AQA English Literature GCSE

Romeo and Juliet: Character Profile

Juliet

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Juliet Capulet

INTRODUCTION

Juliet is the ​female protagonist​ of the play. She makes

up the ​“...pair of star-crossed lovers…”​ the ​tragedy​ is
centred around.

Although Juliet is only 13, Capulet ​arranges her

marriage​ to Paris in the first scene she is mentioned.
Thus, Shakespeare presents her as an ​object of desire
whose only function is to be married. Although she is
seen in such a ​reductive​ ​way, the character displays
complexity and maturity​ which​ ​contrasts​ with her
young age.

The protagonist can be perceived as ​an anomaly​ ​in the

play, as she is the only character who attempts to reject
the​ ​societal pressures​ she faces: she insists on
marrying for love ​and ​takes action​ ​against her ​circumstances​. Juliet becomes the ​catalyst​ ​that
causes the ​metamorphosis of Romeo​ from a ​Petrarchan lover​ ​to a ​Shakespearan lover​.
Ultimately, the two lovers meet a​ tragic end,​ but Juliet’s action at the end of the play signifies the
lengths to which the character is able to go in order to​ ​assert her freedom.

CHARACTER IN CONTEXT

The Nurse
Juliet’s close relationship with her Nurse directly contrasts with how distant she is with her mother.
This reflects how many upper-class mothers did not raise their own children. Instead, the Nurse
carries out the​ ​role​ of the​ ​traditional mother​; ​she gives Juliet advice, looks after her and even
elaborates that she breastfed Juliet. This can be seen in the quote, ​“For I had then laid
wormwood to my dug,” o ​ utlining how Juliet’s relationship with the Nurse is more ​naturally
maternal​ ​than with Lady Capulet.

Furthermore, the Nurse has to sleep in the same room as Juliet as a way of ​preserving Juliet’s
chastity​ ​(​her ​virginity​). This​ ​shows Elizabethan ​patriarchal views ​of​ ​female sexuality​.​ Female
sexuality was seen as ​dangerous​, therefore it was important to ​subdue​ ​female sexuality.

Sonnet form
Traditionally, the ​sonnet form​ was used by men to write about women. The women were usually
portrayed as ​objects​ within the poems and therefore had​ no agency​. However, Shakespeare
subverts​ the form as Juliet, a female character, speaks to Romeo in the sonnet form. Juliet’s
ability to communicate with Romeo on an equal footing would have been unusual at the time which

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would have shown the audience that she wasn't a stereotypical Elizabethan woman. In this play,
although still written by Shakespeare himself, Juliet participates in ​constructing​ ​the Sonnet form,
for example, the first 14 lines of dialogue between Romeo and Juliet is a sonnet.

Shakespeare thus allows a woman, who is seen as an object by the male characters within the
play, to become the subject within this dynamic. Through giving his female character agency
Shakespeare's use of the​ sonnet ​subverts the patriarchal dominance ​over the form. Through
giving his female character a typically male voice Shakespeare has allowed female agency to take
place within the play. (Shakespeare gives many of his female characters agency, can you think of
other plays he has written where this is the case?

Feminist messages
Shakespeare conveys a dynamic between men and women
within the play which could be considered feminist. Although
Mercutio finishes Romeo’s rhymes with​ ​elaborate
misogynistic lines​,​ ​Juliet completes his rhymes with ​wit and
intelligence​, contrary to the sexist attitudes of the time.
Therefore Juliet is an​ ​atypical portrayal​ ​of an Elizabethan
woman, as she​ ​transcends​ ​the​ ​cultural and societal
boundaries​ ​of her time. Refusing to b​e subjected or reduced
to her circumstances, modern ​critics may even argue that Juliet
is a​ ​proto-feminist character​,​ ​t​hat attempts to break down the
patriarchy, and ​reclaim her own fate.

