Juliet
Extended Character Analysis
Juliet is one of the titular characters in Shakespeare’s tragic love story and Romeo’s lover. The only daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet, Juliet is almost fourteen years old when the play opens. She is characterized early on in the play by her compliance and respect for authority. She is shy about discussing marriage and sex; for example, when her nurse recites bawdy jokes, Juliet recoils in embarrassment. She obeys her parents and her nurse, and she dutifully attends the ball where she is to meet her potential suitor, Paris.
The ball marks a turning point in Juliet’s character development. She meets Romeo at the ball and falls in love with him. While Romeo speaks in overly sentimental sonnets, Juliet’s approach to love is more level-headed, displaying an insightful and measured understanding of love. She weighs her love of Romeo with her knowledge that he is, by name, her enemy. As she says, “‘Tis but thy name that is my enemy / Thou art thyself, though not a Montague / What’s Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot … What’s in a name? That which we call a rose / By any other name would smell as sweet” (act II, scene II). Juliet is able to overlook her family’s generational feud to see that names are arbitrary. She understands that a name should not tinge her love for Romeo. In contrast to Romeo, who often acts impulsively and speaks about Juliet’s ethereal beauty, Juliet roots her love for Romeo in reality. This can be seen in the most recognizable scene of the play, in which Romeo professes his love to Juliet as she stands on the balcony. Juliet, more grounded in reality, asks Romeo directly, “Dost thou love me?” She encourages Romeo to speak plainly, to love her genuinely, and to be frank with her.
While Romeo is fantastical in his approach to love, Juliet is sensible, developing a resourcefulness and discretion in her actions. She arranges their night together and plans for their wedding. Juliet sternly refuses Paris’s proposal of marriage, and when her nurse encourages her to marry Paris, she ceases to share intimate details of her life with her. Juliet’s love for Romeo is so sincere and genuine that she sunders her relationship with her family and destroys her social standing in order to protect it. In the final scenes of the play, Juliet again demonstrates her practicality by weighing all of the outcomes of taking Friar Laurence’s sleeping potion.
From a naive, docile, and acquiescent teen, Juliet emerges as the more mature and logical of the eponymous couple. She reigns in Romeo’s sentimentality and arranges the more practical matters of their relationship. Critics argue that even in the last moments of her life, Juliet demonstrates courage and strength. When Romeo mistakenly believes Juliet to be dead and poisons himself, Juliet stabs herself in the heart with a dagger in an effort to join him in death. By killing herself in such a way, she illustrates her valor and her devotion to Romeo. The deaths of Juliet and Romeo bring together the two feuding families. Juliet dies not only for her love but also to help the Capulets find peace with the Montagues.
Expert Q&A
Why does Juliet ask Romeo not to swear by the moon?
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Quick answer:
Juliet asks Romeo not to swear by the moon, because the moon changes its shape every night and is thus an ironically poor symbol of constancy.
In the famous balcony scene, Romeo is so enamored of the lovely Juliet that he starts using flowery, extravagant language to express his passionate feelings. Carried away by his beating, love-filled heart, Romeo is ready to swear by “yonder blessed moon” that he loves Juliet, when Juliet cuts him short:
O, swear not by the moon, th'inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circle orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
(act 2, scene 2, lines 109–111)
As Juliet points out, the moon is always changing—that's what she means by “th'inconstant moon”—and so it doesn't seem appropriate to swear your undying love for someone by something that changes so often.
Romeo's love for Juliet is supposed to be permanent and enduring, but the moon, at least as it appears in the sky, is anything but. The last thing Juliet wants is for Romeo to be as inconstant as the moon; she doesn't want him to change his position every month.
Romeo then asks Juliet what he should swear by, if not the moon. Juliet replies by saying that he shouldn't swear at all, but if he really must, then he should swear by his “gracious self,” as that is the god that she worships like an idol. If Romeo does that, then Juliet will believe him.
Juliet is no less in love with Romeo than he is with her, but it's notable in this scene that her feet are planted more firmly on the ground than Romeo's. She wants to be sure that this is the real thing and not some infatuation.
What are 10 facts about Juliet Capulet in Romeo and Juliet?
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Quick answer:
Juliet Capulet is the sole heir to the Capulet dynasty and had other siblings who did not survive. The story of Juliet predates Shakespeare, with earlier versions naming her Giulietta. A house in Verona, believed to be the Capulet's, features a balcony and a statue of Juliet, attracting tourists who post love letters for luck. Juliet was nearly fourteen, a typical age for marriage and childbirth in her time.
Here are a few facts about Juliet Capulet:
- Juliet had other siblings but she ended up being the only surviving one. She is the sole heir to the Capulet's dynasty.
- The story of Juliet goes back farther than when Shakespeare wrote it. In earlier versions she was known as Giulietta.
