Gender Roles Females Flashcards
intro
norm of women behaviour was to accept subordination to men
flow
marriage > motherhood > Juliet’s freedom > sexualisation
marriage, A1S2
initially Capulet responds to Paris’ request for Juliet’s hand in marriage atypically, yet true authoritarian demeanour revealed when Juliet later refuses this, explosive reaction, seen as harsh in modern perspective, normal to Elizabethan audience to prevent women from threatening rigid societal order
marriage, to Lady C, “have you delivered to her our decree?”
implies law and royalty, sees himself as a king in the household due to patriarchy, and everything should go his way
motherhood, A1
lady capulet express worry that daughter will die unmarried ,”girls younger here in Verona have gotten married”, “mother much upon these years”, unsurprising to Elizabethan audience, shocking modern, shows female’s priority and role to be a mother
Juliet’s freedom, given agency
despite constraint in patriarchal society, Juliet is given power with ability stand up male figures, challenges gender conventions, liberated by defiance, question need for societal roles
J’s F, active role in relationship
initiates proposal and marriage, breaks conventions by actively pursuing Romeo, assertive sentences, not afraid of desire’s consequences yet leads to downfall
J’s F, reclaims agency bu embracing sexuality
atypical against rules of courtly love, where woman should refuse man’s advancements, encourages, odd to Elizabethan audience, sexual innuendos
Sexualisation, women treated as objects
A2S1, Mercutio subverts conventional poetry listing Rosaline’s body parts, sexualised seen object for sexual gratification, accepted by most, taught believe conformities and accept subordination
S, Nurse
retells late husband’s sexual joke of Juliet as a baby, J will “rest but little” dramatic irony which dramatises her discovery of supposed death, casual with sexualisation
