Romeo and Juliet Development of Juliets Character Essay Example For Students

Romeo and Juliet : Development of Juliets Character Essay This essay is about Juliets character and I am going to talk about how her behaviour develops towards Romeo, her Nurse, and on her own respectively. In the prologue we are informed that, a pair of star crossed lovers take their life, . This is to make us feel sympathy towards Romeo and Juliet. We also have to remember Juliet is only 13 at the start of the play and little more than a child; but she has potential to mature during the course of the play. Act 1 Scene 5 is the first encounter between the lovers. In this scene I think Juliet is clever just doing enough to keep Romeo interested, Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, . She is obviously infatuated with Romeo and behaves coquettishly towards him, for saints have hands that pilgrims hand do touch, . Romeo and Juliet use religious imagery towards one another because in an Elizabethan times religion was their most important thing, This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, . In this scene the religious imagery is used to woo each other and is formed into a sonnet emphasising their love. We will write a custom essay on Romeo and Juliet : Development of Juliets Character specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Act 2 Scene 2 is the famous balcony scene of the lovers. In this scene I feel Juliet appears immature although she is in a difficult situation. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? . Juliet says this aloud, forgetting anyone could hear her. The way in which she does not tell her family even though in act 1 scene 5 Capulet says, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth. Although I feel she does behave maturely on occasion, Whats Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, . Referring to that if Romeo was not a Montague the family wouldnt object. Juliet shows how forward she is in this scene as well by asking Romeo whether he loved her, and also proposing to him. This was a very odd thing for a woman to do in Elizabethan times. Going back to act 1 scene 3, this is the first time we see Juliet and also her first scene with the Nurse. In this scene Juliet shows maturity with her use of language as in act 1 scene 5. It is a honour that I dream not of, is Juliets reply to her mothers difficult question of marriage. This is resourceful because she says she is not ready, but at the same time using honour to compliment her mother, thus keeping her on Juliets side. As with the Nurse Juliet is very patient with her when the Nurse reminisces at length about her past, and since that time it is eleven years, . This scene also really shows how close Juliet is with the Nurse, Thou was the prettiest babe that ever I nursed, , which is a compliment Nurse gives to Juliet. Juliet is loving towards the Nurse and takes her advice seriously, that is why Lady Capulet calls her back, Nurse come back again, , to talk about marriage. At the end of this scene the Nurse says Paris is, Hes a man of wax, , which is a metaphor, and als o Lady Capulet says Paris is a flower to compliment him. Act 2 Scene 5 is Juliets main scene with the Nurse. In this scene Juliet is again immature like in act 2 scene 2, and also petulant. You can see this when she is waiting for Romeos reply about marriage. In half an hour she promised to return, , O she is lame, . It also shows impatience and irritability. When the Nurse does finally arrive she is very impatient in contrast with her being patient with the Nurse in act scene 3. Juliets is unthoughtful about the Nurses condition. The Nurse says, I am aweary, give me leave awhile, , but Juliet replies, Nay come, I pray thee speak, , showing no care for the Nurse to whom she is supposed to be close. When the Nurse eventually does tell Juliet the news, Juliet now says something complimentary to her, Honest Nurse, farewell, but because this is said after the good news is given, I feel this shows Juliet to be spoiled and she is only pleasent when she gets her own way. .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .postImageUrl , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:hover , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:visited , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:active { border:0!important; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:active , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Act 1 Scene 1, Act 1 Scene 5, and Act 2 Scene 5 in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night EssayIn act 3 scene 2 Juliet shows her continuing obsession with Romeo, Come night, come Romeo, come day in night, and this reinforces Juliets immaturity in wanting something she cant have. In this scene overall though I feel Juliet behaves maturely. The Nurse is wailing and mourning Tybalts death, while also saying bad of Romeos name, Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? . Juliet is the opposite staying quite calm and thinking logically saying, That villain cousin would have killed my husband, meaning one of them had to die so better it be Tybalt than Romeo. In this scene Juliet uses a hyperbole saying, that one word, banished, hath slain ten thousand Tybalts, . Conveying her intense emotion towards the situation. Act 3 scene 5 is Juliets last scene with the Nurse. In this scene their relationship mainly breaks down due to a difference of opinion. The Nurse thinks Juliet should marry Paris, I think it best if you marry with the county, . Juliet has given the Nurse a last chance to make peace with her but the Nurses response does not please Juliet. Juliet is mature here though because instead of telling the Nurse this she conceals her feelings so as to not hurt the Nurse. When the Nurse leaves she reveals her true feelings to the Nurses response, Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus foresworn, , showing Juliets true feelings of the Nurses comment. Finally, I am going to write about Juliets character while she is alone, later on in the play. The first time is in act 4 scene 3. In this scene I feel she is unnecessarily courageous. Juliet has decided to take the potion but it can be seen that she is apprehensive in her soliloquy, I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins that almost freezes up the heat of life, . There are many possible complications with taking the potion that Juliet can think of, What if the mixture does not work at all, and, What if it be poison, [line 25 act 4 scene 3. I think she should have just gone to Romeo because the end result is the same without the unnecessary complications. Act 5 scene 3 is the final scene and like in the last scene Juliet is again bold in her decision. She has just awoken to the site of Romeos dead body and the Friar has left her. She now has a choice either to go away where the Friar sends her or to die with Romeo. She decides to kill herself, O happy dagger. This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die, . I feel this was a necessary decision due to her other option, which would not lead to a promising future with no money or skills. Also in Elizabethan times once you are dead you go to heaven although suicide was against God. Even so Juliet loved Romeo enough to go against God. In conclusion I feel Juliet is immature at the start, but develops as the play goes on. Throughout she uses her brain to get out of tough situations, like in act 1 scene 3 when asked about marriage. Then towards the end she becomes more independent and shows maturity and inner strength. I believe this play is about the effect of hate in society. It shows how futile it is and the consequences of it on peoples lives like Romeo and Juliet. This play is a tragedy like others of Shakespeares, such as Macbeth and Richard the III. Like in this play, good conquers evil. The families in this play make friends at the end and both the evil Macbeth and Richard III dying in theirs.