Examine the role of women in Romeo and Juliet.
Throughout Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which is set in the male-dominated Elizabethan era, the purpose of females in society, portrays them negatively. Parents pressure their daughters into becoming young wives and mothers, as they assumed that this is the only way for women to contribute to society. Fathers commonly sacrifice their daughters into an arranged marriage, for the mere sake of the family’s rank in society. Women are heavily disrespected and carry negative stereotypes, it is even acceptable for men to laugh about abuse and rape towards them.
During the patriarchal Elizabethan era, women are given an expectation to engage in a marriage at a young age, and bear their husband a …show more content…
They are stereotyped to be weak and timid sex objects, even sexual assaults towards them is regarded to be humorous. Sampson describes women as being the “weaker vessels”, then proceeds to make a pun with the phrase “maidenhead”. His usage of a metaphor, when he compares women to “weaker vessels”, reinforces the belief that females are weak and subordinate to men. Additionally, Sampson incorporates bawdy humour with the phrase “maidenhead’, it demonstrates Samson's threat to cut off the heads of maids. However, it also underlines his want to rape them, the usage of rape in the context of a pun highlights the lightheartedness associated with sexual assaults, it also shows that females were observed to be sex objects. Females are thought to be timid, sexual objects and rape towards them is believed to be funny.
During the patriarchal 16th century, the low status of females in society is evident throughout Romeo and Juliet. It is expected from women, to become married at a very young age and bear a child. Men willingly sell their daughters into an arranged marriage, for the selfish desire of rank and class. Females are viewed by men as secondary beings that were deliberately humiliated by men and violence and rape against women is considered to be a
Throughout Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, which is set in the male-dominated Elizabethan era, the purpose of females in society, portrays them negatively. Parents pressure their daughters into becoming young wives and mothers, as they assumed that this is the only way for women to contribute to society. Fathers commonly sacrifice their daughters into an arranged marriage, for the mere sake of the family’s rank in society. Women are heavily disrespected and carry negative stereotypes, it is even acceptable for men to laugh about abuse and rape towards them.
During the patriarchal Elizabethan era, women are given an expectation to engage in a marriage at a young age, and bear their husband a …show more content…
They are stereotyped to be weak and timid sex objects, even sexual assaults towards them is regarded to be humorous. Sampson describes women as being the “weaker vessels”, then proceeds to make a pun with the phrase “maidenhead”. His usage of a metaphor, when he compares women to “weaker vessels”, reinforces the belief that females are weak and subordinate to men. Additionally, Sampson incorporates bawdy humour with the phrase “maidenhead’, it demonstrates Samson's threat to cut off the heads of maids. However, it also underlines his want to rape them, the usage of rape in the context of a pun highlights the lightheartedness associated with sexual assaults, it also shows that females were observed to be sex objects. Females are thought to be timid, sexual objects and rape towards them is believed to be funny.
During the patriarchal 16th century, the low status of females in society is evident throughout Romeo and Juliet. It is expected from women, to become married at a very young age and bear a child. Men willingly sell their daughters into an arranged marriage, for the selfish desire of rank and class. Females are viewed by men as secondary beings that were deliberately humiliated by men and violence and rape against women is considered to be a