Gender Conventions In Romeo And Juliet

During the Elizabethan era, both men and women were supposed to follow certain gender conventions that were not always fair. The men were to always be vigorous and proud, as well as valiant and confident. They had absolute power over their wives as they could control anything they did. Women during the Elizabethan era were treated inferior to men in all aspects of life. The women held down the household while men were the family breadwinners. In the book Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, both Romeo and Juliet had to abide by gender conventions they were not comfortable doing following. The way they acted was much different than how the typical elizabethan man or women would have conducted themselves. Being forced to act ways they didn't want to eventually led to their downfall and their family’s grief. Although Romeo and Juliet portrayed some characteristics of their own gender, Shakespeare reverses their gender roles to contravene the conventions of the Elizabethan era. Romeo and Juliet failed to act like their genders were expected to act because Shakespeare wanted to show gender conventions should not indispensably have to be followed. Throughout the novel, Romeo failed to act like a true man would during the Elizabethan era, as he did not display the key traits of bravery, courage, or perseverance. In this era, men …show more content…
Although Romeo and Juliet did not act properly during their time period, they should still have the right to act how they want within the law. Women should not have had to marry who their parents wanted them to, it should be their decision. Men should not have to be physical and always fight if they would rather be extremely emotional like Romeo. Both men and women in this time period should have had the freedom to act as they want and both genders should be treated