- There is a house in the town of Verona that is supposedly the house of the Capulet's. It has a balcony and a statue of Juliet. It is a very popular tourist attraction. People post love letters on the walls outside for luck.
- Juliet was only thirteen, almost fourteen years old. Although this seems very young to us, it was not uncommon for females to wed and bear children at this young age.
In Romeo and Juliet, how does Juliet reflect the Renaissance period?
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Quick answer:
In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet reflects the Renaissance period through her engagement in the era's marital practices and societal expectations. During the Renaissance, marriages, particularly among the upper class, were arranged for social and political gains rather than love, and required parental consent for minors. Juliet, not yet fourteen, is subjected to these norms as her parents arrange her marriage to Paris, emphasizing the period's view of marriages as strategic alliances rather than romantic unions. Despite these pressures, Juliet's eventual rejection of these norms by marrying Romeo signifies a challenge to the conventional expectations of her time.
William Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in about 1594–1596, near the end of Elizabeth I's reign. At that time, the laws and practices of the Anglican Church regarding marriage were being changed.
Prior to that the end of the sixteenth century, people could be married simply by saying that they were married. The new Church laws required that the marriage ceremony take place in a church and be officiated by a priest, that banns be read in church prior to the marriage, that a marriage license be obtained in advance of the marriage, and that the bride and groom have parental consent if they were minors.
Romeo and Juliet reflects the marriage practices of the upper class during this time in the Renaissance. Marriages were arranged between families, not between individuals, and marriages would be based on social and political considerations, not on the love of the bride and groom for one other. For the most part, love had little or nothing to do with marriage.
Marriages were sometimes arranged to join feuding families and bring about peace between them. Apparently, the feud between the Capulets and the Montagues was far too entrenched and the families far too embittered toward one another to allow Romeo and Juliet even to think about getting married in the generally accepted manner.
The legal age for marriage during the Renaissance was fourteen. This is reflected in the second scene of the play, when Paris speaks with Lord Capulet after the Prince has broken up the brawling in the streets between the Capulets and the Montagues in scene 1.
PARIS. But now, my lord, what say you to my suit?
CAPULET. But saying o'er what I have said before:
My child is yet a stranger in the world,
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years;
Let two more summers wither in their pride
Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.PARIS. Younger than she are happy mothers made.
CAPULET. And too soon marr'd are those so early made. (1.2.6–13)
In the following scene, there is a discussion between Lady Capulet and Juliet's Nurse about Juliet's age. Lady Capulet wants Juliet to marry Paris, and it's important to Lady Capulet that Juliet be of legal age to marry.
LADY CAPULET. ..Thou know'st my daughter's of a pretty age.
NURSE. Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.
LADY CAPULET. She's not fourteen.
NURSE. I'll lay fourteen of my teeth...She is not fourteen. How long is it now
To Lammastide?LADY CAPULET. A fortnight and odd days.
NURSE. Even or odd, of all days in the year,
Come Lammas Eve at night shall she be fourteen. (1.3.12–21)
Lady Capulet wants to know what Juliet thinks about being married, and Juliet responds, "It is an honour that I dream not of" (1.3.70).
In her desire to have Juliet married to Paris, Lady Capulet even contradicts Lord Capulet's argument to Paris about Juliet being too young.
LADY CAPULET. Well, think of marriage now. Younger than you,
Here in Verona, ladies of esteem,
Are made already mothers. (1.3.73–75)
Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Paris has asked to marry her, and she and the Nurse try to impress Juliet with all of Paris's good qualities and his good looks. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that she can "behold him at our feast," which is being held at their home that evening.
Up to this point in the play, Juliet has been the model Renaissance daughter—dutiful, respectful, subservient, and obedient to her parents.
Lady Capulet then asks a question to which Juliet gives a thoughtful response, but it's a response that rejects the Renaissance ideal of marriage entirely and changes the course of the play.
LADY CAPULET. Speak briefly, can you like of Paris’ love?
JULIET. I'll look to like, if looking liking move... (1.3.100–101)
In other words, no matter what her family and Paris's family might arrange, and no matter what her parents might think about Paris, Juliet is going to decide for herself if she's going to marry Paris.
Lady Capulet doesn't have time to respond to Juliet, since a servant comes to tell her that the guests are already arriving for the feast.
Shakespeare gives us no idea what Lady Capulet might be thinking about what Juliet just said. She might be surprised and speechless, or she might simply be too caught up in the preparations for the feast to take notice of Juliet's quiet declaration of independence.
Either way, Lady Capulet leaves Juliet's response hanging in the air. As she hurries to meet her guests, Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Paris will be waiting to meet her.
LADY CAPULET. Juliet, the county stays. (1.3.109)
In time, Juliet absolutely rejects the Renaissance ideals of marriage and expected daughterly behavior by defying her parents and secretly marrying Romeo.
