Gender-Based Conflict In Galotti's Romeo And Juliet

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in the 16th century, at a time when the role of the woman was to be subservient to men and act as a wife to their husband and a mother to their children. Women were expected to conform to the expectations of society, and were seen as possessions by their fathers and husbands. Fathers arranged their daughters’ marriages, usually for financial or social gain for the family. In Romeo and Juliet, the unfair treatment of women is conveyed through characters such as Juliet, a young girl who is growing up within the expectations of society, and Lady Capulet, who represents a traditional side of love, and values social position rather than men themselves.

When Juliet finds out that Tybalt has been killed and Romeo is in exile, for killing Tybalt, Juliet feels both passionate about Romeo and disappointed in both Romeo and herself, which reveal her inner struggle. In Act 3, Juliet’s Nurse comes back with this news that Tybalt is dead and that Romeo is such an awful person for killing him. Juliet fights back at the Nurse, and herself, for speaking bad about Romeo. She claims, ““Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband? Ah, poor my lord, what tongue shall smooth thy name, When I, thy three hours' wife, have mangled it? But wherefore, villain, didst thou kill my cousin? That villain cousin would have killed my husband.” (3.2.99-101). This shows that Juliet is passionate about Romeo, because first of all, she says that she was wrong to say bad things about her husband.

One might think that masculinity is only a mental and ethical issue, yet throughout the tragic play of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, masculinity proves to be a two headed beast that not only is a mental but also physical problem. All the way from the beginning in scene 1.1 to the final scene of act 5, there was constant conflict occurring with short breaks of love and triumph collapsed by more ensuing conflict. Furthermore, a majority of this clash between the two families, Capulets and Montagues, was indirectly or directly evoked by the masculine behavior exerted by the men in the story. All things considered, the tragedy where two lovers upon many others meet their ultimate fate of death would have never been a tragedy without all of the masculinity that all of the men characters seem to exude. All throughout this essay, it will become more apparent that the idea of the internal and external need for masculinity in the men has consequently kindled the fire of conflict between the Montagues and Capulets in the tragedy because of the status quo, disrespect for women, and mindset of a masculine man.

Author and civil rights activist Maya Angelou once said, “How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes!”. When one thinks of comic books, it is very likely that the subjects that come to mind are Marvel’s Spiderman or DC’s Batman. Although comic books are stereotypically thought to be mainly about super heroes, there are a wide variety of subject matter they could be written about, such as romance. In the 1950s – 1960s, it was common for these romance comics to exploit the social norms of that time and emphasized the subject of gender roles. While the men in comic books were usually illustrated in a brave heroic manner, the women would be portrayed to be what would now be considered a stereotypical “trophy wife”. As a young child reading these comics and taking in these images, they are slowly molding their ideals to believe that what they are reading and seeing is what is accepted and normal in their society. By coding gender norms into the texts, authors are helping mold the ideology of its readers to believe that it is acceptable for both genders to follow specific rules that accommodate to the believed social norms of the time.

Romeo and Juliet is conflict and love. Conflict and love are both shown through characterization in all of the characters. In the beginning, we see Juliet 's character as a little young child who obeys her family duties. When she meets, Romeo, her character is taken on a rollercoaster of emotions. Juliet 's character is the source of conflict and we see this through her developing actions. Romeo creates Juliet into this powerful young women. Romeo is so important to Juliet that she does not want to loose him. Conflict begins to arise when things actually take off. Once they are together on the balcony, is when they both realize that they are meant for each other. That true love is true and that they are destined for the stars. True love is

In a patriarchal society, women are expected to conform to social restrictions by demonstrating reverence and obedience to the males in their lives. Shakespeare's tragic play, Romeo and Juliet, explores the effects of patriarchal authority exerted over women and how the patriarchal structure left no escape from it, save death. Through Juliet, Lady Capulet, and the Nurse, Shakespeare establishes a common understanding of this type of society, but illuminates three different reactions to the social oppression by portraying the responses of a passionate lover, an idyllic housewife, and an attendant.

