romeo and juliet - Gender roles

Question 1

Romeo - gender roles

Answer 1

Romeo blames his femininity on Juliet. The metaphor comparing his “valour” to “steel” suggests that he feels as though his bravery should be strong and moving but Juliet has “softened” it.

Question 2

Sampson - Gender roles

Answer 2

The character of Sampson is a tool by Shakespeare to express the traditional beliefs of masculinity. He believes that male dominance is established through the submission of women as well as the excursion of their aggression. He argues that “women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall” This belief encapsulates what it was to be a man in Elizabethan times

Question 3

Juliet - Gender roles

Answer 3

Juliet breaks societal conventions of what it is like to be a woman during the Elizabethan times. She says that “if that thy bent of love be honourable, they purpose marriage, send me word tommorow”. This assertive sentence identifies Juliet as a girl who knows what she wants and is not afraid of the consequences of her desires

Question 4

context

Answer 4

Gender is an important theme within Romeo and Juliet as it contributes to the characters and their development. However, it can still be a source of conflict as the characters do not always adhere to the roles which they are traditionally supposed to fulfil. It is important to note that even though the play is set in a patriarchal society which was oppressive to women, men also had their own social rules that they had to follow.