Juliet: Character Analysis

Summary

This video script delves into the character of Juliet from Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet', highlighting her complex relationship with her family and nurse, her cautious yet blossoming love with Romeo, and her maturity in contrast to Romeo's immaturity. It explores the Elizabethan societal norms that confined Juliet and emphasizes her growth from a guarded girl to an assertive woman, ultimately presenting her as a proto-feminist figure whose actions and decisions drive the play's narrative.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The character of Juliet is first introduced in Act 1, Scene 3, where her distant relationship with her mother and close bond with her nurse are established.
• 👶 The nurse's role as a wet nurse to Juliet, a common practice among wealthy Elizabethan families, signifies her deep connection to Juliet since her birth.
• 🤔 Juliet's cautious and non-committal responses in Act 1, Scene 3 suggest her awareness of societal expectations and the lack of control over her future marriage.
• 💑 The meeting between Juliet and Romeo in Act 1, Scene 5, and their exchange in the form of a Shakespearean sonnet, symbolizes their perfect match and mutual completion.
• 🔄 Juliet often mirrors Romeo's words in their dialogue, which could indicate her cautious nature or a playful form of flirting.
• 🌙 Juliet's maturity and practicality are contrasted with Romeo's immaturity and poetic hyperbole, especially evident in their balcony scene in Act 2, Scene 2.
• 🏠 The settings in which Juliet and Romeo are seen highlight the constraints of the patriarchal society; Juliet rarely leaves her father's property, unlike Romeo who roams freely.
• 👵 The nurse's role as a confidante and surrogate parent to Juliet changes as the play progresses, with Juliet distancing herself from the nurse as she matures.
• 💔 The deterioration of Juliet's relationship with the nurse is marked by the nurse's inability to understand Juliet's loyalty to Romeo and her advice to marry Paris instead.
• 🏛 The societal norms of Elizabethan England are reflected in the play's settings and character dynamics, emphasizing Juliet's limited freedom compared to Romeo.
• 💔 The dramatic emphasis on Juliet's death over Romeo's in the play suggests a proto-feminist perspective, presenting Juliet as a wiser and more significant character.

Q & A

What is the significance of Juliet's relationship with her nurse in the play?

Juliet's relationship with her nurse is significant as it shows a close bond that is akin to a mother-daughter relationship. The nurse has been with Juliet since her birth and has played a crucial role in her upbringing. This relationship is also indicative of the social norms of Elizabethan England, where a wet nurse, typically of a lower class, would nurse the child of a higher class family.

How does the script suggest that Juliet's relationship with her mother is distant?

The script suggests a distant relationship between Juliet and her mother through the dialogue where Lady Capulet cannot bear to talk to Juliet alone and asks the nurse to leave them to talk in secret. This dynamic is further emphasized by the closeness of Juliet's relationship with her nurse in contrast.

What role does the nurse play in Juliet's life, and how does it reflect the social structure of Elizabethan England?

The nurse plays the role of a surrogate mother and confidante to Juliet. This reflects the social structure of Elizabethan England, where it was common for wealthier families to employ wet nurses from a lower social class to care for their children. The nurse's role extends beyond infancy, showing a lifelong bond with Juliet.

How does the script analyze Juliet's dialogue in Act 1, Scene 3 regarding marriage?

The script points out that Juliet is given very little dialogue in Act 1, Scene 3, which is significant as it suggests her limited agency and voice in matters such as marriage. Her response to Lady Capulet's question about marrying Paris, 'It is an honor that I dream not of,' is non-committal and guarded, indicating her awareness of the societal expectations and constraints she faces.

What is the significance of the sonnet form used in the exchange between Romeo and Juliet at the Capulet ball?

The use of the sonnet form in their exchange symbolizes the perfection and completeness of their love for each other. It is a form of love poetry that consists of 14 lines of iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme. This literary device signifies that Romeo and Juliet are meant for each other and that their love is profound and harmonious.

How does the script interpret the mirroring language used by Juliet in her conversations with both Romeo and Lady Capulet?

The script interprets the mirroring language as a sign of Juliet's cautious nature, especially in expressing her feelings. By repeating words used by others, she may be subtly flirting or simply being cautious not to reveal too much of her own emotions.

