How does Shakespeare explore gender roles and expectations in Romeo and
Juliet? Act 1, 3
In "Romeo and Juliet", Shakespeare evaluates how gender expectations confine and
destroy characters, as women seek autonomy while men uphold honour-based
violence. Perhaps this is a critique against the Elizabethan patriarchy, although one
could also argue Shakespeare could be highlighting the dangers of defying traditional
roles. The exploration of gender urges an Elizabethan society and modern audience to
reassess their compliance with societal expectations.
Initially Juliet is portrayed as a passive character; typical of her age and gender as
women were expected to obey their parents or husband. When called upon by the
nurse she exclaims "How now, who calls?", an informal tone that provides a stark
contrast to the address "Madam" when she realises it is her mother. Immediately the
audience becomes aware of the family dynamics as the nurse becomes Juliet's
confidence and is her previous 'wet-nurse'. Shakespeare may be contrasting her two
responses to critique the lack of relationship to her own mother, particularly as a
modern audience would find this relationship shocking. Additionally, Juliet ironically
reveals her own lack of autonomy as she asks "What is your will?", displaying how in
this society she lacks an independence, while potentially demonstrating a wider
critique on a society that rewards a lack of free will. Upon being questioned about
marriage, Juliet reveals she 'dreams not of [marriage]', which provides dramatic irony
as we are already aware from the Prologue she is a 'star-cross'd lover'. This may
suggest Juliet is lying to her mother, therefore identifying her capacity to defy gender
roles in the future when she 'takes [her] life' - an act deemed to condemn one to Hell.
Although, it could reveal how the constraints of the patriarchy lead her to contradict
her firm beliefs as she tries to reconcile conflict through love - yet the audience's
foreknowledge mean they recognise the dangers of defying expectations. Either way,
Shakespeare appears to be highlighting the dangers of the Elizabethan Patriarchy as
he uses Juliet's tragic downfall to reflect how it will inevitably end in tragedy.
Shakespeare also examines gender roles through the male characters. Mercutio is
seen to blur the lines between gender as his flamboyance brings comedy to the play.
Mercutio is seen as in-between the households, as when dying as a result of the feud
he exclaims "A plague o'er both your houses!" - a direct insult to reveal how he is a
victim and bystander of the destructive feud. His ambiguity could also be mirrored in
gender, as before heading to the party he delivers a chaotic speech about "Queen
Mab" that would be seen not typical of men, while to a modern audience he could be
interpreted as homosexual. Mercutio's quick-witted comedy and relief throughout the
play ends as he is 'scratch[ed]' by Tybalt, which could suggest that in a rigid
patriarchal society anyone who rejects traditional expectations will not survive.
Arguably this emphasise Shakespeare's interrogation of a patriarchal society that
causes inevitable tragedy through oppressive gender expectations.
Juliet? Act 1, 3
In "Romeo and Juliet", Shakespeare evaluates how gender expectations confine and
destroy characters, as women seek autonomy while men uphold honour-based
violence. Perhaps this is a critique against the Elizabethan patriarchy, although one
could also argue Shakespeare could be highlighting the dangers of defying traditional
roles. The exploration of gender urges an Elizabethan society and modern audience to
reassess their compliance with societal expectations.
Initially Juliet is portrayed as a passive character; typical of her age and gender as
women were expected to obey their parents or husband. When called upon by the
nurse she exclaims "How now, who calls?", an informal tone that provides a stark
contrast to the address "Madam" when she realises it is her mother. Immediately the
audience becomes aware of the family dynamics as the nurse becomes Juliet's
confidence and is her previous 'wet-nurse'. Shakespeare may be contrasting her two
responses to critique the lack of relationship to her own mother, particularly as a
modern audience would find this relationship shocking. Additionally, Juliet ironically
reveals her own lack of autonomy as she asks "What is your will?", displaying how in
this society she lacks an independence, while potentially demonstrating a wider
critique on a society that rewards a lack of free will. Upon being questioned about
marriage, Juliet reveals she 'dreams not of [marriage]', which provides dramatic irony
as we are already aware from the Prologue she is a 'star-cross'd lover'. This may
suggest Juliet is lying to her mother, therefore identifying her capacity to defy gender
roles in the future when she 'takes [her] life' - an act deemed to condemn one to Hell.
Although, it could reveal how the constraints of the patriarchy lead her to contradict
her firm beliefs as she tries to reconcile conflict through love - yet the audience's
foreknowledge mean they recognise the dangers of defying expectations. Either way,
Shakespeare appears to be highlighting the dangers of the Elizabethan Patriarchy as
he uses Juliet's tragic downfall to reflect how it will inevitably end in tragedy.
Shakespeare also examines gender roles through the male characters. Mercutio is
seen to blur the lines between gender as his flamboyance brings comedy to the play.
Mercutio is seen as in-between the households, as when dying as a result of the feud
he exclaims "A plague o'er both your houses!" - a direct insult to reveal how he is a
victim and bystander of the destructive feud. His ambiguity could also be mirrored in
gender, as before heading to the party he delivers a chaotic speech about "Queen
Mab" that would be seen not typical of men, while to a modern audience he could be
interpreted as homosexual. Mercutio's quick-witted comedy and relief throughout the
play ends as he is 'scratch[ed]' by Tybalt, which could suggest that in a rigid
patriarchal society anyone who rejects traditional expectations will not survive.
Arguably this emphasise Shakespeare's interrogation of a patriarchal society that
causes inevitable tragedy through oppressive gender expectations.
