Character Development In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

Even though they have made many immature mistakes (like marrying only after knowing each other less than twenty-four hours), Romeo and Juliet have matured throughout the play because they have both put each other before themselves, they both have been more aware and considerate of other people instead of being vain and inconsiderate, and they both have tried to control their own fates instead of letting fate control them.

From “the fatal loins” (Prologue.5) of Lord and Lady Capulet, protagonist Juliet is born in Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet. Early on in the play Juliet is portrayed as a very dutiful daughter to her family. After her encounter with Romeo however, she begins a rapid transformation from a naive young girl into a woman. By the end of the play Juliet’s transformation evolves her from a dutiful daughter, into a faithful wife that is willing to desert her family in the name of love.

The fateful daughter of Capulet commences her transformation as a character by being innocent and obedient to her parents. Juliet demonstrates this by saying: “I’ll look to

Capulet announcing that Juliet will marry Paris adds more stress to Juliet than she already had. Capulet did not raise Juliet like the nurse did, and doubtlessly expects Juliet to take orders like an army sergeant. Although, Juliet acts desperate and immature throughout the situation and cries, “Be not so long to speak; I long to die,/ If what thou speak'st speak not of remedy” (4.1.94-95), Since Juliet tries to kill herself, the father has to act as a therapist and solve Juliet’s problems. After Paris’s proposal, Juliet places the Friar under a time crunch because Juliet’s wedding will arrive soon Not to mention, Juliet must also quickly figure out a plan because she thrown out of her house. Capulet instinctively assumes that Juliet ungratefully decided not to marry Paris even though he implies that he created happiness on a golden platter. Capulet screams, “Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch!.../ Or never after look me in the face…”

This can be heard of while she talks to Friar Lawrence in a non-eloquent manner, “ And this shall free thee from this present shame, / If no inconstant toy nor womanish fear / Abate thy valor in acting it. / Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear! / Hold! Get you gone, be strong and prosperous / In this resolve. I’ll send a friar with speed / To Mantua, with my letters to thy lord. / Love give me strength, and strength shall help afford. / Farewell, dear father. “ (iv.i.118-126). This proves that Juliet was trying to avoid the wedding by making a plan with the friar. Therefore, this caused her to act out against the normal of society by trying to avoid the wedding. The third way that the marriage makes Juliet act out is by how she killed herself temporarily to avoid being married. This is not only her action out, but her not agreeing with her arranged marriage. However, having an arranged marriage was common back in Juliet’s time, but since she did not want one she acted out by not agreeing with the marriage. This proves that she did not agree with society, and that she did act outside of what society thought was okay to do. Overall Juliet avoiding the arranged marriage clearly shows that she is not afraid to act against the fickle laws set by society, and that she only wants to have true gallant love with Romeo.

Juliet Capulet is a perceiver and acts as a improvisor. Shakespeare writes “…Deny thy father and refuse thy name; or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, and it’ll no longer be a Capulet” (II. ii. 34-36). Juliet improvises and says that she rather not be a Capulet if that makes the predicament better. She doesn’t want her family’s rivalry with the Montagues to affect Romeo’s love for her. She even emphasizes that she would go to desperate measures and deny her father; during that time in England a woman was nothing without the provisions of their father or husband. This shows that she is willing to go all the way to get her feelings across to Romeo. Juliet then goes on to say “… Or if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self, which is the

Juliet is expected to be obedient and subservient as she is a women in the Elizabethan Era. She often displays these qualities throughout the play, For example when her mother inquires about Juliet's’ thoughts on marriage, Juliet obediently replies with “I'll look to like .... But no more will I endart my eye than your consent gives strength to make fly”. This demonstrates the fact that women in the Elizabethan era were very inferior to their parents. As the play goes on, Juliet's character changes into a more rebellious character. An example of when she becomes rebellious is when she is disobedient to Lord Capulet when he arranges a marriage for Paris and Juliet. “Not proud you have, but thankful that you have”. Her relationship with the nurse proves that the nurse was the one that took care of her during her childhood instead of Lady Capulet. She is looked down upon by her own parents as they don't even want to take care of her. This conveys the fact that the Capulets were wealthy and of course that in the Elizabethan Era you would force women to work for you and take care of your own

Juliet states, “...Go, counsellor;/ Thou and my bosom and henceforth shall be twain” (3.5.240-241). Juliet is stating that she has lost trust in the nurse because of her comments towards Romeo and Juliet’s marriage, by just saying she should marry Paris. At this point. Juliet loses her main confidant in the story, and she understandably becomes more desperate to find a solution to the problem facing her. After Juliet’s falling out with the nurse, Juliet asked for Friar Lawrence's advice, where the seemingly extravagant plan was comprised. When asking for advice, Juliet also showed her desperation by stating, “Give me some present counsel...Be not so long to speak; I long to die,/ If what thou speak’st speak not of remedy” (4.1.63-69). Juliet is basically saying if Friar Lawrence does not offer her a solution, she will kill herself instead of betraying her beloved Romeo. This devised plan that Juliet agrees to really conveys the theme that society can’t stop the forcefulness of love. Society is Lord Capulet and his plans for Juliet and the forcefulness of love is Juliet essentially giving everything she has up by faking her death just to be with