What does the script suggest about the maturity levels of Romeo and Juliet?

The script suggests that Juliet is more mature and practical compared to Romeo. This is evident in their conversations, where Juliet often provides down-to-earth responses to Romeo's poetic and hyperbolic statements. Her maturity is further highlighted by her initiative in discussing marriage with Romeo.

How does the script discuss the role of women in Elizabethan England and its reflection in the play?

The script discusses the limited rights and opportunities for women in Elizabethan England, such as the inability to attend school, own property, or vote. It reflects this in the play through the arranged marriage plot and the limited agency of Juliet, who is expected to comply with her father's decisions regarding her future.

What is the significance of the different settings in which Romeo and Juliet are seen throughout the play?

The different settings emphasize the patriarchal society of the time. Juliet is often seen within her father's property, signifying her limited freedom and the control exerted over her by patriarchal norms. In contrast, Romeo is portrayed as free to roam and act independently, reflecting the differing expectations and freedoms for men and women.

How does the script analyze the changing relationship between Juliet and her nurse as the play progresses?

The script analyzes the changing relationship by highlighting the nurse's role as a surrogate parent and confidante that Juliet initially relies on. However, as Juliet matures and the plot develops, especially following Tybalt's death and the nurse's advice to marry Paris, Juliet distances herself from the nurse, asserting her independence and indicating a shift in their relationship.

What emphasis does the script place on Juliet's death compared to Romeo's in the context of the play's dramatic impact?

The script places more dramatic emphasis on Juliet's death as it occurs later in the play, allowing her character to have a greater impact on the audience. This supports a proto-feminist interpretation, presenting Juliet as wiser and more important than Romeo.

Outlines

00:00

👶 Introduction to Juliet's Character

The first paragraph introduces the character of Juliet, highlighting her distant relationship with her mother and close bond with her nurse, Lady Capulet. It explains the role of a wet nurse in Elizabethan England and how this connection shapes Juliet's upbringing. The audience is also introduced to the societal expectations of women during this era, including the lack of autonomy in marriage. Juliet's cautious and guarded demeanor in her interactions, especially with her mother regarding marriage, is noted. The paragraph sets the stage for Juliet's character development throughout the play.

05:01

🌹 Juliet's Maturity and Relationship with Romeo

The second paragraph delves into Juliet's maturity and her relationship with Romeo. It contrasts Juliet's practicality with Romeo's poetic hyperbole, showcasing her wisdom and grounded nature. The paragraph discusses the balcony scene, where Juliet's true feelings are revealed, and how the setting of their interactions reflects the constraints of the patriarchal society. It also touches on the idea of Shakespeare as a proto-feminist, presenting Juliet as a strong and eloquent character who leads the conversation about marriage with Romeo.

10:02

📜 Juliet's Growing Independence and Tragic End

The third paragraph examines Juliet's journey towards independence and the tragic conclusion of the play. It details the evolving relationship between Juliet and her nurse, highlighting the nurse's role as a surrogate parent and the eventual distancing as Juliet matures. The paragraph also discusses the societal expectations and pressures faced by Juliet, especially in contrast to Romeo's freedom. The emphasis on Juliet's death as a more dramatic and impactful moment compared to Romeo's is noted, reinforcing the proto-feminist interpretation of the play where Juliet is portrayed as the wiser and more significant character.

Keywords

💡Character Analysis

Character analysis involves examining a character's traits, behaviors, and development throughout a narrative. In the video, this concept is applied to Juliet, exploring her relationships, dialogue, and actions to understand her role and growth within 'Romeo and Juliet'. For example, the analysis of Juliet's cautious responses to her mother and the nurse provides insight into her character's guarded nature.

💡Mother-Daughter Relationship

The mother-daughter relationship is a key theme in the video, highlighting the distance between Juliet and Lady Capulet and the close bond with her nurse. This relationship dynamic is crucial for understanding Juliet's emotional support system and the influence of family on her decisions, as seen when Juliet's mother avoids discussing marriage with her directly.

💡Wet Nurse

A wet nurse is a woman who breastfeeds another woman's child, often due to the mother's inability or unwillingness to do so. In the context of the video, the nurse's role as Juliet's wet nurse and subsequent caregiver illustrates the deep emotional connection between them, which is a significant factor in Juliet's life and her development as a character.

