Juliet's Independence in Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

Love is a complicated idea just by itself, but love can drive people in different or wild directions. For example, in Romeo and Juliet, Juliet becomes more independent after meeting Romeo. Her parents had certain expectations for her when it came to marriage. However, after meeting Romeo, it shows how much she has grown. She followed her heart instead of the expectations of others. Juliet becomes more independent after falling in love with Romeo by going against her family's wishes with her marriage. 

Marriage had a significant impact on young women during this century. Young women were forced to get married at a young age to an older man because, either to higher their social ranking or power. Paris was around 20 years old while Juliet was 15 years old when Paris asked Lord Capulet to marry Juliet. But Lord Capulet responded with "My will to her consent is but a part and she agrees with a scoop of choice.” (A1, S2 17-18) This shows us how Lord Capulet won’t allow Juliet to get married without her consent by impressing her at the party later that evening. Consent was rather rare for young women because they didn't a say whether or not they wanted to get married. Yet, even though Lord Capulet won't allow Juliet to get married without her consent, he still encourages Paris to try and convince Juliet to get married, however, Lady Capulet wants Juliet to get married by saying, “Marry, that ‘marry’ is the very theme I came to talk of. Tell me, daughter Juliet, How is your disposition to be married?” (A1, S3, 63-65)  Lady Capulet asks Juliet about her thoughts about marriage because she wants Juliet to marry Paris. She wants Juliet to get married because she had to get married when she was her age. However, at the party, Juliet meets a very handsome man. Who left a big impression on Juliet. Meeting this man changes her mind about marriage, even if it is not by the consent of her parents. 

This man Juliet met at the party was Romeo, and they instantly fell in love with each other. Juliet wants to marry Romeo, but her family won't approve of their marriage. Their marriage could cause more conflicts between the two parties because of their status, however, Juliet still wants to marry him by saying, “O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse they name; Or if thou wilt norm is sworn my love, and I’ll no longer be a Capulet.”(A2 S2 34-36) This shows us how even though Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague, she still wants to be with him. She still wants to marry him even if she has to get rid of her title as a Capulet, showing that Juliet is willing to go against her family's approval to be with Romeo. Friar, a good friend of Romeo and Juliet, decides to marry the couple, though it is a hard decision for him at first. He tells Romeo, “In one respect I’ll thy assistant be; For this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households’ rancor to pure love.” (A2 S3 89-91)  Friar agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet because he believes that it will end the war between the two parties if they get married. However, only after being married in secret for three days, is Romeo banished, and Juliet is forced to get married to Paris.  Which leads Juliet to take actions no one would expect her to do.  

Once Juilet learned about her arranged marriage with Paris she went to Friar; Juliet only hopes that he could stop the wedding from happening. Friar gave Juliet a special poison telling her, “Take thou this vial, being then in bed and this distilling liquor drink thou off; then presently through all thy veins shall run” (Act 4 S1 93-95) Juliet plans to fake her death and run away with Romeo because she believes it's the only way to stop the wedding from happening. The poison that Friar gives to Julie will temporarily make her unconscious making it seem like Juliet's dead. However the night of the wedding she begins to have second thoughts, “What if it is a poison which the friar Subtly hath minister to have me dead.”(A4 S3 24-25)  She begins to think that Friar gave the real poison that can kill her, but Juliet decides to take the poison because he is the only person she can trust. Juliet takes the poison that Friar gave her which shows Juliet's courage to go against her family’s wishes in her marriage with Paris. Her courage to trust in Friar that he wouldn't give her a real poison and faking her death shows us how independent she has become. 

Overall, the relationship between Romeo and Juliet taught Juliet to overcome expectations made her and make them up herself. She has learned to become independent, through her actions. Despite risking her getting rid of her title as a Capulet. She follows her heart even disregarding her risking her life to be with Romeo.