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Imagine falling in love with someone only to be part of a family you have been in constant fighting with for many years. This nightmare was played out by Romeo and Juliet, and it made an exciting story. Romeo was played as a depressed teenager in the 1600s looking for true love but ironically doesnt know how to be in a relationship. Juliet on the other hand is played as a 13-year-old being forced to marry Paris but wants to marry Romeo only a little after meeting. Their behavior and their views on gender roles are explained through this relationship and are shown by dialogue from many characters in the play. Behaviorism and the way teens are raised by adults in Shakespeare’s time had many effects on the way he wrote Romeo and Juliet like religious power, gender views, and the overall behavior, and how it affected the outcome of the play.
To begin with, the religion in Shakespeares time was constantly changing from protestant to catholic. Christianity and Protestantism were the most prevalent in the Shakespeare era. The constant back and forth between Queens and Kings brought changes in religion, changing from protestant by King Henry VIII, and Queen Elizabeth I. Power was a big issue with the siblings, and most of them got killed so the other could take power. King Henry VIII wanted to divorce his wife but being a Catholic prevented him from divorcing his wife. He changed his whole kingdom to Protestant because it allowed him to get a divorce. Shakespeare was Catholic, and it is shown through his plays like Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo first meets Juliet, he uses his religion multiple times to kiss Juliet. In (The Life of King Henry VIII (1491-1547). Biography of …), it states He never liked Protestantism, and he was prepared for peace with Rome on his own terms. Those terms were impossible to accept by a pope in Clement VII’s position; but before Clement had made up his mind to reject them, Henry had discovered that the papacy was hardly worth conciliating. When Shakespeare was born, King Henrys Daughter Queen Elizabeth I was the Queen of England, and her influence of religion was heavily influenced by her father King Henry VIII. The Catholic religion was shown in Romeo and Juliet at the party when he uses religion to persuade Juliet to kiss him. In the book (William Act 1 Scene 5, Page 5), Romeo says, Your hand is like a holy place that my hand is unworthy to visit. If youre offended by the touch of my hand, my two lips are standing here like blushing pilgrims, ready to make things better with a kiss. In this quote, he is using her hands as a holy place not worthy of his visit; but then says if she is offended by his touch, his lips are ready to make it better with a kiss. This shows how he is using his religion to tell her it is okay for her to kiss him by referencing Christianity to make her feel like it isnt bad. Religion in Shakespeare’s time was in constant change, and Shakespeare used this to show Romeo’s personality.
Furthermore, positions of power in Romeo and Juliet had effects on the storyline of Romeo and Juliet. Friar Lawrence played a big part in the lives of the people of Verona. He was a trusted man and in a very influential position of power to the families. Friar had the ability to marry Romeo and Juliet without any parental consent which was very uncommon in the era of Shakespeare. Friar used the opportunity of unity between Romeo and Juliet to try and get them to turn their hatred into love. In the book (William Act 2 Scene 3, Page 4), Friar says Ill help you with your secret wedding. This marriage may be lucky enough to turn the hatred between your families into pure love. He was hesitant to let Romeo marry Juliet because he just met her, but he used the marriage to try and get the two families to unite and stop fighting. Friar’s plan seemed to work. When Romeo and Juliet commit suicide because they want to be with each other, the prince recalls all the bloodshed and loss of life in the feud between their families. In (William Act 5 Scene 3, Page 13), The prince says (skimming the letter) This letter confirms the friars account. It describes the course of their love and mentions the news of her death. Here he writes that he bought poison from a poor pharmacist. He brought that poison with him to this vault to die and lie with Juliet. Where are these enemies? Capulet! Montague! Do you see what great evil results from your hate? Heaven has figured out how to kill your joys with love. Because I looked the other way when your feud flared up, Ive lost several members of my family as well. The prince tells the families how much the hate is useless and causes more harm than good. He reminds them of the loss of life and even some of his family has been killed because of this issue.