💡Elizabethan England

Elizabethan England refers to the period during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I and is notable for its social and cultural norms. The video discusses how societal expectations and gender roles during this era influenced the characters' actions, particularly the arranged marriages and the limited agency women had over their lives, as seen in Juliet's lack of control over her marriage prospects.

💡Sonnet

A sonnet is a 14-line poem with a specific structure of iambic pentameter and a particular rhyme scheme. In the video, the use of a sonnet form in the dialogue between Romeo and Juliet symbolizes their compatibility and the perfection of their love, showcasing Shakespeare's poetic prowess and the depth of the characters' feelings.

💡Patriarchy

Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and women are often excluded from positions of authority. The video explains how the setting and actions in 'Romeo and Juliet' reflect the patriarchal society of Elizabethan England, where Juliet's movements and choices are restricted by her father's control, unlike Romeo who enjoys more freedom.

💡Proto-Feminism

Proto-feminism refers to early ideas and movements advocating for women's rights and equality, preceding the formal feminist movement. The video suggests that Shakespeare may have been a proto-feminist, as evidenced by his portrayal of Juliet as a strong, wise character who challenges societal norms and asserts her independence.

💡Blazon

A blazon is a poetic device used to describe a woman's beauty through metaphors and hyperbole. In the video, Romeo's use of blazon to describe Juliet highlights his romantic and poetic nature, contrasting with Juliet's more practical and cautious demeanor, as seen in their dialogue at the balcony scene.

💡Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration for emphasis or effect. The video contrasts Romeo's hyperbolic expressions of love with Juliet's more grounded and realistic responses, illustrating the difference in their approaches to love and the challenges they face.

💡Surrogate Parent

A surrogate parent is someone who takes on the role or responsibilities of a parent, often in the absence of the biological parent. The video describes the nurse as a surrogate parent to Juliet, providing emotional support and guidance. However, as Juliet matures, she begins to distance herself from the nurse, seeking independence.

💡Dramatic Emphasis

Dramatic emphasis refers to the focus or highlighting of certain elements in a narrative to create a specific effect or to convey importance. The video points out that Shakespeare places more dramatic emphasis on Juliet's death than Romeo's, suggesting her greater importance in the story and reinforcing the proto-feminist interpretation of the play.

Highlights

Introduction of Juliet's character in Act 1, Scene 3, emphasizing her distant relationship with her mother and close bond with her nurse.

Juliet's relationship with her nurse is highlighted as a significant aspect of her upbringing and emotional support.

The role of a wet nurse in Elizabethan England and its implications for Juliet's class and upbringing.

Analysis of Juliet's cautious dialogue in Act 1, Scene 3, suggesting her awareness of societal expectations and constraints on her future.

The contrast between Juliet's limited dialogue and the extensive conversation between Lady Capulet and the nurse, indicating Juliet's lack of agency in her marriage prospects.

The significance of the Capulet ball in Act 1, Scene 5 as the setting for Juliet and Romeo's first meeting and their poetic exchange.

The use of a Shakespearean sonnet in their dialogue to symbolize the couple's perfect match and mutual completion.

Juliet's cautious language mirroring Romeo's words, suggesting her guarded feelings or playful flirting.

Juliet's full expression of feelings in the balcony scene, demonstrating her maturity and independence.

Contrasting Romeo's immaturity and hyperbolic statements with Juliet's practical and mature responses.

The exploration of Juliet's character as a proto-feminist figure, showcasing her strength and eloquence.

The importance of Juliet's role in initiating the discussion about marriage with Romeo, reflecting her assertiveness.

The setting of the play as a reflection of the patriarchal society, with Juliet often confined to her father's property.

The close relationship between Juliet and her nurse, serving as a surrogate parent and confidante.

The gradual distancing of Juliet from her nurse as she matures and seeks independence from her childhood dependencies.

The dramatic emphasis on Juliet's death as the final scene, suggesting her greater impact and significance in the play.

The evolution of Juliet's character from cautious and guarded to assertive and independent, highlighting her growth throughout the play.

