Shakespeare’s tragic romance, Romeo and Juliet, is often concerned with questions of power, and the extent to which individuals are in control of their own identities and destinies. This is encapsulated in Act 1 Scene 2, which examines the power dynamics at play between characters in the play on their basis of their gender, class and social standing. Further, Shakespeare questions the power of the individual to determine their fate. Ultimately, Shakespeare highlights that societal rules and expectations can limit the agency of some characters, and argues that, in the end, we are unable to “defy [the] stars” (5.1.24)
The scene opens with Capulet remarking that both he and Montague are “bound” (1.2.1) by the decree of the Prince. The restrictive associations of this metaphor suggest the power of the patriarch over his subjects, while alluding to the social structures that grant power to the prince due to his superior gender, wealth and social status. By opening the scene in such a way, Shakespeare establishes issues of power in the …show more content…
Capulet’s control of Juliet is immediately noticeable as she is absent from the scene, while her fate is being decided by two male figures. While Capulet somewhat offsets his control by stating that his “will to her consent is but a part” (1.2.17), readers may be led to doubt his sincerity when he remarks “the earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she” (1.2.14), as he appears to think of Juliet as a possession, and a means of achieving his own desires. Capulet’s misogynistic attitude towards women is also highlighted when he refers to his guests as “fresh female buds” (1.2.29), reducing women to delicate, decorative objects rather than complex individuals with identities of their own. Ultimately, it is clear that Capulet does not fully respect the independence and selfhood of the women in his
The scene opens with Capulet remarking that both he and Montague are “bound” (1.2.1) by the decree of the Prince. The restrictive associations of this metaphor suggest the power of the patriarch over his subjects, while alluding to the social structures that grant power to the prince due to his superior gender, wealth and social status. By opening the scene in such a way, Shakespeare establishes issues of power in the …show more content…
Capulet’s control of Juliet is immediately noticeable as she is absent from the scene, while her fate is being decided by two male figures. While Capulet somewhat offsets his control by stating that his “will to her consent is but a part” (1.2.17), readers may be led to doubt his sincerity when he remarks “the earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she” (1.2.14), as he appears to think of Juliet as a possession, and a means of achieving his own desires. Capulet’s misogynistic attitude towards women is also highlighted when he refers to his guests as “fresh female buds” (1.2.29), reducing women to delicate, decorative objects rather than complex individuals with identities of their own. Ultimately, it is clear that Capulet does not fully respect the independence and selfhood of the women in his