Juliet analysis Flashcards
1
Q
Juliet Analysis- Introduction
A
- female protagonist of the play
- 13 when Capulet arranges for her to get married- presents her as an object of desire
whose only function is to be married. - displays complexity and maturity which contrasts with her young age.
- can be perceived as an anomaly- the only character who attempts to reject the societal pressures she faces: she insists on marrying for love
2
Q
Sonnet form
A
- used by men to write about women- often portrayed as objects with no agency
- however, Juliet speaks to Romeo in this way- unusual- shows the audience she isn’t a stereotypical Elizabethan woman
- The first 14 lines of dialogue between Romeo and Juliet is a sonnet.
- Shakespeare’s use of the sonnet subverts the patriarchal dominance over the form- and allows female agency to take place within the play
3
Q
Religion
A
- Juliet describes Romeo as “the god of my idolatry”. Her reference to “god” implies she
perpetuates love as a religious experience. Whereas Shakespeare’s use of the noun
“idolatry” illuminates the dangers of such a love. - preserves religious ideals- wants to be married before continuing her rs with Romeo
- commits a sinful act by committing suicide- considered a sin in the Bible- Elizabethan audience extremely religious- shocked by this
4
Q
Gender Roles
A
- masculine and feminine roles are massively contrasted
- Juliet’s scenes often take place indoors whilst mon of the male characters’ scenes are outdoors- demonstrating the domesticity Juliet is subjected to
- Juliet is a figure who can be considered equal to Romeo in the play
- Finishes Romeos rhymes- just like what Mercutio and Benvolio do- Act 1 Scene 5- shows she is well educated and able to keep up with educated males
5
Q
Violence
A
- can be seen as the antidote to violence in play- Romeo exclaims that her love makes him “effeminate”, thus he is unable to duel Tybalt
- at the end of the play, Juliet is forced to take violent action against herself- stabbing- masculine death
- Juliet’s choice to use violence ends the feud- ending all of the violence of the play- could be seen as the cure to violence in the play.
6
Q
Love
A
- the epitome of Shakespearean love- a perfect example
- not unrequited self-conscious suffering, but rather a complete and romantic relationship
- a foil to rosaline- demonstrates the abstract concept of love
- the physical act of kissing Romeo when they meet- embodies a physical, tangible, real love
- finishing each other’s rhymes- signifies their compatibility
7
Q
Fate
A
- R- Montague J- capulet- arranged to marry Paris- a woman with little freedom and choices in life- Shakespeare still gives her agency within the play which allows her to confront and overcome obstacles standing in the way of her love for Romeo
- persuades Friar to marry her to Romeo- shows her as a strong woman who refuses to be confined by the boundaries of gender rules.
- her suicide can be interpreted as a defiant act against fate and the society
- a form of freedom from a fate that has destroyed her life- she takes charge of her own life.
8
Q
Isolation
A
In Contrast to Romeo, she is never left isolated or alone- the nurse constantly calls out for her and she is never alone in her scenes- indicates her lack of freedom and privacy
- can be seen as an attempt at creating a place for oneself, therefore a lack of this suggests that Juliet has no freedom to construct her own space.
- the final act of taking action alone and detaching herself from her family and the Nurse connotes emotional maturity and growth.
9
Q
Rs to Romeo
A
- their relationship develops quickly which makes it incredibly passionate.
The first interaction is incredibly flirtatious- juxtaposes the tension and destruction it goes on to cause - Their love for each other is the reason for their deaths
10
Q
Rs to Lord Capulet
A
- Throughout the play, father-daughter rs changes drastically
- start- an overprotective father
who is just trying to shield his daughter from the world - When Paris asks to marry her- he wants Juliet’s choice- presents him as a progressive father, not a stereotypical father
- drastically changes after Tybalt’s demands that Juliet must marry Paris, and if she refuses he will disown her.
- clear that their relationship is complicated but it is also clear that Lord Capulet greatly cares for his daughter and only reacts when he is challenged.
11
Q
Rs to Lady Capulet
A
- basically non-existent
- the only time they talk is when she is ordered by her husband to do so
- opposites of each other- everything her mother wants, she does not want
- Her mother was married at Juliet’s age- Juliet doesn’t even think about marriage- which presents her as more independent- however, she does become infatuated with a man which could show he trying to be like her mother but instead of family, it love
12
Q
Rs to The Nurse and Friar
A
- close rs with the nurse- maternal figure- directly contrasts with the rs she has with her mother
- carries out the traditional mother’s role- reflects how many upper-class mothers did not raise their children.
- a point of contact for advice for lovers- through his plan that they die
Both are a tool of fate- without the nurse they’re rs wouldn’t have lasted as long and the friar sped up their death
