Juliet Flashcards
(7 cards)
thesis
In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare uses Juliet’s progression from maturity to impulsiveness to critique the limitations placed on women in a patriarchal society and warn against the dangers of excessive passion, ultimately highlighting the destructive consequences of impulsive love.
essay plans
At the start of the play, Shakespeare uses Juliet’s initial maturity to challenge the conventional expectations of Elizabethan women within a patriarchal society, highlighting the tension between social norms and individual agency.
As the play progresses, Shakespeare uses Juliet’s growing naivety and impulsive actions to explore the vulnerability of young love, serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of acting without fully understanding the ramifications of one’s choices.
Towards the end of the play, Shakespeare uses Juliet’s tragic death to underline the inextricable connection between love and violence, critiquing the consequences of excessive passion and the destructive power of unchecked emotion.
quote 1 and 2
It is an honour I dream not of
- she acknowledges her familial and social duty to get married however, she is mature enough to understand what that entails and displays a sense of agency by expressing that it’s not something she wants for herself right now
You kiss by the book
- This playful observation reveals her wit and self-assurance, subverting the stereotypical image of a passive, naïve maiden. It also shows that Juliet is aware of her own growing attraction to Romeo and is confident enough to challenge him on such a personal level. Also, it is typically expected for women to be pure, inexperienced so this would be a surprise
quote 3 and 4
I’ll look to like if looking liking move
mature, as she respects her mother’s wish however still manages to maintain some of her own autonomy and agency by proving a condition of her own attraction towards Paris
my only love sprung from my only hate
uses oxymoron to emphasise the key themes of the play, and how they may not be as separate as we think, it also reflects this personal conflict that Juliet struggles with throughout the play, between her own happiness and her familial duties
‘only’ demonstrates this idea of fate but also emotional irrationality as she’s so infatuated by Romeo, she can no longer love anyone else
quote 5 and 6
if he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed
dramatic irony, which again brings in this idea of fate, although Romeo is not married, they do die as a result of marrying one another, which highlights the tragedy of the play
hyperbole, they just met, and Juliet is so infatuated that she wishes death upon herself, which was considered very serious in Shakespearean England, it highlights her passionate nature, and intense emotions which we see start to take over and drive her actions
deny thy father and refuse thy name
maturity display as she understands that the fued between the two families is what forbids them from being together, so highlights conflict between their love and the rigid social structures
also subverts stereotypes by using command words and seemingly having power over Romeo in this scene
however also immature, as she understands the gravity of betraying family, and understands the shame it would bring to Romeo and the Montagues however she still urges him to do it anyway possibly out of desperation to be together
quote 7 and 8
O bid me leap, rather than marry Paris
hyperbole, as she’s saying she’d rather kill herself, which was considered very taboo and looked down upon at the time, she’s incredibly irrational at this point as she’s saying she’d rather face death than marry Paris
also prophetic as we know that Juliet does in fact choose death over Paris later on (idea of fate)
Romeo, Romeo, Romeo. Here’s drink
triadic, she emphasises it her deep love for Romeo which pushes her to drink the potion and execute the plan which she was having doubts about earlier
Juliet takes agency at this point which could be shakespeare criticising limitations placed on women
she drinks to Romeo, it’s an act of love and an act of sacrifice, it’s not just a toast to Romeo but to their love and hopeful reunion
quote 9
O happy dagger!
adjective ‘happy’ to describe the instrument of her death demonstrates her emotional state, they juxtapose one another normally however in this case, Juliet is elated by the thought of being with Romeo even in death
this is the denouement of the play, the familial conflict, extreme emotions, deaths and isolation has pushed someone so young and vulnerable to commit an act of suicide, which was unthought of at the time