Transcripts

hello everybody and welcome to today's

video analyzing the character of Juliet

the audience first meets Juliet in act 1

scene 3 where a number of key points are

established to begin with we learned

that Juliet has a distant relationship

with her mother and a close relationship

with her nurse Lady Capulet cannot bear

to talk to Juliet alone nurse give leave

a while we must talk in secret nurse

come back again this presents the

mother-daughter relationship as distant

the audience sees that nurse has been

with Juliet since she was born faith I

can tell her age into an hour this

closeness of relationship is understood

further when we learned that nurse was

the wet nurse for Juliet a wet nurse is

someone who breastfeeds the child of

someone else a wet nurse in Elizabethan

England would have been a woman of lower

class employed to feed the child of a

higher class family we learned that

nurse had her own daughter Susan who

died and nurse took on the role of

wetness for Juliet the presence of a wet

nurse was common in Rich families in

Elizabeth and England but they would

only be employed until the the baby was

weaned in the play nurses stayed on as a

guardian for Juliet who is now 13 years

old in a scene focused on asking Juliet

what she thinks of the idea of marrying

Paris it's notable just how little

dialogue Shakespeare gives her Juliet

only has eight lions in act 1 scene 3

whereas Lady Capulet and the nurse take

up 90 or so of the dialogue so what

impression do we get from the little

that Juliet does say in this

introductory scene when Lady Capulet

asks her daughter how stands your

disposition to be married Juliet

responds with the non-committal it is an

honor that I dream not of Juliet is

guarded and cautious here sidestepping

the question but is she telling the

truth has she never thought of marriage

in act 2 scene 2 she's certainly

thinking of marriage with Romeo telling

him if that thy bent of Love be

honorable thy purpose marriage send me

word tomorrow either way Juliet is

guarded with her mother giving very

little away she's much more open with

her nurse as we shall soon see although

act 1 scene 3 is the first time the

audience meets Juliet it's not the first

time she's been the focus of the play

act 1 scene 2 sees Paris talking to Lord

Capulet about the possibility of

marrying Juliet the scene might confuse

a modern audience but in Shakespeare's

time arranged marriages were common

particularly for middle and upper class

families to understand this fully let's

explore the role of women in Elizabethan

England women belong to their fathers

and then their husbands when they

married could not attend school or

university could not purchase or own

property could not vote were not allowed

on stage in plays the female roles were

acted by young men with this in mind

perhaps Juliet says very little in act 1

scene 3 because she knows that her

future marriage is outside of her

control or at least it is expected to be

but things are about to change when the

audience next sees Juliet in act 1 scene

5. Juliet meets Romeo in act 1 scene 5

at the Capulet ball where the exchange

between the two is significant if I

profane with my unworthy or hand this

holy Shrine the gentle finest this my

lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand

to smooth that rough touch with a tender

kiss good Pilgrim you do wrong your hand

too much which manually devotion shows

in this for Saints have hands that

Pilgrim's hands do touch and palm to

Palm is Holy Palmer's kiss have not

Saints lips and holy Palmers too I

Pilgrim lips that they must use in

prayer oh then dear Saints let lips do

what hands do they pray Grant thou lest

Faith turn to despair Saints do not move

though grant for prayer's sake then move

not while my prayers effect I take Romeo

and Juliet's words combine here to form

a Shakespearean sonnet a form of love

poetry which has 14 lines of I am bit

pentameter that's 10 alternating

unstressed and stressed syllables per

line with the rhyme scheme a b a b c d c

d e f e f g g Shakespeare's employment

of the sonnet form symbolizes that the

couple are perfect for each other and

that they complete each other only when

together to their words crater sonnet

symbolizing how they found true love

however it is possible to see in this

exchange some of the same caution Juliet

had with her mother previously in the

exchange with Romeo Juliet often mirrors

or repeats his words Romeo mentions

Pilgrim hand kiss and Juliet's reply

includes the same words Romeo mentions

lips and Juliet replies with the same

word Romeo mentions Saints and prayer

and Juliet replies with the same words

this language mirroring is similar to

the exchange between Juliet and Lady

Capulet in Act 1 Scene 3 speak briefly

can you like of paris's love I'll look

to like if looking liking moves Lady