Juliet reflects the renaissance person in her character. She won't accept the status quo of her life's situation. This is true of the artistry, the building, and the music of the period.
Renaissance people are dramatic and impulsive. Juliet is ready to kill herself about 15 different times in the storyline of Romeo and Juliet. Sometimes you take a risk and it kills you, other times, the risk is the difference between mediocre and fantastic. Juliet worked so hard to go against her parents and that would not have been okay during that era. This rebellion marks her as a renaissance person.
During the Renaissance, a wealthy woman was expected to marry young, obey her husband and be loyal to him, and bear children, especially heirs. Like a young woman of her time, Juliet has a father who arranges the marriage to a young man of family and wealth. While other girls do not marry young because they must work for their families, fourteen is the normal age at which wealthy women are married. And, the father, like Lord Capulet, makes arrangements with a suitable young man, one who has a reputable name, position, and property. A dowry is paid to the new husband when the young couple are married.
Also, typically, Juliet is cared for by a wet nurse just as other young wealthy women of her time are. The Nurse is probably a poor relative who serves in the Capulet home for her room and board; her affection for Juliet seems to indicate that she is most likely related to the girl for whom she is so fond and proud.
Where can I find quotes showing Juliet's inner conflict in Romeo and Juliet?
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Quick answer:
Juliet's inner conflict in "Romeo and Juliet" is evident in several quotes. In Act 1, Scene 3, she says, "It is an honour that I dream not of," when pressured to marry Paris. In Act 2, Scene 2, she struggles with trusting Romeo: "...yet if thou swear'st,/ Thou mayst prove false." Her conflict peaks when she says, "My only love sprung from my only hate" upon learning Romeo is a Montague.
Juliet's inner conflict is amplified by her thoughtfulness and desire to make the right decision despite outside pressures. Juliet's inner conflict arises in the scene where we meet her. Her mother is trying to talk her into marrying Paris, but Juliet says, "It is an honour that I dream not of." By the end of the scene, the Nurse encourages her to consider it, and Juliet heads to the fateful party with this decision weighing on her.
Later, when Romeo confesses his love for her during the balcony scene, Juliet wars with herself over her desire to rush in and her determination to think things through. She says, "...yet if thou swear'st,/ Thou mayst prove false," and pulls herself back from trusting Romeo's love. Finally, though, she finishes her speech by declaring in truth her love. She is struggling with wanting to be true and wanting to protect herself—or at least play by the "rules" of courtship in her society.
By the end of the scene, Juliet reveals her determination not to rush in as completely as Romeo would. She tells him their decision of a future together in one night would be "... too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;/ Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be..." She pushes off this decision until the next morning at nine.
The next day, when Romeo follows through and arranges the wedding for that day, her inner conflict appears to have vanished. It returns in new ways that afternoon when she learns that Romeo has killed Tybalt. She wrestles with how to reconcile her loyalty to her new husband and her love for her cousin. She also feels some inner warnings of more tragedies to follow; saying goodbye to Romeo as he heads to banishment, she declares, "Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,/ As one dead in the bottom of a tomb..." Learning of her parents' promise to marry her off to Paris, her inner struggle catapults her to desperation, and her fears become reality.
Which 10 words best describe Juliet Capulet in Romeo and Juliet?
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Quick answer:
The ten words that best describe Juliet Capulet in Romeo and Juliet are young, human, sheltered, ingenuous, obedient, pretty, loyal, loving, resolved, and independent. These descriptors capture her transformation from a naive, compliant girl into a woman who prioritizes love over familial duty, demonstrating both rational decision-making and emotional depth throughout the play.
There are so many good answers to this already. I doubt there are ten more that have not been mentioned elsewhere, but here are a few key pieces I think we are still missing.
Young: In many ways what happens to Juliet happens to all of us. She is young, she meets a boy she connects with, and she cannot control her emotions. This is typical of young people still discovering their feelings.
Human: All of the actions Juliet takes, wise or foolish, are astoundingly relatable. Yes, it is perhaps foolish to chase Romeo despite the feud, but who would chose to abandon the calling of their romantic feelings for the sake of logic and obedience? Shakespeare creates a stunningly realistic and relatable character. Everything from her impatience, her foolishness, her wit, and her affection, shows her to be fundamentally human. She is all of us.
Sheltered: As a wealthy young woman protected by her position in society and her family, she has little idea how love works or what life without her family would be like. Anyone who has endured a first love will be able to understand that sometimes, despite the overwhelming feelings of romance, a decision is still foolish. She does not realize that these feeling can happen again, that they rarely last, and that there is more to relationships and marriage than a feeling of elation. If she and Romeo were to run away without their families help, what would two sheltered young people even do with their lives? How would they sustain themselves? How would they spend their days?
Shakespeare's treatment of Juliet's character is marked by thorough and intricate development as she moves from an ingenuous, obedient, sheltered, pretty girl to a loyal loving, resolved, independent and capable young woman (10).
