Juliet

Juliet and the symbol of night

• Metaphorically used to mask/hide Romeo and Juliet’s relationship

• Stars appear at night demonstrating that they are distined to be

• (perhaps) foreshadowing their tragic end since night and darkness can also symbolise danger.

Juliet and the symbol of potion

• Religious connotations: bread and wine symbolising christ—consuming something has religious connotations in catholicism. Perhaps, implying Capulets are Catholics as they are nobles and many nobles were Catholic during the Elizabethan era. In addition, Catholics were more traditional than Protestants which could explain Juliet’s family structure

• Supernatural connotations: reincarnation

• Toxicity of Romeo and Juliet’s love

Juliet and the symbol of dagger

• Juliet’s manisfestation of independence. Every time Juliet acts independently or against societal values she has a dagger with her. For instance, when she commits suicide, when she takes the potion (she has a dagger under her pillow), when she says she would rather commit suicide than betray Romeo to Friar. 

• Women were expected to be sumissive, obedient and tolerant, often being encouraged not to have opinions. 

• The dagger demonstrates everytime she goes against those feminine values and expectations.

Juliet and the symbol of balcony

• The balcony physically limits her. Metaphorically symbolising that her patriarchy limits her since she is a property of her father, who doesn’t allow her to choose who wants to marry.

• Physically superior to Romeo which demonstrates that she is also emotionally superior to him. This is a gender inversion as Elizabethan men were expected to be dominant, whereas, Romeo is devoted to Juliet.

• Romeo also views her as holy (“This holy shrine, the gentler sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims”), which is viewed as sinful in Elizabethan society.

Juliet and the theme of family

• Contradictory since family is suppost to unity while it divides in the play. For example, Juliet is born hating the Montagues, even though they didn’t actually do something to her.

• Property: Juliet exemplifies how Elizabethan women were perceived and used in Elizabethan society. For instance, her family sees her as a way for trades and expasion rather than familiar love.

Juliet and the theme of love

• Romeo and Juliet show the extremes of love. For instance, they both go agaisnt societal values and sins for each other. However, they also shows how impactful a partner is on the other. IN the beginning of the play, Juliet is presented as rational and mature, whereas, Romoe is presented as impulsive and radical. Throughout the play, this changes and Romeo becomes more rational while Juliet becomes more impulsive, demonstrating their influence on each other.

Juliet and the theme of Conflict

• Juliet is oftena victim of internal conflict. For instance, going against her family/going against her husband, going against societal values/going against her own desires.

Juliet and Nurse relationship

• Nurse is a maternal figure to Juliet. She raised her and is closer to her

• She talks to Juliet casually, differently from Lady Capulet.

• She helps and advises Juliet on her problems and decisions

• More radical and defiant which is more similar to Juliet, demonstrating that the Nurse is closer to Juliet than Lady Capulet.

Juliet and Romeo relationship

Juliet and Capulet relationship

Juliet and Lady Capulet relationship

Juliet and Friar relationship