Capulet mentions like and Juliet replies

with the same words what could this

mirroring from Juliet suggest perhaps it

indicates how she is slightly cautious

with Romeo trying not to give too much

away of her own feelings or perhaps it's

simply flirting punning on Romeo's words

for playful effect whatever the cause it

is notable how Juliet only expresses her

feelings fully when she believes she's

alone in the balcony scene of act 2

scene 2. little does she know she's

being observed by Romeo in act 2 scene 2

Shakespeare presents julieta's mature

and he heightens this through contrast

with Romeo's immaturity when Romeo spies

Juliet at the window he declares it is

the East and Juliet is the sun this is

the first of many hyperbolic statements

from Romeo his words are an example of a

blazon describing women using a range of

grand metaphors his poetic hyperbole

continues when Juliet asks him a

practical question how can Mr hither the

orchard walls are high and hard to climb

and Romeo replies with with loves light

Wings did Iowa perch these walls Juliet

ignores this nonsensical comment and

again gives a very down-to-earth

practical warning if they do see thee

they will murder thee once again Romeo's

reply is ridiculous a lack there lies

more Peril in thine eye than 20 their

swords again and again in this exchange

Romeo's words are hyperbolic and poetic

whilst Juliet's a practical and mature

the juxtaposition between the two

heightens the impact and shows the

audience Juliet's maturity and wisdom

many people argue that Shakespeare was a

proto-feminist feminism is the belief

that women should have the same rights

opportunities and power as men feminism

as it exists today did not exist in

Shakespeare's time so we use Proto at

the beginning to make that distinction

Scholars often look at Shakespeare's

female characters and point to their

eloquence and strength of character

concluding that Shakespeare must have

been sending some sort of message about

women and what he thought of them and

this is most definitely the case when it

comes to Juliet who's presented in far

superior times to Romeo despite being

only 13 years old in her wisdom it is

Juliet who instigates discussion about

marriage to Romeo if that thy bent of

Love Beyond Rebel thy purpose marriage

send me word tomorrow the mirroring has

now disappeared and and julietus leading

the conversation is that thy bent of

Love be honorable suggests that Juliet

is still cautious about Romeo's

intentions and all of this is very

important for Juliet as evidenced in a

seemingly insignificant line when she

tries to get the attention of the

retreating Romeo bondage's horse and may

not speak aloud Juliet is pointing out

here how she must speak quietly as she's

under her father's control a stark

reminder of the context of the play

Let's just pause and think about what's

Happening Here Juliet is at her bedroom

window in capulet's house Romeo has

climbed over the wall into the Capulet

Orchard and is speaking from the ground

below this setting is highly significant

Juliet is where she is supposed to be

but Romeo is not now here's a list of

every setting in the play let's look at

where we see Romeo and where we see

Juliet in the play is Romeo

here's Juliet

now there are two things to note here

firstly Juliet rarely leaves her parents

property in fact she only does so when

she heads to Freya Lawrence's cell

Shakespeare's use of setting reminds us

of the patriarchal society in which

Juliet lives in Elizabethan England a

husband legally owned his wife and

daughters when her daughter married she

then became the property of her husband

and the use of setting for Juliet

reinforces this apart from a brief visit

to the fire in Act 4 scene 1 Juliet is

always seen in her father's property the

bondage Juliet refers to here is the

fact that she's held captive by the

expectations of the patriarchal society

patriarchy is a system where men possess

power and women are excluded from it

patriarchy also refers specifically to a

family where the father is in control

and we see both in Romeo and Juliet

Juliet's father decides who she marries

and when Paris discusses his marriage

proposal with Lord Capulet not with

Juliet in stark contrast to this not

only is Romeo never seen at his home the

Montague household does not feature as a

setting of the play at all but as arati

Kanika points out in architecture's

pretexts spaces of translation Romeo's

presence can be traced at every location

that is mentioned in the play and that

quotation is used with permission so

thank you for that so Romeo essentially

appears everywhere at some point or

another whilst Juliet remains at home

Romeo is free to roam the streets and is

bold enough to enter the property of his

sworn enemy Juliet is indeed in bondage

whilst Romeo is not the differing

