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Comparing The Tudor England And William Shakespeare 's Romeo And Juliet

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Tudor England was a very difficult period of moment in time for women, as it was a patriarchal society; therefore, women were subordinate to men and at the bottom of the hierarchy. Women were seen as sex objects and their main purposes were producing children and doing domestic work, such as learning music, drawing and needlework. Women were also seen as vulnerable and defenceless. Women had to be obedient and submissive towards all the men they knew; fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins. If a woman failed to conform to the orders of a man, she could risk severe punishment, such as being disowned by her father or thrown out of the house by her husband. If a man did that to his wife, it would be hard for her as all of her belongings are …show more content…

Therefore, it would have been practical for women to have been married off quickly. Capulet even describes Juliet as “the hopeful lady” of his earth. All of the Capulet children being dead; the Capulet fortune would go to Juliet’s future husband. This would mean that finding Juliet the right husband would be very important. Lady Capulet’s reaction to Juliet’s proposal is very different compared to lord Capulet’s. Lady Capulet thought that as she was already married at Juliet’s age, it should be fine for Juliet herself. She tries to encourage Juliet to watch out for Paris at the party later on and think about falling in love and marrying him. Lady Capulet could have even been disappointed in Juliet, as “ladies of esteem are made already mothers”. Lady Capulet was pregnant with Juliet at her age, so she would expect Juliet to follow her footsteps and continue the Capulet name. The reactions of Paris’ proposal from Lord and Lady Capulet seem very much reversed. You would expect Lady Capulet to be hesitant of Juliet leaving the household to join her husband, and Capulet to be excited at the perspective of being relieved of the burden, Juliet. However instead, Lady Capulet seems the most enthusiastic at the proposal. Lady Capulet rarely shows Juliet motherly love, even calling her “girl”. The only person, who was shown to share a maternal bond with Juliet, was her nurse. The nurse had been there for Juliet since her birth, even

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