Obedience and Powerless of Women in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

In the play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, women during this period were forced to be obedient to their fathers and husbands and had little power or purpose in society. Young marriage was considered normal in society during the time that Romeo and Juliet took place. In the play, Paris has a discussion with Capulet and expresses his intention to marry his daughter Juliet, Capulet is overjoyed but respectfully declines the request since he believes Juliet is too young to marry. Paris reassures Capulet by saying, “younger than she are happy mothers made” (Romeo and Juliet 1.2-12). At this moment it shows how women are being valued in society, when Capulet denies Paris’s request he lets Capulet know that girls younger than her often marry and become “happy mothers”. Paris is insinuating that the only role of the woman is to be obedient to men and to act as a wife and mother to their children. Furthermore, during the period of Romeo and Juliet, women had to listen to their fathers and if they did not, they would face consequences. After Tybalt's death Capulet informs Juliet that she will be marrying Paris on Thursday, Juliet refuses to marry Paris because she is married to Romeo. Since Juliet refuses to marry Paris, Capulet threatens Juliet and says, “I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, Or never after look me in the face. Speak not. Reply not. Do not answer me. My fingers itch” (Romeo and Juliet 3.5.182-185). Women had no choice in anything and their lives were  controlled by men. Juliet’s refusal showed a great amount of disobedience towards her father. As a result, Capulet reinforces his authority by threatening Juliet that if she does not marry Paris on Thursday she should never look him in the face, speak to him or talk back to him ever again. Moreover, in the play Romeo and Juliet, women are perceived as being weaker than men. Sampson and Gregory, servants of the Capulet family appear at the beginning of the play. During this moment Gregory tells Sampson about his urge to fight and push the Montagues against the walls. In response to Gregory, Sampson states, “Tis true, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall” (Romeo and Juliet 1.1.16-19). During the play, Sampson viewed the Montague women as weak and powerless individuals. Sampson implies that women are “weaker vessels' ' and that they should be “thrust” against the wall, which indicates that he finds women very easy to use and manipulate. In the play, Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare women were expected to conform to men and had no control in society.