The Manipulation Of Juliet In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Romeo and Juliet is a very famous play written by Shakespeare. Romeo and Juliet takes place in Verona, Italy. This play is about a long feud between the Montague and Capulet families. This feud causes the young star-crossed lovers, Romeo and Juliet, to grow up quickly and die tragically. In the play Romeo is shown before Juliet, he’s heartbroken and depressed because he’s “in love” with a girl named Rosaline but the feeling isn’t mutual. Later he meets Juliet and the next three days he has convinced her to get marry but the table turns and now he’s banished. Juliet who fakes her death, leaving her family in shock and in sadness, just so she can be with Romeo. While some believe this play is Romeo’s Play, I maintain that this is Juliet’s play.

Brown in her work, “Juliet’s taming of Romeo”, is that Juliet has power over Romeo. In Act 2 scene 2, during the balcony scene Shakespeare uses a lot of imagery of bird. Juliet, when speaking of Romeo, repeatedly made connection with birds. Brown writes, “She attempts to make Romeo as obedient as a “manned” Falcon.” In this passage, Brown is suggesting that Juliet controls Romeo, She can manipulate him into the person she wants him to be. Juliet has all the power in the relationship, a traditionally relationship would have the man be in control and the women obey. In conclusion, Brown’s belief is that Shakespeare switched the gender roles between men & women making Juliet have qualities that the typical man would have. Although some might argue that Romeo is in control of Juliet because he’s the man and women follow the man’s orders. For example in the play Romeo & Juliet Act 2 Scene 3 it says, “Women may fall when there’s no strength in men.” Friar Lawrence said this when Romeo had came to visit him and ask if he can marry him and Juliet. Friar Lawrence said that Juliet can’t depend on Romeo if he is unreliable, making it seem like Juliet needs Romeo. This shows that Romeo has power and if he is powerless Juliet can’t depend on him. In my view, Brown is right, because Brown’s evidence is accurate and makes sense. More specifically, I believe that Juliet does manipulate Romeo and has control over him. For example in Romeo & Juliet Act 1 Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet first meet, “Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.” Romeo has asked juliet to for a kiss but Juliet plays hard to get and tells Romeo to kiss her. This shows how Romeo followed Juliet 's orders, they just barely met and he’s already following her