Lang Coursework Essay Example

  Lang Coursework Essay How is Juliet portrayed in the play Romeo and Juliet? Explain how you would want a modern audience to understand about the character. Juliets character is an assortment of innocence, youth and inner strength. Her portrayal, however, did not fit well with the stereotypical view of Elizabethan women who had to conform to societal rules by obeying their fathers and husbands. They were not granted free will or free speech, and so Juliets initial portrayal depicts her as a dutiful daughter, who goes on to shock by deceiving her name to break the barriers of true love. Act 1 scene 3 is Juliets first scene, where her Nurse and mother, Lady Capulet, accompany her. In this scene, Juliet is portrayed as youthful, innocent and obedient. The Nurses constant references to her babyhood portray the childlike perception people hold of Juliet. The fact that she is not married It is an honour that I dream not of. We will write a custom essay sample on   Lang Coursework specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on   Lang Coursework specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on   Lang Coursework specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer is evident of her preservation as a child, which is so because she was the only child of Lord and Lady Capulet to survive. She proves innocent and obedient Ill look to like, if looking liking moveThan your consent gives strength to make it fly. when she states that she has given no thought to the idea of marriage, yet however she will love Paris if asked to. Elizabethan audiences would have observed Juliets indisputable loyalty for her parents as typical behaviour for a girl. Shakespeare uses this predictable behaviour as a lull in action, in order to foundation the impact Juliet evokes upon the Elizabethan audience when she betrays her family name for her only enemy. Romeo and Juliets first encounter occurs in Act 1 scene 5, during the Capulets feast. Here, Juliet is completely infatuated with Romeo, as he is with her, and this causes a change in her portrayal since she acts coquettishly Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much. She teases Romeo, only enough to keep him interested in her. This proves her character to be changing, since she contradicts her youth in Act 1 scene 3, where she had not considered love. She also challenges her innocence, by unexpectedly kissing Romeo You kiss by th book. Juliets abrupt change in character would have surprised Elizabethans, since she had altered herself from being the dutiful daughter that was expected of her, to an ill behaved child that would have been frowned upon. Above that, Juliets reference to religion would have appalled, since it was being used in conjunction with her intolerable deeds, such as betraying her family name to woo her only enemy. It is in Act 2 scene 2 where Romeo and Juliet truly declare their love for one another, and this happens by Juliets balcony at the Capulet household. In this scene, Juliet abandons her youth when she portrays herself persistent and assertive in order to keep her love. She discontinues her courtship with Romeo in order to bring in the prospect of love, Or if thou thinkest I am too quickly won, Ill frown a be perverse and say thee nay, So thou wilt woo-. as opposed to her initial depiction, where she had not given it a single thought. She dominates the topic of conversation Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And Ill no longer be a Capulet. as she requests that they resolve their current situation. Juliets dominance over Romeo, through her perseverance for resolving their affair, would not have been the norm for Elizabethan women. For Juliet to have acted in that manner would have shocked Elizabethans, since it was not traditional for a woman of that era to approach a man. Having done so, Juliets character would have been detested in Elizabethan society. During Act 3 scene 2, the Elizabethan audience lose sight of Juliets preliminary portrayal. She becomes sharp tempered and passionate, as opposed to her initial youth and innocence, during her wait for her Nurses return from her meet with Romeo about the prospect of marriage. Juliet curses her Nurse for her delay, What devil art thou that dost torment me thus? since she is made to wait for Romeos reply in agony and anxiety, and therefore the audience cannot depict Juliet as innocent as she used to be. The contrast to her former portrayal continues, as Juliet speaks passionately of Romeo, despite his slaying of her cousin Tybalt O serpent heart, hid with a flowring face! Did ever a dragon keep so fair a cave? Beautiful tyrant, fiend angelical- She wishes to curse Romeo for his part in Tybalts death, but cannot bring herself to do so. Instead, Juliet ends up using a vast variety of oxymorons to depict her undisputable love for Romeo, contradicting all the while with her initial youth that was her insignificance with love. Juliets arrogant and impatient depiction in this scene was not the stereotypical nature of