Romeo and Juliet
Explore the ways relationships are presented in the text you studied
In this essay I will be exploring the ways relationships are presented in Romeo and Juliet and Simon Armitage’s Mother anywhere poem.
In the Petrarchan society, children were treated as slaves, and their general decisions were created for them which as a result of this, they had no freedom. For instance: “I tell thee what; get thee to a church a’Thursday or never look me in the face. Speak not, reply not, and do not answer me”. This shows that at this moment in time, Capulet was livid with Juliet and was ready to disown her if she didn’t marry Paris. In the contrast, in today’s society women are allowed to marry whoever they choose, and have their own rights whereas in the 16th century, women were referred to objects/slaves, e.g. if a young girl refused to marry or obey their fathers orders, they would be disowned and kicked out their homes. The reason for this was because until a girl is married, they belong to their father and is their property, and then after she is married she belongs to her husband.
In act 1 scene 2, Capulet is discussing Juliet’s marriage to Paris with him, and he tells Paris how he wants to wait until Juliet has fallen in love with him and only then he would like to take the discussion further. For example: “She is the hopeful lady of my earth: But woo her gentle Paris, get her heart, my will to her consent is but a part”. This shows that all Capulet’s hopes are lied within Juliet, and also she is his only daughter therefore he wants the best for her, and he is being very protective which also means he doesn’t want her to get married to Paris until she agrees first. However in the Elizabethan times, most girls had arranged marriages, most manly for status, money and land, moreover this shows Capulet is looking out for his daughter and rebelling that society.
Capulet later agrees to Juliet’s hand in marriage in hope it will give her something to...