Thomas Smith
Mrs. Snyder
English 9H-P.1
25 April 2016
Gender Roles Many have wondered how some of the most intelligent and creative writers came to be. Shakespeare, a brilliant but mysterious man created hundreds and hundreds of intriguing stories, plays, and sonnets so how did they come to be? One of the main factors that influenced Shakespeare’s writings was the gender roles. Without it some of his plays may not have appeared so iconic or surprising.
In Romeo and Juliet there was a huge difference in gender roles between men and woman. Men had almost everything and women had little to no say in anything, it was almost like woman had a section below the servants in the social hierarchy pyramid. For instance, Clark explains, “When they were …show more content…
He used this knowledge to increase the sense of tension and danger in his plays like Romeo and Juliet. For example, romance was not part of Elizabethan marriage; however Romeo states, “Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vexed a sea nourish'd with loving tears: What is it else? A madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet” (Love Quotes). This is a very romantic and not realistic view of love. Shakespeare had Romeo and Juliet fall in love with one another; they experience love at first sight, a typical romantic notion. Secondly, Shakespeare made sure that his love-birds were from opposing, warring families. The play states, “In Romeo and Juliet, two noble families are at war; there is a Montague-Capulet feud” (Jamieson). Thirdly, Shakespeare had his star-crossed lovers decide to throw away all their advantages, disobey their society and family, and run off together. By understanding that his audience would have societal expectations of gender roles in their minds, Shakespeare increased his audience’s rising sense of unease towards the ill-fated couple. Shakespeare understood that his audience knew that Romeo and Juliet didn’t have a prayer of success. Ultimately they were doomed. Yet, the appeal of their romance, and the passion behind it, leads Shakespeare’s audiences to still cheer and hope that Romeo and Juliet might …show more content…
Ed. Paul F. Grendler. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 2000. World History in Context. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Clark, Jacklyn. "Gender Roles in the 16th Century." Prezi. n.p., 18 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Apr.
2016.
Dobarganes, Pia. "Gender Roles In Elizabethan Times." Prezi. N.p., 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Apr.
2016.
Jamieson, Lee. "Capulet." About Education. n.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Rawn, Serena. "Role of Women in the 16th Century." Prezi. n.p., 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Apr.
2016.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Romeo and Juliet Love Quotes." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc.,
11 Nov. 2008. Web. 24 Apr.
Mrs. Snyder
English 9H-P.1
25 April 2016
Gender Roles Many have wondered how some of the most intelligent and creative writers came to be. Shakespeare, a brilliant but mysterious man created hundreds and hundreds of intriguing stories, plays, and sonnets so how did they come to be? One of the main factors that influenced Shakespeare’s writings was the gender roles. Without it some of his plays may not have appeared so iconic or surprising.
In Romeo and Juliet there was a huge difference in gender roles between men and woman. Men had almost everything and women had little to no say in anything, it was almost like woman had a section below the servants in the social hierarchy pyramid. For instance, Clark explains, “When they were …show more content…
He used this knowledge to increase the sense of tension and danger in his plays like Romeo and Juliet. For example, romance was not part of Elizabethan marriage; however Romeo states, “Love is a smoke raised with the fume of sighs; Being purged, a fire sparkling in lovers' eyes; Being vexed a sea nourish'd with loving tears: What is it else? A madness most discreet, A choking gall, and a preserving sweet” (Love Quotes). This is a very romantic and not realistic view of love. Shakespeare had Romeo and Juliet fall in love with one another; they experience love at first sight, a typical romantic notion. Secondly, Shakespeare made sure that his love-birds were from opposing, warring families. The play states, “In Romeo and Juliet, two noble families are at war; there is a Montague-Capulet feud” (Jamieson). Thirdly, Shakespeare had his star-crossed lovers decide to throw away all their advantages, disobey their society and family, and run off together. By understanding that his audience would have societal expectations of gender roles in their minds, Shakespeare increased his audience’s rising sense of unease towards the ill-fated couple. Shakespeare understood that his audience knew that Romeo and Juliet didn’t have a prayer of success. Ultimately they were doomed. Yet, the appeal of their romance, and the passion behind it, leads Shakespeare’s audiences to still cheer and hope that Romeo and Juliet might …show more content…
Ed. Paul F. Grendler. New York: Charles
Scribner's Sons, 2000. World History in Context. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Clark, Jacklyn. "Gender Roles in the 16th Century." Prezi. n.p., 18 Jan. 2013. Web. 25 Apr.
2016.
Dobarganes, Pia. "Gender Roles In Elizabethan Times." Prezi. N.p., 6 Mar. 2013. Web. 24 Apr.
2016.
Jamieson, Lee. "Capulet." About Education. n.p., n.d. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Rawn, Serena. "Role of Women in the 16th Century." Prezi. n.p., 9 Oct. 2012. Web. 24 Apr.
2016.
Shmoop Editorial Team. "Romeo and Juliet Love Quotes." Shmoop. Shmoop University, Inc.,
11 Nov. 2008. Web. 24 Apr.