Religion
The theme of religion is ​explored ambivalently​ (meaning with
mixed emotion)​ ​in the play: Juliet both ​upholds​ ​religion and
subverts it​.
➔ Juliet’s presence in the play highlights how​ ​worshipping​ ​and ​idolising​ a person (i.e
Rosaline) can be detrimental as it leads to isolation for Romeo.
➔ Juliet describes Romeo as ​“the god of my idolatry”​. Her reference to ​“god”​ implies she
perpetuates love​ as a ​religious experience​. Whereas Shakespeare’s use of the ​noun
“idolatry”​ illuminates the dangers of such a love.
➔ Furthermore, Juliet preserves ​religious ideals​ as she makes it clear that she wants to be
married before continuing her relationship with Romeo.
➔ However, she ultimately commits the most​ ​sacrilegious act​ ​by committing suicide which is
considered a sin in the Bible. The Elizabethan audience, who was extremely religious,
would have been shocked by this. Therefore, Juliet allows readings of both religious
conformism​ ​and ​dissidence.

Gender Roles
The ​feminine​ ​and the​ ​masculine​ are contrasted greatly in the play. Most of the men have scenes
set in ​the outdoors​ (such as the duel between Mercutio and Tybalt, Romeo hiding in the groves).
However, Juliet’s scenes often ​take place indoors.​ This is displayed in many productions of the
play, as it demonstrates the​ domesticity​ ​Juliet is ​subjected​ to. Thus setting and spaces become a
physical representation​ of the masculine and the feminine.

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Despite being female, Juliet is a figure who can be considered equal to Romeo within the play. She
is seen as being just as intelligent as she ​finishes Romeo’s rhymes​ which only Mercutio and
Benvolio are seen doing; this can be seen in​ Act 1 Scene 5 ​when the lovers first meet. This
indicates that Juliet is well educated, as she is able to keep up with men who would have been
privileged with an education. Thus, Juliet can be seen as a​ ​revolutionary character​,​ ​who​ ​does
not perpetuate​ ​the ​narrative archetype​ she has been written into. Unlike most women of her
status, she ​rejects societal expectations​ and ​rules​ in order to pursue her love with Romeo.

Violence
Juliet is the ​antidote ​to the violence presented within the play. Romeo exclaims that her love
makes him ​“effeminate”​, thus he is unable to duel Tybalt. This means that Juliet functions as the
antithesis to violence.​ This is mainly to do with​ ​societal structures​ and ​gender constructs.
Sword fighting​ ​was mainly associated with males, who would ​take part in duels​ ​in the
Elizabethan era. However, at the end of the play, Juliet is forced to take violent action against
herself. It could mean that violence may be the only answer at times. Juliet’s choice to use violence
ends the feud,​ thus technically ending all of the violence of play. To this extent, Juliet is the ​cure
to violence​ in the play.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS & CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

● Love - ​Juliet is the ​epitome​ of ​Shakespearan love.​ This form of love is not one of
unrequited self-conscious suffering​, but rather a ​complete and romantic relationship.
Juliet is the foil to ​“Rosaline”,​ who symbolises the ​abstract concept​ of perfect love. This
can be seen in how Juliet​ ​reciprocates​ love. The physical act of kissing when she meets
Romeo means that the character embodies a ​physical, tangible, real love​. The dialogue
between Romeo and Juliet, where they finish each other’s rhymes or complete the rhyme
scheme of a ​Shakespearean sonnet,​ ​signifies their ​compatibility ​(look below to quote
bank for a complete analysis). Thus, Juliet is the embodiment of a love that ​undermines
the​ ​tradition​ of ​Petrarchan courtly love.​ ​Modern feminists​ ​would encourage a reading
that Juliet is a ​sexually liberated,​ ​self-autonomous lover,​ ​who is ​not subservient​ to her
male counterpart but is in fact his​ ​equal.