Men have had a more dramatic impact on the audience than women in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

In the Elizabethan era, women were forced to follow orders of their elders and rarely stood up for their beliefs. Juliet is a prime example of standing up to her own decision to marry the love of her life, Romeo. Juliet had to face many obstacles along the way when finally, Romeo and Juliet take their own lives so fate can stop playing its role. Women were considered disobedient if they disregarded their parents request. In addition, It was a reality for women to be treated like objects with men consisting of more power. Also, women seeked help from other men due to their inferiority compared to their opposite gender. Therefore, Shakespeare reflects a misogynist point of view in the play, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, by depicting women

Female sovereignty was uncommon in Renaissance England. The social structure of the family assured the subjugation of woman under man. Daughters remained under the care of their fathers until they were married, at which time they became subject to their husband's authority. Economics ensured the wife's dependence on her husband. Unmarried and widowed women retained far more legal rights than married women, therefore, "for a woman, marriage meant the loss of her legal and economic rights, and therefore a dependence on the (chosen) man" (Motte 29). Even though marriage often meant a loss of legal rights, those daughters who had the good fortune to choose their mates faired better than those whose marriages were arranged.

Compare and contrast the presentation of gender in two films we have looked at on the course

Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in the 16th century, at a time where the role of the woman was to be subservient to men and act as a wife to their husband and a mother to their children. Women were expected to conform to the expectations of society, and were seen as possessions by their fathers and husbands. Fathers arranged their daughters’ marriages, usually for financial or social gain for the family. In Romeo and Juliet, the unfair treatment of women is conveyed through characters such as Juliet, a young girl who is growing into the expectations of society, and Lady Capulet, who represents a traditional side of love and values social position rather than men themselves.

One of the most famous love stories, the inspiration for many a boy-meets-girl pieces, has a twist many forget to remember, but a walk backwards from the last lines of the lovers will show how one of Shakespeare's plays defied the gender binary. With quick consideration, masculine traits in Juliet can be summoned from memory. Romeo’s femininity however, requires more in-depth search, but does undoubtedly surface. The sacrifices of both lovers will reveal information about their characters, and their roles in the relationship. Investigation into Juliet's masculinity, Romeo’s femininity, and their sacrifices for love creates a story more complex than what the average reader absorbs.

Throughout William Shakespeare’s play, Romeo and Juliet, there is an overlaying presence of the typical gender roles that men and women were supposed to enact. These were the very roles that influenced the fate of their lives. Romeo and Juliet defy the rules placed upon themselves in both subtle and extreme ways. Juliet’s conflicted adherence and rebellion puts her in the position of deciding protagonist as every decision Juliet makes has a domino effect on the other characters in the play.

John Madden’s interpretation of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare in Love pushes the boundaries of William Shakespeare’s stigma of gender roles, especially those of the main characters; Will Shakespeare and Viola De Lesseps. Throughout the entire movie Madden had put an interesting subtext to how it chooses to approach gender. Putting this twist on traditional masculine/feminine roles is executed through a great deal of line rearranging, reorganising and rewording. By allowing Will to speak lines reserved in Shakespeare’s play for Juliet brings a whole new meaning to the saying ‘gender is but a performance’. Retelling a story created five hundred years ago and adapting it to suit a modern era and audience can be challenging, but Madden’s clever use of imagery and staging supports the sub textual gender issues making the story more believable and relatable to a

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare, there is an overlaying presence of the typical roles that men and women were supposed to play. During Elizabethan times there was a major difference between the way men and women were supposed to act. Men typically were supposed to be masculine and powerful, and defend the honor. Women, on the other hand, were supposed to be subservient to their men in their lives and do as ever they wished. In Romeo and Juliet the typical gender roles that men and women were supposed to play had an influence on the fate of their lives.