social expectations arose. Many characters within the play are affected by this hindrance administered by their society. It is important to note that these expectations can still be found in our society today, yet over the years, they have been diluted due to our society confronting and expelling them. Also, in the time of Romeo and Juliet, these expectations were traditional and they had never been questioned. In contemporary times, women are not perceived as the servant to her husband, and society has changed greatly to come to this point. This perspective enhances the idea that the characters had not been aware that their social expectations oppressed both genders. With this, it can be understood that there were social expectations that held these characters hostage and oppressed both

Show More
Related
599 Words | 3 Pages

Romeo and Juliet, written by William Shakespeare, is a tragedy play that is centered around the relationship of two teenagers. They are madly in love, but their family members prohibit them from establishing an easy relationship. Romeo, the male teenager, is the one who starts the relationship between the two. Romeo’s personality causes him to act quickly without much thought, thus moving the play along. The Nurse, who is Juliet’s caretaker, has impulsive behavior that greatly influences Juliet.

Read More
956 Words | 4 Pages

The tragic play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, masterfully captures the poignant tale of ill-fated love between two young individuals caught in the midst of a bitter feud between their families. Within the intricate web of love, tragedy, and societal discord, the ultimate demise of Romeo and Juliet can be traced back to the profound failure of authority figures. Through a meticulous analysis of key characters and pivotal moments in the play, it becomes strikingly clear that the detrimental consequences arise from the flawed actions and decisions of those in positions of power. The failure of these authority figures to effectively address the conflict and guide the young lovers towards a peaceful resolution serves as the primary catalyst

Read More
1156 Words | 5 Pages

Teenage behavior has not changed in over five hundred years. The behaviors portrayed in Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare are very similar to the behaviors of the average teenager today. The teenage brain takes years to become fully developed which is why teens make impulsive decisions, express new emotions, and have rebellious behaviors as shown in Romeo and Juliet. Teenagers are impulsive when making decisions because of the unawareness of consequences that their decisions could result in.

Read More
630 Words | 3 Pages

Women became less strong and didn’t find the courage to act on their own or solve problems on their own. Juliet may have ended her own life because she truly loved Romeo, or she didn’t want to face the tragedy on her own. In conclusion, women’s rights played a huge role in the play Romeo and Juliet and could be one of the deeper meanings within the

Read More
708 Words | 3 Pages

Personal desire and choosing to conform is a battle between right and wrong, shown in the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, because Juliet chooses Romeo over everyone else, pursuing what she wants to make herself happy, but everyone else in the family views this as wrong. Juliet wants to do the right thing, which is doing what makes her happy. Lady Capulet wants to know Juliet’s idea of getting married but Juliet does not want to get married, which upsets her family and the nurse. “It is an honour that I dream not of.”

Read More
444 Words | 2 Pages

The underlying theme of the play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare was the clash between the company pursuing their personal desires or deciding to conform to what is socially expected. The circumstances of this affray were on display when Romeo presented his plot of marrying Juliet to Friar Laurence. The consequences of Romeo deciding to pursue personal desire were also on display when displayed his disapproval to his punishment for extirpating Tybalt. These instances culminate Shakespeare's idea of that the pursuit of personal desire not always rewarding the aspirant. The asininity of carelessly pursuing your personal desires and not thinking about the ramifications was on display when Romeo presented his notion of espousing Juliet.

Read More
593 Words | 3 Pages

“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare entertains the audience through use of character, language and drama. The plot focuses on the theme of conflict and consequences, using deep characterisation, descriptive language and high drama to entertain. Act 3 Scene 1 focuses on a brutal feud between two enemies and Act 3 Scene 5 follows the patriarchal society’s approach to women marriage and societal expectations. Shakespeare forces the audience to engage with the idea of conflict and what it must have been like to live through this time. Shakespeare cleverly utilises a changing atmosphere in Act 3 Scene 1 to expertly entertain his audience.

Read More
482 Words | 2 Pages

Victims. Time and time again women have been victims of misogyny, commodification, and social obligation. Women are forced to squeeze into an idealistic mold and confrom to society’s standards. They have been stripped of their right to have a say in what is being done to them, and are sold off as property to their husbands who treat them as inferior. These husbands seem to have no regard for the opinion of their wives; as if being male brings superiority.