● Fate - ​Juliet is faced by the challenge of ​arbitrary fate:​ she is a Capulet and Romeo is a
Montague, she has been arranged to marry Paris, and she is a woman who has very ​little
freedom ​to make her own choices in life. Yet, Shakespeare has given Juliet ​agency​ within
the play which allows her to confront and overcome these obstacles to be with her one true
love, Romeo. She understands that Romeo is, ​“[her] only love sprung from [her] only
hate”.​ She encourages him to ​“deny thy father and refuse thy name” ​showing how she
rejects​ their ​circumstance.​ Juliet ignites the plot to avoid marrying Paris and instead
persuades Friar Lawrence to help her marry Romeo. These acts show her as a strong
woman who refuses to be ​confined ​by the​ boundaries​ ​of gender rules​. Ultimately, her
suicide can be interpreted as a ​defiant act against fate​ ​and the society ​she inhabits. She
makes an active choice to establish arguably a form of freedom from a fate that has

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 destroyed her life- she takes charge of her own life. Juliet’s ​self-autonomous nature​ is
antithetical to ​fate,​ which is the​ ​set of conditions​ she is placed within.

● Isolation - ​In contrast to Romeo, Juliet is never alone; she is never left in isolation. This can
be seen in how the Nurse constantly calls out for Juliet, or her scenes always have one
other character present. To what extent this is intended is debatable, however, this does
symbolise Juliet’s ​lack of freedom and privacy. ​Being alone does not always mean
isolation, however, it can be an indication of feeling isolated. Isolation can be seen as an
attempt at ​creating a place for oneself​,​ ​therefore a lack of this suggests that Juliet does
not have the freedom to construct her own space. Her final act of taking action alone and
detaching herself from her family and the Nurse connotes an ​emotional maturity and
growth.

● Opposition - ​Juliet’s journey within the play is full of opposing forces;​ antithetical themes
such as ​Hate and Love,​ ​Life and Death​, ​become inextricably linked.​ Juliet’s love stems
out of hate, Romeo, and her relationship with Romeo leads to her death. Thematically Juliet
is ​presented as liminal​, as she is caught between two states. The fact that she is in
between ​adulthood ​and ​childhood ​is evidence for her liminality. Through this
Shakespeare is able to develop a ​complex character​ ​which is four-dimensional and does
not simply adhere to simple, superficial themes.

Relationships with other characters

Romeo | ​The two eponymous characters are immediately

established as possessing the central relationship of the
play; their relationship ​develops quickly​ which makes it
incredibly ​passionate​. Juliet is extremely young in
comparison to Romeo and so it is highly possible that this
is her first real relationship. Their initial interaction is
incredibly flirtatious, which juxtaposes the terrible and
debilitating tension it goes on to cause, but is also evidently
pure and passionate. Their love for each other is potently
strong, obviouisly demonstrated by how they both end of
commiting suicide as a result.

Lord Capulet | ​Throughout the course of the play their​ father-daughter ​relationship changes
drastically. The first time the audience meets Juliet’s father he acts as an ​overprotective ​father
who is just trying to shield his daughter from the world. He calls her a​ “stranger in this world”​ and
tells Paris that he will only give Paris his ​blessing ​if Juliet chooses to be with him. This suggests
that Lord Capulet is a ​progressive father​, not one that orders his family around even when the
Elizabethan audience believed that he had the right to. However, this ​drastically ​changes after
Tybalt’s death and Lord Capulet demands that Juliet must marry Paris, saying that if she refuses
he will ​disown ​her. It is clear that their relationship is ​complicated ​but it is also clear that Lord
Capulet greatly cares for his daughter and only reacts when he​ ​is challenged.

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Lady Capulet | ​Their relationship is essentially​ non-existent​. The only time in which the audience
sees an exchange between the mother and daughter is when Lady Capulet ​must ​talk to her
daughter or is​ sent by her husband​ to talk to her. Lady Capulet and Juliet are also ​opposites ​of
each other; everything that Lady Capulet wants, Juliet does not. While her mother was married and
with a child at Juliet’s age, Juliet is not even​ “dream(ing)” ​of it which suggests that Juliet is an
independent woman. However, it could be argued that the way in which Juliet becomes ​infatuated
with a man at a young age shows her to be ​more like her mother​ than previously thought.