At the beginning of the scene she is happy and playfully arguing and he behaviour shows her total love for Romeo. This love seems to have matured her as when Romeo says: "Come death and welcome, Juliet wills it so", Juliet realises it is dangerous for him to stay any longer and starts to think practically. It also shows strength of character/will as most women may have wanted to spend more time with their loved one. Juliet saying: "I must hear from thee everyday in the hour", again shows her being practical as she wants to get him to stay in touch. When Lady Capulet enters, Juliet shows initiative by crying to make it seem she is upset over Tybalt's death and lets her mother believe this.

Juliet openly declares her distaste for the marriage all the while not revealing that she is already a married woman. With her stating her opinion, it angers her father. Once Friar Lawrence and Juliet devise a plan to get her out of the marriage, Juliet believes that she should reconcile with her father and pretend to feel something for Paris. Her mistake was saying too much. While apologizing to her father, she says “I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’s cell/

William Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’ shows the audience a story of two star crossed lovers who are torn apart by the hatred of their own families. The two protagonists are deeply in love and make unwise decisions because of their youth. However, Juliet is shown to be more mature through her words and her ability to make wise choices in bad situations, whereas her partner Romeo shows his lack of maturity through his actions. Therefore, Juliet is the more mature character in Shakespeare’s play ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, delivers an unfortunate tale of “a pair of star-crossed lovers”(1.1.6). Two families’, Capulets and Montagues, hatred towards one another leads to doom for the couple. Lord and Lady Capulet’s daughter, Juliet, and Lord and Lady Montague’s son, Romeo, fall in love and get married; however, this being a forbidden love, chaos ensues. Being the youngest of the Capulet family, she is the “perfect” child until she meets Romeo and her angel-like ways towards her parents start to slip away. Juliet changes rapidly throughout the story, growing up from an innocent and obedient girl in the first act to becoming a heartbroken woman at the end. Changes that Juliet undergoes can be seen in the beginning

Juliet is able to speak the truth and let her opinion be heard. For example, when Juliet responds to Lady Capulet about her thought on being married, she replies, “It is an honor I dream not of” (Shakespeare I. iii. 67). Juliet replies with pure honesty and stays true to herself. By simply stating what she believes to be true, Juliet can get across that she means what she says. Critical author P.S. states, “Juliet answers with no evasion or simpering weakness, but with honest frankness and charming modesty” (P.S. 89). Also, Juliet can be very straightforward when it comes to her relationship with Romeo. For example, when Juliet says, “Wherefore weep I then? Some word there was, worser than Tybalt’s death, That murdered me...Tybalt is dead, and Romeo banished”(Shakespeare III, ii. 110-115). Juliet’s response illustrates that she says it like it is because rather than crying for Tybalt, her tears are only for banished Romeo. Juliet is further pledging herself to Romeo, by choosing not to cry for Tybalt’s death. In conclusion, Juliet exemplifies the trait of

This can also be shown as Juliet’s dutiful acquiescence to try to love Paris, there is some seed of steely determination. Juliet promises to consider Paris as a possible husband to the precise degree her mother desires. While an outward show of obedience, such a statement can also be read as a refusal through passivity. Juliet will accede to her mother’s wishes, but she will not go out of her way to fall in love with Paris. Before Juliet transformation to adulthood you have to take in a consideration that Juliet hasn 't even reach the age of fourteen, that why she stands on the border of immaturity and maturity but at the beginning however she seems merely an obedient, sheltered, naive child. When it come to marriage Juliet hasn 't even give the subject any thought.

When Juliet receives the vial of poison, she says, “Romeo, Romeo, Romeo / Here’s to drink I drink to thee” (4.3.58-59). When Juliet takes the potion, she shows a complete rebellion to her parents, making them think that she is dead, and fooling them to bury her in a tomb. She does this to not have to marry Paris, whom her parents want her to marry. These actions show that she is a dynamic character, as in the beginning of the play, she is obedient and does what is expected of her. Near the middle and end to the play, her devotion to Romeo increases, and her devotion to her family decreases, getting more and more extreme. At the end of the play, Juliet will not leave Romeo, and will instead die instead of living, being shown in this quote by Juliet. “Go, get thee hence, for I will not go away” (5.3.172). This means being completely devoted to Romeo, and feeling no necessity to stay for her family. Her taking the potion is also dramatic irony, as her parents think that she is dead, but Friar Lawrence has made it so she will wake up while she is in the