Read More
1898 Words | 8 Pages

At that time in history, the status quo and social norm was simple. Patriarchy was the predominant force as men were regarded as superior to women, both in society as well as the relationship scene. Shakespeare attempted to change this perception through his multiple works of literature. In A Midsummer Night’s Dream, William Shakespeare uses the theme of gender roles to express the idea that the status quo and social norm in the Elizabethan era can be challenged through courtship, father-daughter relationships, and wedlock. The play commences with the courtship of multiple individuals.

Read More
1281 Words | 6 Pages

The Feud in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet The aim of this essay is to define the nature of the feud in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and to discuss its function in the dramatic development of the play. The conflict between the families of Montagues and Capuletes is presented as the outcome of an ultimate expression of patriarchal society in Verona which promotes virility at any cost and obscene sexual innuendo targeting women. However, the love of Romeo and Juliet comes to prove the young people’s indifference towards the feud but at the same time the patriarchy’s tremendous power over them. Finally, the family’s feud combined with the contribution of fate makes the timing of events such, that a tragic resolution cannot be prevented.

Read More
219 Words | 1 Pages

Romeo and Juliet represents two families of similar social economic status and wealth but are in an interpersonal conflict between a flourishing love and a gory family feud. Juliet immensely changes during the course of the movie from a young girl to a mature young lady because she must deal with a forced marriage, abusive parents, and the banishment of Romeo. However, Romeo is a flat character focusing more on love than understanding the seriousness of the feud. When the two beloved children die, the dynamic changes as both families have empathy towards each other, therefore peace emerges from the tragic loss. Romeo and Juliet, the star-crossed lovers are very relatable and that is why we still read and watch his play four-hundred years

Read More
778 Words | 4 Pages

Their tough archetypes were always present in many plays and reinforced the idea of male superiority. This fact held true, especially for a certain tragic classic by William Shakespeare. There was a misogynistic mentality towards women in Romeo and Juliet, evident through the way women were shown as objects, portrayed as weak, and made to seem unable to dictate their own lives. Men in Romeo and Juliet could be seen acting like owners towards women. Women were seen as nothing more than possessions, as illustrated when Romeo first described Juliet as, “My lady…/my love” (II.ii.10).

Read More
1408 Words | 6 Pages

In today’s world, gender expectations and roles of men and women are a highly debated topic. However, the reconsidering of these expectations is not a new phenomenon. Set in Verona, Italy, the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare explores the reversal and fluidity of characteristics usually assigned to a specific gender. In this play, two young people fall in love and end up tragically taking their lives as a result of their forbidden love. Shakespeare suggests that men are not necessarily masculine, women are not necessarily feminine, and that when people are forced by society to act the way their gender is “supposed” to, problems will arise.

Read More
1010 Words | 5 Pages

For Shakespeare’s plays to contain enduring ideas, it must illustrate concepts that still remain relevant today, in modern society. Shakespeare utilises his tragic play Othello, to make an important social commentary on the common gender stereotypes. During early modern England, Shakespeare had to comply to the strict social expectations where women were viewed as tools, platonic and mellow, and where men were displayed as masculine, powerful, tempered, violent and manipulative. As distinct as this context is to the 21st century, the play exposes how women were victimised by the men who hold primary power in the community in which they compelled women to conform to the ideal world of a perfect wife or confront an appalling destiny for challenging the system. Moreover, Shakespeare utilises the main antagonist, Iago, to portray how men are desperate to achieve what they want and to indirectly fulfil the stereotype of masculinity and power through manipulation.

Read More
1205 Words | 5 Pages

The male roles in the family seem to be above females’ because they get to make decisions for girls. Men feel dominant to women, so the same behaviors as the women are acceptable for them. Along with these, the ladies are not expected to crave love and affection like the gentlemen do. The gender issue of men being dominant and women being submissive used in the drama, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, shows the differences in the roles, behaviors, and expectations appropriate for each gender and is an example of an outdated stereotype. Unlike the time frame of this literature, women in the present are valued equal to men.

Read More

More about Social Expectations In Romeo And Juliet

Related Topics

Open Document