The Nurse |​ ​The Nurse is the ​maternal figure ​for Juliet within the play. Their ​strong bond ​is a
result of the fact that she has been Juliet’s​ ‘wet nurse’ ​meaning that she has been with Juliet since
Juliet was breastfeeding as a baby. Throughout the play, the Nurse remains supportive of Juliet,
even helping to make plans for Romeo and Juliet’s ​marriage ceremony​. It can be argued that the
Nurse is an accomplice to fate as without her the lovers may have never been able to have the
relationship they had for as long as they did.

The Friar | ​The Friar is always a point of contact for advice for the lovers. However, it is through his
plan that the lovers die which is quite ​ironic​. Like the Nurse, the Friar is a ​tool for fate​. The Friar is
instrumental in Juliet’s life as she seeks him out for advice, he also comes up with the plan and
gives her the potion which ​ignites the sequence of events.

Paris | ​They don’t really have a relationship, and what they do have is incredibly ​one-sided​ on
Paris’ part. He represents the ​duty ​that is inevitably a part of a young Elizabethan’s woman’s life.

Tybalt | ​Tybalt is Juliet’s cousin who is dedicated to protecting their​ family honour​.

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JULIET QUOTE BANK

Quote Analysis

Capulet​: “My child is Shakespeare emphasises how Juliet is stuck in a ​period between
yet a stranger in the childhood and adulthood: ​Capulet describes her as a ​“stranger”,
world,/ She hath not yet discusses her forthcoming marriage to Paris.
seen the change of
This ​alludes​ to how Julliet is constantly caught between opposing
fourteen years;”
forces. Juliet is only 13, which was still an ​uncommon age​ ​to get
(I.ii.8-9)
married​ ​in Shakespeare’s time.

Nurse​: “...Thou wilt Shakespeare ​illustrates​ how ​patriarchal ​Verona is, as the Nurse and
fall backwards when her husband had discussed Juliet reaching ​sexual maturity​ even
thou hast more wit,/ when she was a child.
Wilt thou not, Jule?”
(I.ii.43-44) This highlights how ​Juliet has always been seen as an object to be
married off.
The use of the ​rhetorical question​ is ​ironic,​ as Juliet is not being
given a choice. It rather cements the​ inevitability ​of Juliet’s
circumstance.

Lady Capulet​: Dialogue indicates her ​emotional maturity and headstrong nature-
“Speak briefly. Can she rejects the ideals that​ ​society propagates​. ​Shakespeare uses
you like of Paris, half-rhyme​ to reply to Lady Capulet’s question, which​ ​illustrates
love?/ Juliet: I’ll look Juliet’s dissidence.​ It also ​foreshadows​ ​her future rebellion against
to like, if looking her family and society.
liking move./ But no
more deep will I Active verbs​ ​used with ​prominent first-person pronoun, ​“I’ll look
endart mine eye/ to like…”,​ conveys an ​assertion of agency.​ ​Juliet makes her own
Than your consent decision, thus ​opposing the forces of oppression-​ her family, and
gives strength to the patriarchy.
make it fly.”
(I.iii.97-100) This means Juliet is ​atypical for her time,​ ​where women were
conditioned into subjugation and submission.

Romeo​: “​O she doth Regular rhyming couplets​ heighten the feeling of love - they are two
teach the torches to lines fit together as a ​singular unit/ anatomy​. This suggests Juliet is
burn bright!...As a able to reciprocate Romeo’s feelings. Juliet is ​metaphorically
rich jewel in an portrayed as ​transcendental​ in this extract, as she ​“teaches the
Ethiop’s ear-” torches,”​ is a ​“snowy dove”​ amongst​ “crows”​, and her beauty is
(I.v.43-52) “for earth too dear”.​ Furthermore​ “dove[s]” ​generally have ​biblical
connotations​ of good luck and crows have connotations of bad luck.