Even in the first act, Juliet demonstrates that although she is naive, she is not completely compliant; for, she tells her mother, who wishes her to marry Paris, that she has not really given marriage any thought and replies to her mother's praises of Paris with non-committal words,
I'll look to like, if looking liking move
But no more deep will I endart mine eyes
Than your consent gives strength to make it fly. (1.4)
Certainly, Juliet demonstrates her independence of thought after meeting Romeo. In his wooing of her, she is able to maintain clear thinking, advising Romeo against swearing by the moon that is "inconstant," and against his being "rash." Later, after Romeo kills Tybalt, although she is extremely distraught, she makes a rational decision to not follow him immediately. Nevertheless, her loyalty and love for Romeo directs her to break from her family ties and make her love for her husband her priority. Then, her resolve is made of steel; she commits herself to Friar Laurence's ruse, and she dies valiantly, using a sword in contrast to Romeo's taking of poison.
1. Juliet is breathtakingly beautiful. Romeo cannot resist her beauty.
2. Juliet is innocent. She is not responsible for the feud between the two families--the Montagues and Capulets.
3. Juliet is naive. She does not realize how much strife will come from loving Romeo.
4. Juliet is daring. She enters into a union with Romeo even though her family hates his family.
5. Juliet is overwhelmed with Romeo's love. She cannot live without it.
6. Juliet is anxious. She and Romeo cannot wait to marry in the proper way with both families present and in consent.
7. Juliet is immature. She does not count the cost of her actions. She does not prepare for such an incident as Romeo not knowing that she is not dead, only sleeping.
8. Juliet is trusting. She puts her life in the hands of Friar Laurence.
9. Juliet is determined. She will not marry Paris, even though has father has arranged it.
10. Juliet is ecstatic. She is so happy to be married to Romeo.
What are some examples of Juliet's naivety in Romeo and Juliet?
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Quick answer:
Juliet's naivety in "Romeo and Juliet" is evident in her impulsive decisions and lack of foresight. She falls in love with Romeo at first sight, disregarding the risk of their feuding families. Her belief that a name doesn't define a person shows her innocence, overlooking the hereditary feud that determines Romeo's identity. She impulsively initiates their marriage and promises to lay all her fortunes at Romeo's feet without considering the potential consequences. Her naivety is also shown in her willingness to hide Romeo from her family, risking their lives.
Both Romeo and Juliet demonstrate a lack of experience and judgment in their personalities.
First of all, Romeo is very naïve to think that because he is love-struck he can simply approach Juliet at the celebration held at the Capulet home. Impulsively, he walks over to Juliet after becoming infatuated at the first sight of her. Romeo asks Juliet for a kiss, assuming that she will grant his wish:
If I profane with my unworthiest handThis holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready standTo smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss. (1.5.93-96)
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd. (2.2.43-45)
Further in Act II, Scene 2, Juliet impulsively initiates her and Romeo's commitment to marry. She naïvely believes that the arrangements will all work out.
Despite knowing that Romeo is the son of her father's mortal enemy and that her family will be enraged if she becomes involved with this young man, Juliet asks Romeo when they are getting married.
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee (2.2.143-145).
Then, Juliet promises to meet him wherever the "rite" will be performed, and she naïvely tells Romeo "I'll lay all my fortunes at thy feet" (2.2.147) with no thought to what the future may hold.
Juliet could be described as naive in many ways. This naiveness can easily be found if you look at the balcony scene in Act 2, Scene 2. In her first soliloquy of the scene, Juliet describes her total willingness to be in love with Romeo. While this could be viewed as romantic, it also comes across as someone who is quite naive and juvenile. Romantic love, as many contemporary psychologists, takes time. In this scene, Juliet is expressing a young infatuation. This is to be expected, as Juliet is only a young teenager, but it is naive nonetheless. Also, Juliet's willingness to spare Romeo from her family's hatred and keep him hidden away can also be viewed as naive. ["I would not for the world they saw thee here," line 78 (this line could be seen as a throwaway, and acted as if Juliet is wishing Romeo to leave, but it is actually expressing that Juliet would rather save Romeo from her family's view than reveal him for all the world)]. She is putting Romeo's life in danger, as well as her own life, by pursuing this relationship. Ultimately, their love brings their families together, but it also costs the two lovers their lives.
What quote from Romeo and Juliet describes Juliet's loyalty to Romeo?
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Quick answer:
Several quotes that show Juliet's loyalty to Romeo occur in act 3, scenes 2 and 5. In act 3, scene 2, for example, Juliet shows loyalty in her reaction to the news that Romeo has killed her cousin Tybalt:
My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain,
And Tybalt’s dead, that would have slain my husband.
All this is comfort. Wherefore weep I then?
