Love and Gender Roles in Romeo and Juliet

In the play “Romeo and Juliet,” William Shakespeare suggested both genders in the play to be losers but there are themes that won the play at the end. Women in the play such as Lady Capulet and Juliet were considered to be losers due to their gender in the patriarchal society of Verona. The men in the play were also losers and this was shown when Romeo had characteristics such as writing poems and hated fighting which considered him as effeminate. Lord Capulet and Lord Montague are another example of men who are losers in the play as they both lost their children due to the feud between the two families. Even though the characters in the play “Romeo and Juliet” are losers near the end of the play, Love was a predominant theme during the play which was the winner at the end.

Shakespeare suggested women to be oppressed in the patriarchal society due to their gender. When Juliet told her father that she wanted to marry Romeo, Lord Capulet was not willing to agree and said “young baggage, disobedient wretch.” Lord Capulet then went on to say “we have a curse in having her [Juliet].” This shows how Juliet is objectified by her father and how she is only as valuable as a baggage to Lord Capulet. Lady Capulet was being submissive towards her husband and did not defend her daughter when she was getting scolded by her father. This was why Lady Capulet told Juliet ‘“Here comes your father; tell him so yourself, And see how he will take it at your hands.” Shakespeare portrayed Lady Capulet to be acquiescent as she was not willing to defend her daughter due to her husband's beliefs having more significance to her. Therefore, it is apparent in the play that women are losers as they do not get the same rights as men in the patriarchal society of verona.

Men are also losers in the play and this is due to the limitations set by the patriarchal society and also the loss of their loved ones. Romeo in the play has a wide range of characteristics such as writing poems, hates fighting and cries which makes him effeminate. This behaviour is not accepted in the patriarchal society as men are expected to be fighters and not behave in a manner that considers them as a woman. This is why Friar Lawrence says “thy tears are womanish, thy wild acts denote the unreasonable fury of a beast. Unseemly woman in a seeming man…” Shakespeare suggested Romeo's effeminacy in this scene as he was weeping like a woman when he is supposed to man up and act courageous in the patriarchal society where men are in power. Moreover, men located high in the patriarchal class also suffered defeat and this is evident when both Lord Capulet lost his daughter. When Juliet was found dead on the day she was meant to marry Paris, Lord Capulet said “Alack, my child is dead, And with my child my joys are buried.” Shakespeare suggested irony as the previous conversation with Lord Capulet and Juliet consisted of Capulet saying “we have a curse in having her [Juliet].” This reflects how Juliet's desire at that time to not marry Paris was rejected by Lord Capulet's stubborn behaviour which eventually leads to Juliet’s “death.” Consequently, it is evident that men in the play also suffer defeat due to their effete and obstinate behaviour.

Even though the play “Romeo and Juliet” has no winners in both genders at the end, Love is a predominant theme throughout the play that wins. Love is shown in the play when Romeo says to Juliet “With love’s light wings did I o'erperch these walls, For stony limits cannot hold love out...” Shakespeare suggests that Romeo is in love with Juliet in this scene as he says that even the stone walls that were blocking them from reaching each other can not keep love out. Juliet acknowledges this but still wants Romeo to be safe and takes agency by telling Romeo “I would not for the world they saw thee here.” Shakespeare shows in this scene that Juliet is willing to give anything to stop the Capulet family from seeing Romeo. This shows how they both are in Love and how they are willing to do anything to not get the other in trouble. Juliet’s love for Romeo is also shown when she said “O happy dagger, This is thy sheath. There rust and let me die.” This suggests that she was ready to give up her life since Romeo is already dead and her life has no value without him. Shakespeare could have also portrayed Juliet to have been caught up with the agony of Romeo's death and she could not have imagined an alternative life with Paris. Hence, it is shown in the play that love is the only winner as both Romeo and Juliet were willing to give up their lives because of love.

Ultimately, William Shakespears play “Romeo and Juliet” shows how both genders are not winners and are restricted by the patriarchal society which leads to defeat. However, even though both genders suffer defeat in the play, love is a predominant theme throughout the play which is the winner at the very end of the play.