Shakespeare establishes the ​lexically cohesive conflict​ between

light and dark​ in this extract. This alludes to the ​“artificial night”​ in
Scene 1, which emphasises the weight of Juliet’s presence in the
character’s narrative arc​. Shakespeare also portrays the

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 objectification​ of Juliet, with the ​metaphor​ ​“As a rich jewel in an
Ethiop’s ear-”.

Romeo​ ​[To Juliet]: Throughout this whole exchange, ​religious imagery ​and ​religious
“If I profane with my allusion ​are used which ​typifies ​Romeo and Juliet’s love as
unworthiest hand. something ​sacred​. ​Pilgrims ​were religious travellers who went on a
This holy shrine, the pilgrimage which is a religious​ journey to a place of spiritual
gentle fine is this:
importance​, for example, Christians in the Elizabethan time up until
My lips, two
the present day still go to pilgrimages to Israel which is known as the
blushing pilgrims,
ready stand To Holy Land. Shakespeare uses an ​extended metaphor​ of pilgrims to
smooth that rough suggest that Juliet’s body is the Holy land and that Romeo is the
touch with a tender pilgrim trying to pursue Juliet.
kiss.”
(I.v.92-95)

Juliet:​ ​ “Good Juliet is saying here that when Pilgrims travel to the Holy land all the
pilgrim, you do pilgrims need to do is touch the statues of the saints and that is
wrong your hand too enough for them. It can be suggested that Juliet is trying to follow the
much, Which courtly lover rules of a woman as she tries to play ​‘hard to get’ ​as it is
mannerly devotion
what any self-respecting woman at the time would do.
shows in this; For
saints have hands
that pilgrims’ hands
do touch, And palm
to palm is holy
palmers’ kiss.”
(I.v.96-98)

Juliet:​ ​ “My grave is Shakespeare showcases a ​meta-theatrical foreshadowing ​of the

like to be my play’s events. ​Freudian ideas​ of ​eros and thanatos​ can be identified
wedding bed”. in this quote;​ ​love and sex ​lead ​to death.
(I.v.134)
Shakespeare​ allegorically ​links the ​“wedding bed”​, ​a symbol of
intimacy, sex ​and ​love​, to a grave which is​ associated​ with ​death
and​ decay. ​Demonstrates how ​oppositions are intertwined​ in the
play.

Juliet:​ “​O Romeo, Juliet reveals the ​futile ​and​ trivial nature ​of the feud that separates
Romeo, wherefore them by acknowledging that is only due to a name. This
art thou Romeo?/ demonstrates her wisdom ​and shows a more​ spiritual and wise
Deny thy father and understanding​ of the cogs of Veronian society.
refuse thy name;”
(II.ii.33-34) “Deny”​, and ​“...refuse”​ are ​imperatives,​ which suggests a ​conflict
with fate:​ she wants Romeo to take action. When she asks Romeo to
“refuse [his] name”, it indicates a ​youthful sense of idealism​ and
naivety.​ This highlights two sides of her character, her​ wisdom and
her youthfulness;​ she is ​intelligent but naive.

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Juliet:​ “​If they do see Shakespeare establishes Juliet’s character as a ​reasoned​ ​and
thee, they will realistic​ person.
murder thee.” Her transition to ​simple one-liners ​emphasises her cautious thinking.
(II.ii.70) The use of the ​dominant monosyllabic wording​ adds ​realism and
steadfast nature​ to her character.
“Murder”​ is the only word that is​ not monosyllabic,​ indicating it’s
importance in the line. The ​presence of violence ​drives this line and
unlike love, it is not poetic, but real and definite like the​ simple syntax
of the line.