In Act Three, Scene 5, Juliet once again demonstrates her loyalty to Romeo by cursing the Nurse, refusing to disclose any personal feelings to the woman who raised her, and mentioning that if everything fails she is willing to kill herself. After Romeo leaves Juliet's bedroom, she demonstrates her loyalty to her new husband by rejecting her parents' advice and refusing to marry Paris. After Juliet's father curses his daughter and exits the scene, Juliet seeks solace by speaking to the Nurse. However, the Nurse tells Juliet that she believes Juliet should marry Paris and forget about Romeo. The Nurse proceeds to call Romeo a "dishclout" and disrespects him in front of Juliet. Even though Juliet is extremely upset with the Nurse, she remains composed and tells her that she will go to Friar Lawrence’s cell to confess her sins and be forgiven. As soon as the Nurse leaves the scene, Juliet says,
Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus forsworn, Or to dispraise my lord with that same tongue Which she hath praised him with above compare So many thousand times? Go, counselor. Thou and my bosom henceforth shall be twain. I’ll to the friar to know his remedy. If all else fail, myself have power to die. (Shakespeare, 3.5.236-243)
Juliet proves her loyalty to Romeo by not only going against her family's wishes but also dismissing one of her closest allies after the Nurse offers her negative opinion of Romeo. Juliet mentions that she will never tell the Nurse how she truly feels again and is willing to commit suicide if Friar Lawrence cannot come up with a solution.
What does Juliet mean by "I have bought the mansion of love but not possessed it"?
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Quick answer:
In Juliet's statement, "I have bought the mansion of love but not possessed it", she uses a metaphor to express her anticipation of consummating her marriage with Romeo. She feels that although she has committed herself to Romeo through marriage, the completion of their union - the consummation of their marriage - has not yet occurred. This 'mansion of love', while now hers, has not been fully experienced or 'possessed' by her.
As Juliet awaits Romeo, she muses on love and lovers, wishing for night to fall so that Romeo can safely ascend to her bedroom and they can spend the night together. As Juliet eagerly anticipates Romeo's arrival, she considers what it will be like to lose her virginity to her husband, thinking of how handsome he is. She says, in part, "Oh, I have bought the mansion of a love, / But not possessed it, and though I am sold, / Not yet enjoyed" (3.2.28-30). What she means is that she begun the process of marriage, but she has not completed it. Though she belongs to Romeo now, he hasn't made her his yet. In other words, Juliet is married, but she and Romeo have not consummated their marriage yet. Via metaphor, she compares love to a mansion, a luxurious and beautiful home, but she has not moved into it yet. Although Juliet no longer belongs to her father, having been "sold" to her husband, the metaphorical transaction is not complete until Romeo has "enjoyed" her. Once Juliet has lost her virginity to Romeo, she will consider herself as having "possessed" the mansion of love.
This quote is taken from Act III, Scene II, when Juliet is waiting for Romeo to come to her chamber so that they can consummate their secret marriage. In terms of its effect, this quote demonstrates, above all, Juliet's desperation to be with Romeo. She is so consumed by love that she can think of nothing else but being with him.
It is interesting to note that in this quote, Juliet's affection for Romeo is drawn purely in terms of physical love. By using the word "bought," for example, Juliet implies that physical love is her legal right. It is something that cannot be denied to her since she possesses it and is its legal owner.
Moreover, the use of the word "mansion" implies grandness and splendor. This suggests that Juliet has very positive views about sexual intercourse. In other words, when she makes loves to Romeo, she thinks the act itself will be as grand and beautiful as a mansion.
This quote, then, not only has the effect of expressing Juliet's excitement and desperation but also builds anticipation ahead of Romeo's arrival.
This quote is from Juliet's soliloquy in Act Three, Scene 2. She is waiting for Romeo to come and spend the night with her so they can consummate their marriage. By this statement, she is saying she has married Romeo, but not fully yet made her marriage and her union with him whole. Of course, this soliloquy is full of dramatic irony. The audience knows what Juliet does not: Romeo has just complicated his marriage by killing Tybalt. This line demonstrates several things to the audience. First, it underscores Juliet's powerful love for her new husband and her strong sexual desire for him. In context, the audience will realize that even though the young couple does consummate their marriage, Juliet will never fully enjoy the "mansion of love" because she will not be able to live and grow old with Romeo. This sad reality was revealed in the play's Prologue, and events in the previous scene have pushed the plot toward this tragic conclusion.
What does Juliet mean by "bought the mansion of a love, / But not possessed it"?
Juliet suggests that she has purchased a love but not really taken ownership of it yet. She has married Romeo, the man she loves, and tied her life to his, but she has had no opportunity to live or act as a wife yet (beyond the wedding itself). She compares it to buying a home but not having moved into the home yet; it is hers but she has not really lived in it, so to speak. Next, she says that she is "sold" but "Not yet enjoyed," and this seems to suggest that she is thinking of one particular marital duty specifically: the wedding night. By the customs of her times, she now belongs to Romeo, as his wife, but he has not "enjoyed" her as a groom typically would enjoy his bride on the night of their wedding.
