How is Juliet presented in Romeo and Juliet?

Everything will be hidden and nothing will be let out. But the question is why? She could have an extramarital relationship, she could have taken that path, yet she chose marriage. Considering marriage is not a bad thing, in fact it is a good thing. We can see this especially as her father tries to get her marry Paris. Therefore, if anyone finds out she can have an argument on her side saying that she has not done something bad but instead done something to please her society and possibly her religion. Take myself for example. My parents are extremely conservative and religious about marriage. I am a year nine student and thirteen like just Juliet. I understand that times have changed and it is impossible for me to marry at this age. But if I put myself in Juliet’s shoes and replace her parents with mine then things are quite similar. My parents will never accept the fact of marriage of someone who is their enemy. But at least I can argue with them that they wanted me to get married and here, I got married. I had other choices but I chose the good one. I chose the one that was right.

At first Juliet tells her mother that marriage “is an honor that I dream not of”.  However, after she meets Romeo her perspective changes and she does everything in secret because she is forced to.

Interestingly, during the whole drama they did not commit any major sins throughout the whole relationship and managed to keep it pure. In the whole drama, it was not confirmed if any physical relationship before marriage was a crime but using common sense- it was. Undoubtedly, it was a sin. We must realise that Juliet had a value for all the views. She cared and respected the values and morals of society by legally devoting herself to the man she loved. She acknowledged and accepted the different views of the time and community she lived in. Romeo, on the other hand, was extremely romantic, imaginative, and quite irrational. He did not really give a thought about the religious or the social values -all he wanted was her and her love.

If we think about this, it shows the beauty of Juliet. By ‘beauty’ I do not mean the physical beauty of her face and body but rather of the internal beauty. The beauty that lies within her heart and soul. Not only did she think of herself and her marriage but she thought about how to do this with respect and love for her society. Her ideas show us the intelligence and what a bright girl she was. For all the misogynists and men who thought that women were just a different species who were made for looking pretty can be controverted and overturned. Yes, Juliet was a good-looking girl but her true beauty was inside her heart. She respected the rules and obligations of her society as well as getting what she wants. Thus Juliet is presented someone to be intelligent, decisive and responsible.

Even though Shakespeare does not directly pinpoint the importance of marriage, if we look into it deeper and more intellectually, we can see this. Not only do we see the values of marriage in Romeo and Juliet, but we also see it in another one of Shakespeare’s play – The Tempest. In Act 4, Scene 1 of the The Tempest, Prospero gives his daughter’s hand to Ferdinand. He warns Ferdinand of the disasters that could happen if anything extramarital happens and to stay well aware of it. Prospero says “

But if thou dost break her virgin knot before

All sanctimonious ceremonies may

With full and holy rite be ministered,

No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall

To make this contract grow, but barren hate,

Sour-eyed disdain, and discord shall bestrew

The union of your bed with weeds so loathly

That you shall hate it both. Therefore, take heed,

As Hymen’s lamps shall light you.”

Prospero is first giving permission to Ferdinand to take his daughter. Then he starts to make aware the fact that if they have any physical relationship before marriage then the heavens/Gods will not bless it. Instead, they will fill it with loathe and hate and their marriage bed shall be filled with weeds and they will resent it. So, he must respect the holy institution of marriage.

There are two main reasons why he wants the marriage to come first. Firstly, he must be able to trust Ferdinand. Prospero’s own brother betrayed him. He gave up his own dukedom for him, loved him and cared for his younger brother, yet his brother plotted to kill him. Since Ferdinand had passed the test, Prospero wanted to see if he could really trust him because -clearly- if his own brother stabbed him in the back, he will not trust anyone. He also does not want his daughter to get hurt. The second reason is that he, as well, values and respects the appraisal of marriage. He makes sure that the marriage is legal and pure, just like Juliet did. He talks about how their beds will be a loathsome place which they will both hate. The use of the noun “weed” shows that their love will be taken away from them just like weeds take away the nutrients from the soil. The idea of weeds also represents their children because if one weed grows then more and more will and they will begin to hate their children too because their children will fight and loathe each other like them. A final idea of the weeds is; since farmers hate weeds maybe the people around them will also start to hate them because they will be constantly fighting to an extent where other people will hear and judge.

In conclusion, Juliet is shown as a symbol of love, intelligence, patience, and sacrifice. Her love is pure, genuine and free from any superficiality. She loves Romeo secretly but wants themselves to be wedlocked through Frair Laurance. She disobeys her parents but respects the wider social and religious norms. This is the justification of her love and life. She proves herself to be intelligent because she knew that her parents must have declared her relationship with Romeo void but once they were married nobody would separate them socially and lawfully.