Elizabethan women. It would have appalled, since rather than waiting for Romeo to approach her-without free speech, she questioned Elizabethan womans rights by taking it upon herself to resolve her state of affairs with him. In Act 3 scene 5, Juliet conveys a bleak contrast in behaviour to that of her initial portrayal. She display wilfulness, as opposed to her preliminary innocence, during her combat with her father over the prospect of her marriage with Paris Now by Saint Peters Church, and Peter too, He shall not make me there a joyful bride! Much to the discontent of her father, Juliet refuses to marry Paris. Her unruly behaviour continues through means of oppressive shouting, causing Lord Capulet to resort to verbal threats I tell thee what: get thee to Church a Thursday, Or never after look me in the face! However, Juliets incontestable love for Romeo defies her fathers intimidation, and she continues to disobey and quarrel. Eventually, Juliets radical behaviour causes Lord and Lady Capulet to depart, leaving the Nurse to persuade the child. Nevertheless, Juliets love is unquestionable, and a difference in opinion between the two results in an angry young Capulet Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus foresworn- She has been let down by her Nurse, the only person whom she could really rely upon. Without any reassurance or support, Juliet is left to curse her only aid in her love bound situation. She takes an abrupt mood swing, and is anxious to know how she will resolve her problem. In total desperation and anxiety, Juliet seeks the Friar for advice. Juliets wilfulness during her quarrel with her father would not have been an Elizabethan childs custom. For Juliet to act in that way would have had Elizabethan audiences taken aback, since she neglected what was expected of her, and that was for her to obey her father, rather than question him. Throughout Act 4 scene 3, Juliet conveys tremendous courage by acting through love, regardless of the severe repercussions her actions may bring. She expresses emotions of apprehension and fear, however surpasses them due to her desire to be with Romeo. She begins the scene apprehensive, as she considers whether the Friars role in supplying her with poison was a supportive deed, or an ominous one What if it be a poison which the Friar Subtly hath ministered to have me dead- Owing to her contemplations, Juliet develops a fear for the treacherous consequences her actions could bring. She becomes reluctant towards drinking the poison, and portrays timidity, -a fearful point. Shall I not then be stifled in the vault, To whose foul mouth no helthsome air breathes in- as opposed to her boldly spoken character at the expense of Paris, when she debated her validity in his life in previous scenes It may be so, for it is not mine own- Despite all her fears, Juliets love for Romeo guides her to courageously drink the poison, in hope that she will be reunited with her one true love Romeo, Romeo, Romeo! Heres drink-I drink to thee. Juliets display of courage during her decision to drink the poison was not a custom held by Elizabethan women. Having drunk the poison, Juliet would have shocked the Elizabethan audience because it was not common for a woman of that era to have boldly taken her own life, not to mention decide how her own life would have been run. Act 5 scene 3 is Juliets final scene, in which she concludes her atypical behaviour, as well as her life. However, doing so, she displays courage and strength, unusual traits for an Elizabethan daughter. As Juliet wakes, Romeo lies dead beside her, having taken poison. She mourns his death, all the while showing immense strength -the watch is coming. Come, go, good Juliet. I dare no longer stay! as she stands firm in the presence of the tomb watchmen. Her uncanny behaviour continues, as her infatuation with Romeo empowers her to kiss his lips for poison I will kiss thy lips. Haply some poison yet doth hang on them. To no avail, Romeo has drunk the last drop of poison, leaving none for Juliet to accompany him after death. Due to emotions of apprehension and passion, Juliet defies all barriers of love by boldly stabbing herself, furthermore sacrificing her life to be with Romeo; her one true love O happy dagger, This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die. Juliets disregard for her fathers will of her marriage with Paris was not at all pleasing to the Elizabethans. For her to cunningly defy his power as a father in order to be with whom she loved was intolerable. She had not behaved as expected, and for that she would not have been accepted in Elizabethan society. As well as that, her act of suicide displeased God, therefore displeased the greatly religious Elizabethans. Back then; Juliets suicide would have caused uproar. To conclude, I think Juliet was initially portrayed as a youthful, innocent child, and as her intolerable love for Romeo progressed, her inner strength and belief in what was right developed her into the mature, wilful young woman who died for her true feelings.