Romeo and Juliet Different Genders

Romeo and Juliet Different Genders

Hannah Wood 9RSH Romeo and Juliet Essay: Different Genders.





In Romeo and Juliet, we encounter many differences between genders. There are tough, hard men where their main conversation topics are fighting and women. There are also the more feminine men who are there for their friends who are in need. The same applies to the women of Verona. Lady Capulet is a strict young woman and takes the role of the man of the house. The Nurse is very much a strong woman too, but has a more feminine personality.

In the opening scenes we are introduced to Sampson and Gregory. Shakespeare has used stereotypical language to give us the idea of stereotypical personalities. They consider ‘women being the weaker vessels' who they can ‘thrust to the wall.' Their talk consists of nothing more than fighting and women. Sampson suggests ‘ cutting the heads off the maids.' They both think of themselves very highly as Sampson also says ‘tis' known I am a pretty piece of flesh.' They are in no hurry to cease an argument with the Montague's. As they approach they warn each other to ‘draw thy tool.' The two Capulets also have a way of provoking the other households. ‘Do you bite your thumb at us sir?' is a rude gesture in Elizabethan times. Sampson and Gregory use it as a way of getting the Montague's to fight back.

Tybalt, another Capulet is also very similar to Sampson and Gregory in the way that he is another very masculine person. Although he first enters the play with only 5 lines, we learn a lot about him in that time. Whereas Benvolio is trying to keep the peace, Tybalt rises to the opportunity and keeps the fighting flame alight. He orders Benvolio to ‘ look upon thy death' as if to say that there could be some blood drawn there. He also mentions that he ‘hates the word' peace. This all suggests that Tybalt is quite an angry person and like a lot of violence; possibly keep him amused and out of the boredom area.

An opposite of Tybalt is Benvolio. He acts...

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