How does the quote "you kiss by the book" highlight Juliet's innocence in Romeo and Juliet?
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Quick answer:
The quote “you kiss by the book” emphasizes Juliet's innocence in Romeo and Juliet by showing that her notions of love come from courtly romances and love stories rather than from real-life experience.
Juliet's comment on Romeo's kissing abilities in act 1, scene 5 can be taken in two different ways. On the one hand, it could be interpreted as Juliet's expressing amazement at the skill with which Romeo kisses her; she could be implying that he's been studying how to kiss for quite some time. On this reading, Juliet is positively blown away by Romeo's kiss.
On the other hand, it could be argued with equal plausibility that Juliet is making a wry comment that Romeo's kiss is like something that comes from an instruction manual. This would suggest that Juliet is somewhat innocent in the ways of love and that her own understanding of affairs of the heart comes from a book, probably a courtly love story or romance. In other words, as Juliet lacks experience of love, she has nothing with which to compare Romeo's kiss other than something she once read in a book.
On balance, it would seem that the latter interpretation is more plausible, not least because Romeo's kiss is entirely in keeping with his somewhat ritualistic wooing of Juliet; it's the kind of thing we'd expect from him at this stage of his elaborate courtship. And it's just the kind of thing we'd expect to read about in a book.
How does Shakespeare generate sympathy for Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet"?
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Summary:
Shakespeare generates sympathy for Juliet by portraying her as a young woman trapped by her family’s expectations and societal norms. Her genuine love for Romeo, her emotional turmoil, and the extreme measures she takes to be with him highlight her vulnerability and evoke empathy from the audience.
How do stage directions generate sympathy for Juliet in Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet?
Many of the stage directions found in Scene 5 of Act 3 are merely used to indicate what characters are coming and going. However, one stage direction that can possibly help to generate sympathy for Juliet with relation to the surrounding lines is "He goeth down(It)" (III.5.42). This stage direction is referring to Romeo descending from Juliet's window into the Capulets' garden using the rope ladder in the early morning after their wedding night. The stage direction describing his decension immediately follows lines describing Juliet's grief over his absence. We can especially hear her grief in the line, "Art thou gone so, my lord, my love, my friend?" (43). She even asks if they will ever meet again; plus, a few lines later, she very prophetically states:
O God, I have an ill-divining soul!
Methinks I see thee, now thou art below,
As one dead in the bottom of a tomb. (53-55)
Hence, seeing his descension coupled with Juliet's remarks about his leaving allows the audience to feel his absence along with Juliet.
How does Shakespeare create sympathy for Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet"?
Shakespeare creates sympathy for Juliet by showing us her vulnerability. First, she blunders horribly in the initial moments with Romeo when she reveals everything in her heart to Romeo before she has even had time to properly play the courting game. We sympathize because she reminds us of the awkward growing up moments we've all experienced, and because she is so honest about what she's done. (She even says she'll back up and play the game right if he thinks she's too easily won). Second, she still blushes like mad. Once again, this shows her innocence. The more she tries to mask her blushes, the more innocent she appears to us. Finally, we feel sympathetic toward her because her situation is so impossible. Every time the plot intensifies and something new happens, we share a sense of her dismay and sorrow. She is only just in the process of growing up (even though we know she is miles away from maturity)and everything that can go wrong does. Of course we feel for her.
How does Shakespeare create sympathy for Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet"?
Poor Juliet! She is so misguided, so young, and so vulnerable that the older one gets, the more empathy audiences and readers have for her plight.
First, consider Juliet's age. Most scholars peg her at the tender age of thirteen or fourteen. The reason for this timeline is that her father is eager to marry her off as quickly as possible and the early teens were the acceptable age to do so. Like all adolscents, Juliet suffers from the blush of hormones and what might today be called "puppy love." She does not have the ability mentally, even if she barely does physically, to make an intelligent choice.
Her mother loves her, but is aloof. It is really her nurse who has raised the girl, from her infancy to her untimely death. Though she too loves her charge, the nurse is of lower class and uneducated. Futhermore, Juliet has the nurse pretty well wrapped around her little finger. Not so good from a guidance perspective.
Friar Lawrence, who should have known better, fails Juliet too. He should have talked the young girl out of such a ridiculous scheme, or at least informed someone who could stop the tragedy from occuring.
How does Shakespeare create sympathy for Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet"?
Of the two lovers in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is not the initiator of the meeting, nor is it she who proposes marriage. In fact, she probably would not pursue the relationship with Romeo after he introduces himself and begs to touch her hands. For, when she is told who Romeo is, Juliet says, "Too early seen unknown, and known too late!" (1.5.148).