In addition, the behavior of the characters in Romeo and Juliet was very rude and considered to be harsh. People like Gregory, Benvolio, Tybalt, and Samson have huge egos and are very rude to each other and other characters throughout the story. Gregory and Samson are biting their finger at Abram, the equivalent of flipping someone off today, and it starts an argument. Samson knew he would start a fight, but he didnt want to look like he started it. Samson and Abram fight and Benvolio tries to stop the fight, but Tybalt steps in and fights Benvolio. The constant fighting between families in Romeo and Juliet is what Shakespeare liked to write about. Shakespeares Hamlet also had violence and revenge, sticking to a plot of constant feud and death. In (Article), it states, We can imagine how deeply he is shocked hearing the news of his fathers being killed. Hamlet, a sensitive youth and already divided by his mothers hasty remarriage, can hardly bear the suffering. Hamlet was torn by his father’s death, so he wanted to kill his father’s murderer. In Romeo and Juliet, when Mercutio is killed by Tybalt, Romeo switched emotions from love to hatred in an instant. Romeo filled with rage kills Tybalt in pure rage. In (William Act 3 Scene 1), it states Now, Tybalt, take the villain back again, That late thou gravest me; for Mercutio’s soul Is but a little way above our heads, Staying for thine to keep him company: Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him. TYBALT Thou, wretched boy, that didst consort him here, Shalt with him hence. ROMEO This shall determine that. [They fight; TYBALT falls] The behavior of Romeo in Juliet was inspired by Shakespeares love of violence.
In addition, Gender roles were a big part of Romeo and Juliets outcome, and were more or less the same in Shakespeares era. In Shakespeares era, women were weak and servants to men, while men were strong and knights. Men usually were more respected in a marriage, and men could choose who they wanted to marry, not women. Women were forced into marriage by their parents, and they went able to decide when they were going to get married either. A womens role in Shakespeares era was to marry someone rich to make sure their family was suitable financially. In the article (Reference 1), it says Overall, women were expected to marry. Most marriages were arranged in order to ensure financial stability or gain through the dowries and alliances between families. In Romeo and Juliet, Juliets dad is trying to get her to marry Paris, a very wealthy man in a good position of power. Juliet declines and her dad tells her he is disappointed and doesnt even want to look at her. In (William Act 3 Scene 5, Page 7), it states, How, how, how, how? Chopped logic! What is this? Proud, and I thank you, and I thank you not, And yet not proud ? Mistress minion you, Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds, But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next To go with Paris to Saint Peters Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you green sickness, carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow face! Mr. Capulet is angry that Juliet is declining his proposal of a good man with money and power and shows how men and parents have more authority over women and their childrens future.
On the other hand, Shakespeares behavior and childhood did not impact his later life or influence his plays. Shakespeare was raised in a wealthy family, his dad being a town official and his mother a wealthy individual. His family was well respected and loved. He married Anne Hathaway, and had three children, one being Hamnet. At the young age of 11, his only son Hamnet died. He was thought to be so mad he wrote Hamlet four years after his death. Shakespeares burning love for acting prompted him to make an acting company, and it became very wealthy and successful. Like his father, he had bought a big house in Stratford-upon-Avon and later bought shares in the Global Theatre. He was a well-mannered man who had many people’s respect and would have no reason to be violent. In Romeo and Juliet, death and love go together constantly being referenced in Romeo and Juliets conversations. Shakespeare was raised well and was a nice respected man.
In conclusion, behavior and the way kids were raised in Shakespeares era had an impact on the way he wrote Romeo and Juliet Religious power, Gender roles, and the behavior displayed in the play impacted characters in the story. Characters’ behavior in Romeo and Juliet and gender roles have a strong tie with each other and are influenced by one another. The story of Romeo and Juliets love is a prime example of what people in Shakespeares era went allowed to do, and how marriage was controlled by parents and not the childs opinion. While the nightmare of falling in love with a known family enemy is very unlikely in this day in age, the outcome of their relationship probably won’t happen.
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