expectations of a young man and a young

woman in Elizabethan England are evident

through the locations in which the

characters appear Juliet is cautious

because she has to be she does not have

the same Freedom as Romeo in Acts 2

scene 5 we see more of the close

relationship that Juliet has with her

nurse nurse returns to Juliet who's

desperate to know what Romeo has said

the audience knows that Romeo has

proposed marriage but the nurse drags it

out in lines like this your love says

like an honest gentleman and a courteous

and a kind and a handsome and I warrant

of virtuous where is your mother

where is my mother why she is within

where should she be how oddly thou will

replyest your love says like an honest

gentleman where is your mother What's

Happening Here is the nurse is

deliberately winding Juliet up by

dragging out the news of Romeo's

proposal the comic exchanges between the

two signify the closeness of the

relationship as does the fact that

Juliet confides into her nurse in the

first place after meeting Romeo in act 1

scene 5 Juliet asks nurse to identify

him then in act 2 scene 4 Juliet

confides in her nurse and sends her to

meet Romeo it is the nurse who takes the

Rope platter needed for Romeo to ascend

into Juliet's chamber and the nurse sets

it up in Act 4 scene 2 it is the nurse

who's sent to deliver a message and a

ring to Romeo at Friar Lawrence's cell

in act 3 scene 3 it is the nurse who

warns julieton at 3 scene five third her

mother's about to walk into the room and

find her with Romeo and it is the nurse

who stands up to Capulet in the same

scene telling him you are to blame to

rate her so we therefore see very

clearly that the nurse has a close

relationship with Juliet we can see

nurse as a surrogate parent to Juliet in

much the same way as we see Friar

Lawrence as surrogate's parent to Romeo

but this relationship between Juliet and

her nurse grows apart as the play

progresses in act 3 scene 2 the audience

finds the nurse unable to understand why

Juliet is siding with Romeo After

tibolt's Death she proclaims will you

speak well of him that killed your

cousin Juliet who doted on nurse at the

start of the play is becoming a young

woman and moving beyond such childish

things as needing what is essentially a

full-time babysitter as a result she's

starting to distance herself and the

people she Associates with childhood

Juliet and the nurse will continue to

grow apart throughout the play Juliet's

relationship with nurses further damaged

an act 3 scene 5 when nurse tells Juliet

she should forget the newly banished

Romeo and Maori Paris for Juliet this is

the final straw she dismisses her nurse

and rants ancient damnation almost

Wicked fiend is it more sin to wish me

thus for sworn or to dispraise my Lord

with that same tongue which has she hath

praised him with above compare so many

thousand times go counselor thou and my

bosom henceforth shall be Twain out of

the friar to know his remedy if all else

fail myself have power to die in other

words Juliet vows never again to tell

nurse what is in her heart the

relationship as far as Juliet is

concerned is over

this newfound Declaration of

Independence is reiterated later in the

scene having told her mother and nurse

to leave Juliet begins to worry about

the situation she's in and panics about

the terror of the place the tomb to

which she is heading for a moment she

loses her nerve and calls the nurse back

but soon realizes she needs to act alone

Juliet has at this point fully outgrown

the nurse she's been betrayed by her in

act three scene 5 with the nurse

advising a second marriage to Paris and

has realized that a nurse can help her

no further finally let's explore the

deaths of Romeo and Juliet as Cedric

Watts points out in the introduction to

the Wordsworth edition of the play there

is more dramatic emphasis placed on

Juliet than Romeo as her death occurs

later in the play if we compare this to

a play like Macbeth where Lady Macbeth

dies off stage in an earlier scene to

the death of Macbeth we understand

what's his point Juliet being the last

to die means she has the greater impact

on the audience and again this backs up

the Proto a feminist interpretation with

Juliet being presented as wiser and more

important than Romeo for key quotations

let's begin with Juliet's early

mirroring good Pilgrim you do wrong your

hand too much moving to assertive

Behavior if that thy band of Love Beyond

Rebel thy purpose marriage send me word

tomorrow we might also choose an example

of Juliet's practical level-headed

approach in contrast to Romeo's

hyperbole if they do see thee they will

murder thee and finally let's select an

example of the growing distance in

Juliet's relationship with her nurse

ancient damnation if you found this

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