Always she extorts Romeo to be cautious: She backs away at the party from kissing him: "Saints do not move, though grant for prayer's sake" (1.5.110), and she is anxious about their relationship:
If they do see thee, they will murder thee.....
I would not for the world they saw thee here (2.2.74,78)
So frequently, Juliet cautions Romeo against his impetuous pursuit of her, telling him to go more slowly and not to swear his love by the moon or anything else:
...I have no joy of this contract tonight.
It is too rash, too unadvis'd, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens'....(2.2.122-125)
More than anyone else, Juliet seems the victim of fate. Happy with her new marriage, she soon learns that her beloved cousin has been slain by her tragic husband who has then been banished. Adding to her woes, Juliet soon encounters her mother who insists that she marry Paris. Even her Nurse encourages this marriage--knowing such a union would be bigomy--and Juliet feels isolated in her consternation. Placed into a terrible quandary, Juliet seeks the advice of Friar Laurence who has her drink a potion that will have the apparent effects of death in hopes of causing the parents to regret their decision. Hopefully, then, when she revives, they will be reconciled to her marriage to Romeo. But, before the young and delicate Juliet consumes this vial, she suffers tortuous fears that she will die, or if she does not, she will lose her mind when she awakens in the catacomb with skeletons, or she may not be able to breath in the tomb and die even if she does awaken.
Certainly, young Juliet endures many tribulations in the course of the three day romance with her Romeo. Her unfortunate awakening too late and finding her beloved dead is too cruel for such a young innocent. She is, indeed, one to whom great sympathy comes.
How does Shakespeare create sympathy for Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet"?
For me, personally, I feel sympathy for Juliet because she is the one who really gets the most pressure put on her during this play. She is the one who has to struggle more than anyone with conflicting pressures. I think that Shakespeare makes us feel for her through the situations he puts her in.
First of all, Juliet (unlike Romeo) is put in a bind between her parents and her love. Sure, we know the Montagues hate the Capulets, but we never see Romeo's parents telling him he has to marry someone. Juliet, by contrast, has to sit there and have her parents demanding that she should marry Paris even though she is completely in love with Romeo.
Second, we really see how badly Juliet's parents treat her. We see her being horribly berated by her father and mother for not wanting to marry Paris. When I, at least, read or hear those lines, my heart goes out to her for what her parents are doing to her.
So I think that Shakespeare makes us feel for her by putting her in a much more pressurized situation than anyone else in the play and by having her parents treat her as they do.
Analysis of Juliet's Quote in Romeo and Juliet
5 Educator Answers
Summary:
Juliet's quotes in Romeo and Juliet often reveal her intense emotions and inner conflicts. Her famous line, "O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" underscores her anguish over Romeo's identity as a Montague, the family enemy. This quote exemplifies her struggle between her love for Romeo and the feud dividing their families, highlighting the play's themes of love and conflict.
What does Juliet's quote in Romeo and Juliet mean?
"I'll look to like, if looking liking move; / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Juliet will soon being seeing Paris for the first time at the masquerade ball the Capulets are holding. Paris has asked Lord Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage. While Lord Capulet thinks it is too early for Juliet to marry, as she is not quite fourteen, both parents think it is a suitable match.
Therefore, Lady Capulet comes to Juliet's chambers to introduce to her the idea of marrying Paris. She sings Paris's praises: he is good looking, he is rich, people would admire you for marrying him, he would be a a fine match. She ends by asking Juliet if she can "like" Paris.
Juliet responds with the quote above. She says in the first line that she will look at him with the idea of liking him, if he is likable. In other words, she will go to the party with an open mind and positive attitude, trying to see the good in Paris if at all possible. In the second line, she says she won't love any more than her mother allows: by saying "endart my eye" and "make it fly," she refers to Cupid's arrow. She assures her mother she won't fall in love more passionately than her mother would like.
All of this shows that, in contrast to the lovesick Romeo, Juliet is not in love and has no idea what it means to be in love: she does not yet know it is not something she cannot control.
What does Juliet's quote in Romeo and Juliet mean?
"I'll look to like, if looking liking move; / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Romeo and Juliet tells the ageless story of the two "star-crossed" young lovers, a story which has inspired many and which is doomed even before the two meet, as the "ancient grudge" between their families promises certain destruction.
Having reached an age when marriage is a potential topic of conversation for Juliet's parents, Juliet is not interested in any such discussion. Even her father admits to Paris that he would prefer to wait two more years before he would consider Juliet to be of an age to marry. He says, "Let two more summers wither in their pride" in Act I, scene ii, line 10. Having suggested that Paris therefore takes his time, Capulet cautions him to "get her heart" (17), accepting that even his own consent to marry Paris is reliant on Juliet's own agreement. He does add "within her scope of choice" in line 18 which is significant because later he will insist that she marry Paris (immediately) and this fact will drive Juliet to extreme action. It seems that Juliet does have some measure of independent choice as long as her choice is reasonable to her parents. Juliet, however, has other ideas about the extent of her independence.