Juliet:​ “O swear not Shakespeare presents Juliet as ​favouring actions ​as she rejects the
by the moon, ideas of traditional fake love ​and encourages Romeo to follow a love
th’inconstant more spontaneous ​and ​unrehearsed.
moon.../ Do not Juliet’s ​half-line imperative riposte ​“Do not swear…”​ emphasises
swear at all/ Or if her decisive nature.
thou wilt, swear by Shakespeare’s ​monosyllabic phrases​ highlight how assertive she is;
thy gracious self” this is ​antithetical to Romeo’s lyrical language.
(II.ii.109-113) The ​caesura ​in line 13, puts more weight in the ​imperative command
of Juliet’s. This means she is ​not a passive participant ​in this event.

Juliet:​ “​O, I have The​ half-rhymes ​“​possess’d”​ and​ “enjoy’d”​ are placed in the
bought the mansion internal lines​, which means that Juliet’s ​experience ​has been
of love,/ But not incomplete.​ By describing herself as​ “sold”​, the character is seen as
possess’d it, and objectifying herself.
though I am sold/ The ​mercantile lexicon​ is delivered by Juliet. The character informs
Not yet enjoy’d...”. audiences that she is ​self-aware of her commodification. ​She is the
(III.ii.26-28) “mansion”,​ a ​transactional object ​that can be ​“bought​” and ​“sold”.

Spondaic substitution,​ ​“O,I…”​ puts stress on the ​first-person

pronoun​ “I”,​ and this is dominant in the section.
This quote is one of the rare moments when Juliet is by herself; in this
isolated soliloquy, she is able to ​assert her ​“self”-​ ​ indicated by the
prominent​ “I”.

Juliet:​ “​Can heaven Shakespeare in this ​rhetorical question​ conveys the ​dichotomy
be so envious?” between ​fate ​and the ​individual.
(III.ii.40) This shows how ​physical matters ​have no effect on love, but only
spiritual alluded to by ​“heaven”.​ Echoes the idea of how the
macrocosm affects​ and ​impacts the microcosm.​ The heavens
dictate the events on earth.

Juliet:​ ​“​What storm Syntactical patterning​ “​Is Romeo…”, “...is Tybalt”,​ sets up the two
is this that blows so characters as oppositions.The ​Low-frequency lexis ​used to refer to
contrary/ Is Romeo Romeo, indicates that ​Romeo is more significant ​to Juliet.The
slaughter’d? and is superlative​ ​“dearest cousin”​, is​ negated by the comparative
Tybalt dead? My “dearer lord”,​ highlighting Romeo means more to Juliet.
dearest cousin, and
my dearer lord?/ Shakespeare uses the​ apocalyptic images​ to ​describe the death of
Then, dreadful Tybalt of Romeo.​Their supposed deaths signal the end of her two
trumpet, sound the worlds - the ​romantic ​and the​ familial.​The two characters referred to,
general doom…” allude to the ​dichotomy between familial and romantic love.

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(III.ii.64-68) Displays the ​internal conflict ​in Juliet’s mind; she will have to choose
one.

Juliet:​ ​“​Beautiful The ​sequential use of oxymorons​ for example ​“Beautiful tyrant”,
tyrant, fiend “fiend angelical”,​ conveys the conflict that plagues Juliet. ​Echoes
angelical!/ Romeo’s Petrarchan suffering; ​in this instance Juliet laments thee
Dove-feather’d opposing familial and romantic love.
raven, Revolutionary​ ​for the ​Elizabethan era-​ Juliet is a ​complex character
wolvish-ravening like Romeo. She is able to use oxymorons attributed to Romeo, and is
lamb!/ Despised able to ​use language to invert Romeo’s imagery,​ ​“Dove-feather’d
substance of raven”.
divinest show!”
(III.ii.75-77) This shows her ​proficiency in language ​that ​educated men had.​ In
order to purportedly hurt Romeo, she uses his language against him.
Broken syntax evokes ​the violence of this turmoil- makes the
dialogue more potent, and expresses her anger.

