Roles Of Women In Romeo And Juliet

Improved Essays
The role of women in the Renaissance period is dramatically portrayed in the play,
Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare. Women of this time period had little power or purpose in society. Many women, those from richer households, stood as an ornamental object to her husband and oversaw her children being raised by the family’s nannie. In the play, Lady
Capulet is a stereotypical woman because she is more of a silhouette than a person of substance.
The nurse is another model of a stereotypical women in this era. If a female was not wealthy, one would often become a maid or nannie. Their job would include cleaning, cooking, and take care of the children. Although both Lady Capulet and The Nurse are written as stereotypical women, Juliet is
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First, Juliet is not a figure of a stereotypical Renaissance young women. At the beginning of the play, Shakespeare portrays Juliet as a quintessential daughter who does only as her parents expect and allow. Juliet 's parents, Lord and Lady Capulet, arranged for their daughter to get married to a wealthy young man named Paris. As stated in the gale article Romeo and Juliet,
“Although Juliet is willing to consider Paris 's proposal, once she meets Romeo at the Capulet
Murphy !2 party, her heart is set only for him.” At Juliet and Paris ' engagement party, Shakespeare creates
Juliet into a young rebel as she kissed young Romeo. Juliet did not resist nor combat Romeo 's kiss, as she stated, "then have my lips the sin that they have took" (i.v. 119). Lord and Lady
Capulet were still under the impression throughout most of the play that Juliet was in love with
Paris. Little did her parents know, Juliet was intending to marry Romeo. On the day of the wedding, when it was time for Juliet to marry Paris, Juliet decided to stay faithful to Romeo so she took a sleeping potion and proclaimed, “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Here’s drink. I drink
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She almost always knew where Juliet was and what she was doing. Thus, the
Nurse serves as the ideal housemaid of the Renaissance time.
Similarly, Lady Capulet is an example of a stereotypical wealthy wife during the Elizabethan time. Unlike today, women of this time were used more as an object then they were a person in power. Throughout this time period, women and "...their lives were strictly regulated and controlled." (Women in the Renaissance and Reformation) During Juliet and Paris ' engagement party, Lord Capulet spoke on behalf of both him and Lady Capulet, demonstrating that she was not capable of speaking for herself. Not only did women of the Renaissance have little power, they also had the responsibility of always looking appropriate and poised. Although Lady
Capulet had little control over her husband, she had significant control and love for her daughter.
Juliet and her mother may not have always been truthful with each other; they still had a strong connection. When Juliet was suspected to be dead, Lady Capulet had a break down. It was a
"...woeful time!" (IV. v. 36) This is a prime example of the women in the Renaissance and their responsibility of taking care of their children. "Wives...were actively involved in helping

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