Was Juliet ever obedient?(in the beginning) She went from obedient to rebellious, right? What is some specific evidence from the play that shows her obediance? maybe in the beginning?

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In the play "Romeo and Juliet" by William Shakespeare, the author shows us how Juliet moves from girlhood to womanhood. In childhood she wishes to do her best to please her parents and win her mother's approval. Now that she is becoming a more independently-minded young woman, Shakespeare is telling us that will change. Even in the text where Juliet seems obedient to her mother in at least considering Paris, we must remember that she hasn't seen Paris yet. She is only promising to look, not to marry him. So that bit of the obedience is easy. Who knows what would have happened after she was introduced to this older man, had Romeo not come along? She may well have been just as rebellious - not because she had Romeo but just because she found Paris unattractive!

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What you need to look at is the part where Juliet's mom is telling her that Paris wants to marry her.  Lady Capulet tells her about this and Juliet tells her that she will pretty much do whatever her mother wants her to do.  This can be found in Act I, Scene 3.

What happens there is that Lady Capulet tells Juliet all about how wonderful Paris is.  Then she asks Juliet if Juliet feels she can ever love Paris.  At that point, Juliet is really obedient and she says she'll do whatever her mom wants.

  • 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.

 

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