2.3 Gender roles/equlity in Verona
The whole story of Rmoeo and Juliet is based on the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues thus it is not suprising that Verona is dominated by masculine tension. As well as masculine tension is also sexual domination and violence a part of the life in Verona.
The very first scene of the play indicates that “the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues is also, for the men (Sampson and Gregory, both of the Capulet household), the impetus for an inward rivalry, an inward pressure to masculine self-assertion that cannot be appeased or concluded.” (Appelbaum, 1997) This is shown in the exchange of vulgar jokes of Sampson and Gregory. They talk about how they would “push Montague’s men from the wall, …show more content…
Tybalt intended to fight Romeo because he disliked his presence at the Capulet’s party but after Romeo refuses to fight Mercutio feels the need to fight for him instead. This is not the only time Mercutio is a display of masculinity in the play. As Romeo’s friend he likes to mock him, calling him an petrarchan lover and joking about his version of love. The difference to Romeo is also found when juxtaposing how Romeo and Mercutio speak. For instance, when Romeo talks about the girls he is in love with or has a crush on he talks in poetic sentences. In comparision, Mercutios:” Laura was a kitchen slave. Surely she has a better love to make rhymes for her. Dido was shabbily dressed. Cleopatra was a gypsy girl. Helen and Hero were sluts and harlots. …show more content…
After Romeo gets banished from Verona for murdering Tybalt, both Juliet and Romeo are crushed after finding out that they will not be able to see each other anymore for an uncertain amount of time. While it’s okay for Juliet to show emotions and cry, the nurse points out that Romeo should “Stand, an you (Romeo) be a man.”
“Thy tears are womanish.” is the friars comment on Romeo’s tears. This portrays what was appropriate for women and what for men. Tears were a sign of emotion and thus “womanish”.
Another man who’s expected behavior based on his gender is a big part of his personality is Lord Capulet. He portays a typical man in Verona. As the man, and therefore the head, of the Capulet household he is supposed to make a decision about when and who Juliet will marry. Juliet is meant to obey him and do what he expects. Therefore when she confesses she will not marry Paris and thereby disobeys him he loses his temper and tells Juliet that if she doesn’t get married to Paris he does not want to see Juliet anymore. He takes it even further and insults Juliet by saying :”Wife, we scarce thought us blest That God had lent us but this only child. But now see this one is one too much, And that we have a curse in having her.”
The whole story of Rmoeo and Juliet is based on the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues thus it is not suprising that Verona is dominated by masculine tension. As well as masculine tension is also sexual domination and violence a part of the life in Verona.
The very first scene of the play indicates that “the rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues is also, for the men (Sampson and Gregory, both of the Capulet household), the impetus for an inward rivalry, an inward pressure to masculine self-assertion that cannot be appeased or concluded.” (Appelbaum, 1997) This is shown in the exchange of vulgar jokes of Sampson and Gregory. They talk about how they would “push Montague’s men from the wall, …show more content…
Tybalt intended to fight Romeo because he disliked his presence at the Capulet’s party but after Romeo refuses to fight Mercutio feels the need to fight for him instead. This is not the only time Mercutio is a display of masculinity in the play. As Romeo’s friend he likes to mock him, calling him an petrarchan lover and joking about his version of love. The difference to Romeo is also found when juxtaposing how Romeo and Mercutio speak. For instance, when Romeo talks about the girls he is in love with or has a crush on he talks in poetic sentences. In comparision, Mercutios:” Laura was a kitchen slave. Surely she has a better love to make rhymes for her. Dido was shabbily dressed. Cleopatra was a gypsy girl. Helen and Hero were sluts and harlots. …show more content…
After Romeo gets banished from Verona for murdering Tybalt, both Juliet and Romeo are crushed after finding out that they will not be able to see each other anymore for an uncertain amount of time. While it’s okay for Juliet to show emotions and cry, the nurse points out that Romeo should “Stand, an you (Romeo) be a man.”
“Thy tears are womanish.” is the friars comment on Romeo’s tears. This portrays what was appropriate for women and what for men. Tears were a sign of emotion and thus “womanish”.
Another man who’s expected behavior based on his gender is a big part of his personality is Lord Capulet. He portays a typical man in Verona. As the man, and therefore the head, of the Capulet household he is supposed to make a decision about when and who Juliet will marry. Juliet is meant to obey him and do what he expects. Therefore when she confesses she will not marry Paris and thereby disobeys him he loses his temper and tells Juliet that if she doesn’t get married to Paris he does not want to see Juliet anymore. He takes it even further and insults Juliet by saying :”Wife, we scarce thought us blest That God had lent us but this only child. But now see this one is one too much, And that we have a curse in having her.”