Shortly after Paris's discussion with Capulet, Lady Capulet discusses Paris's intentions with Juliet in Act I, scene iii. Lady Capulet wants Juliet to consider Paris's proposal and she wants her to use the feast as an opportunity to find out more about him. This is when Juliet offers to "look to like..." (98). Juliet is appeasing her mother by agreeing to think over the matter. She will observe him "if looking liking move," meaning if her mother thinks that that will make any difference. Juliet goes on to say that "no more deep will I endart mine eye" meaning that she will not go to any extraordinary measures to make herself like him. When she finishes off with "than your consent gives strength to make it fly" she is suggesting that her mother's encouragement is not having that much effect in persuading Juliet to favor Paris anyway. She still does not want to get married at this point.
What does Juliet's quote in Romeo and Juliet mean?
"I'll look to like, if looking liking move; / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Here is a paraphrase of Juliet's words to her mother when she has been asked if she could possibly love Paris, whom she is about to meet: I will look at Paris tonight and see if I feel any chemistry with him. And even if I do, I won't go overboard without your consent.
Isn't she an obedient child? Shakespeare needs to portray her this way so we can see what a change she makes once she really feels chemistry with Romeo. In essence, Juliet is allowing her mother final say in who she will love....not long after meeting Romeo, she refuses to allow her parents to dictate her fate.
The image of the arrow (endart, fly) is often used when people fall in love...an allusion to Eros (Cupid) and his arrows.
What literary devices are used in Juliet's quote, "I'll look to like, if looking liking move: But no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives..."?
Juliet makes this noncommittal statement to her mother in Act 1, scene 3 as they discuss Count Paris. Lady Capulet has directly asked Juliet to “Read o'er the volume of young Paris' face / And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen” when she sees him at the feast that night. Lady Capulet insists that a beauty like Juliet shouldn’t hide from a handsome man like Paris. She reminds Juliet that she was already a mother at Juliet’s age; she sincerely wishes her daughter to marry young. Yet another motive seems likely. She tells Juliet, “So shall you share all that he doth possess.” Being a count, his marriage to Juliet would bring the Capulets status and wealth beyond what they possess.
Juliet, naturally, feels the pressure of her mother’s insistence that she marry Count Paris, and being a teenager, it is in her nature to resist. Neither of her parents have considered love, which Juliet longs for. Yet rather than outright refuse to consider Paris, Juliet gives a neutral response: "I'll look to like, if looking liking move. / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / than your consent gives to make it fly." Juliet is agreeing to look at and consider Paris. If she is impressed with what she sees, she will allow herself to like him. Yet she will not completely open her heart to him more than they have they have given consent to. If Lady Capulet was listening to her daughter’s heart here, she’d hear more than the words on the surface. Remember, the Capulet’s never mentioned (gave “consent” to) love in this union.
It is a crafty response from Juliet, using creative literary and rhetorical devices. Note the alliteration with the l’s and consonance with the k’s: “look to like, if looking liking...” Yes, this lends the usual musical effect of repeated consonant sounds, but it also creates a sort of tongue twister when combined with the assonance--in this case, alternating long “o”s and short “i”s. Juliet is not wanting to give a straight answer, and her twisting language here is a bit hard to follow (even for a Shakespearean audience), allowing her a bit of evasion. To that end, her answer also includes a bit of hyperbaton, as her words are arranged in an unusual order here: “if looking liking move.” More standard would be, “if looking moves liking,” meaning if looking at him moves me to like him. Finally, Juliet presents the analogy of her love as a bird, in her statement that she will not look deeply into his heart to find love “to make it fly.” A bird has freedom to choose where it will fly. Juliet, being pushed towards Paris, clearly sees that she lacks her parents’ consent to let her heart fly where it will in search of love.
What is the interpretation of this quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet?
"I'll look to like, if looking liking move; But no more deep will I endart mine eye Than your consent gives strength to make it fly."
Juliet is speaking to her mother when she says this: "I'll look to like, if looking liking move; But no more deep will I endart mine eye Than your consent gives strangth to make it fly."
Her mother has just asked her to take a look at Paris at the party that evening and see if she might find him suitable to be her husband, not that it really mattered in Juliet's world where arranged marriages were common. Lady Capulet is trying to get Juliet to understand that Parris is likely to be the husband that is chosen for her, but unlike most parents of nobility in Verona at the time, Juliet's parents actually want her input in the matter.
Juliet's response is that she will check out Parris, but she is not promising that she will like him.
In writing your summary, be sure to include a topic sentence that includes the name of the play, the quote and the speaker to introduce your paragraph. Then, explain the quote and don't forget a conclusion sentence too.
Hope this helps!
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