Juliet:​ ​“O Fortune, Anthropomorphism ​of ​“Fortune”,​ makes fate’s presence more real.
Fortune, all men call Fricatives ​of “​Fortune”​ with ​“fickle”,​ draws attention ​to these
thee fickle;/…Be words. The ​form of address​ “thou”,​ shows that Juliet is on equal
fickle, Fortune:/ For footing with ​“Fortune”​. This could be attributed to the fact that
then I hope thou wilt “Fortune”​ was ​personified as a female​ during the Elizabethan era.
not keep him long…” Indicates a relationship between Juliet and “Fortuna”, who are both
(III.v.60-64) women.

Juliet:​ “​Good father, I Stage direction​ of ​“kneel[ing]”​ makes this ​action religious​- like
beseech you on my praying.
knees,/ Hear me with The word ​“father”​, both literally ​means biological father,​ but also the
patience but to religious holy ​“father”,​ ​who is God.
speak a word./ She This indicates that Capulet is in ​charge and dominates ​the family,
kneels down.” whilst Juliet must be ​subservient.
(III.v.158-59)

Capulet​: “​Hang thee, The ​asyndetic listing​ of ​pejorative epithets,​ “young baggage,”
young baggage, “disobedient wretch” creates​ the effect of ​the torrent of insults.
disobedient wretch!” Ironic,​ as this is the only time the relationship resembles a normal
(III.v.160) family - whilst Capulet is chastising Juliet. ​Broken syntax​ emphasises
Capulet’s fury.

Juliet:​ ​“...And what I The use of​ ​stichomythia​ and ​riposte​ ​builds an intensity between
spake, I spake it to Paris and Juliet, which is antithetical to Juliet’s interaction with Romeo.
my face.”/ Paris: Thy
face is mine , and The ​clever evasion​ of Paris’ questions and comments from Juliet
thou hast slander’d helps to show her maturity. It also conveys her highly moral nature as
it.” she doesn’t lie to Paris.
(IV.i.22-36) The use of stichomythia also ​indicates her quick minded nature and
wit.

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 Paris views Juliet as a possession, ​“Thy face is mine”​ shows
marriage for men meant ownership​ of their wives.

Juliet: ​“I pray thee This shows her ​final detachment ​from the ​two maternal figures​ of
leave me to myself her life.
tonight.../To move It indicates that she asserts her​ ​independence and growth​ ​into a
the heavens to smile new level of emotional maturity.
upon my state,/ Use of ​dramatic irony​,​ “thou knowest”​, exposes how Juliet is
Which, well thou attempting to make the nurse feel guilty.
knowest, is cross Maidens ​had to sleep with Nurses as ​a symbol of​ ​preserving their
and full of sin.” virginity​. This alludes to​ ​patriarchal pursuit ​of ​controlling female
(IV.iii.2-5) sexuality.

Juliet:​ ​ ​“...O happy Uses​ ​inverted metaphors;​ the ​dagger is personified​ as ​“happy”,
dagger,/ Taking whereas her body becomes its ​“sheath”.
Romeo’s dagger/ This shows the idea that ​love and death​ are ​inextricably linked.
This is thy sheath;/ Shakespeare ​lexically cohesively ​phrases Juliet’s dialogue with
Stabs herself/ there monosyllables,​ which highlights her affirmative and assertive quality.
rust, and let me die.”
(V.iii.169-170) In Roman tradition,​ ​stabbing was the most​ ​honourable and noble
form of suicide.​ ​Thus, Shakespeare presents Juliet as​ ​a tragic hero​.
Tragedies are often​ linked with​ the ​conflict ​between ​individual
action ​and ​arbitrary fate.
This is her ​only act of violence,​ ​but is also the ​play’s final act of
violence. ​Juliet’s action, thus ​exerts a change in society.
Shakespeare therefore is promoting the idea that ​action is necessary
to bring about a new order.

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