Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Juliet is first introduced to us in Act 1 Scene 3, where we learn a

lot about Juliet’s character. We know she is a polite, obedient,

courteous and pure girl. We can see this in the line where she says:

“Madam, I am here. What is your will?” (Act 1 Scene 3 L78). This

shows that Juliet is a well-mannered girl because she addresses her

mother as Madam. This quote also shows Juliet as obedient and always

willing to help her mother because she says, “What is your will.”

This scene also tells us that Juliet is thirteen and has never

considered marriage. She is still pure and innocent. “It is an

honour I dream not of.” (Act 1 Scene 3 L66). From this scene we can

observe that Juliet has a more motherly bond with the nurse rather

than with her own mother. “Faith, I can tell her age unto an hour.”

This example shows how well the nurse knows Juliet and is able to give

Juliet’s birthday in date and hour. Shakespeare shows us that Juliet

is still of the age where she does what her mother asks of her,

without question. In the same scene again she says “Well, think of

marriage now.” Which is a further indication Juliet is a dutiful

dependent girl, because she does what her mother says.

In Act 1 Scene 5 the first conversation between Romeo and Juliet is in

the form of a sonnet, a popular poetic form in Shakespeare’s time.

Romeo and Juliet take it in turns to speak; thus showing how in tune

they are with each other. A good example:

If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this:

Act 1 Scene 5 L92

At the beginning of the love poem, Juliet and Romeo kiss. Romeo use

religious imagery to create an image of each other as a pilgrim in

front of a holy shrine (Juliet). Juliet also does this. This

metaphor holds many functions. Firstly, the use of religious language

to describe their feelings for each other associates her love with

Romeo with the divine and blasphemous. This makes the love pure. An example of this flirtatious, illicit language is after Romeo’s kiss

with Juliet when Juliet says:

Then have my lips the sin that they have took.

Act 1 Scene 5 L107

In this instance Juliet says Romeo has taken all her sin and she wants

it back. This is the first real introduction to see how Shakespeare

changes Juliet’s character in the name of love. She changes from a

shy, coy young girl to a witty and romantic girl.

This paragraph is essential in showing Juliet’s love, passion, level

headiness and independence. In Act 2 Scene 2 we know Juliet has

fallen completely in love with Romeo. There are many ways in which

Shakespeare shows us how Juliet has changed since falling in love.

One example of this is in Act 2 Scene 2:

Deny the father, and refuse thy name.

Act 2 Scene 2 L34

Shakespeare shows us how serious and in love with Romeo, Juliet really

is. He shows us that Juliet would be willing to leave her 1. family to

be with Romeo. A vast change, from the Juliet, that use to be a very

obedient girl who relied upon her family. At the beginning of the

play before meeting Romeo, Juliet was a reserved girl but we see in

this scene she has changed, to a passionate, open-hearted woman. We

can see this in Act 2 Scene 2, where she says:

Of, if thou wilt,swear by the gracious self,

Which is the god of my idolatry,

And I’ll believe thee.

Act 2 Scene 2 L113-115

This shows that Juliet is trying to win Romeo’s heart by showing her

own. She is wearing her heart on her sleeve.

Another example of Juliet’s personality change is shown she compares

the love she and Romeo have to a flower, which develops more and

more. We can see this in Act 2 Scene 2 where she says:

This bud of love, by summer’s ripening breath

Act 2 Scene 2 L121

This is an example of Juliet’s personality change because in Act 1,

Romeo was the only one to use extended metaphors but now Juliet has

started to use them. Here Juliet herself is developing more and more

because she is using her own wit to describe her love for Romeo. This

shows a more mature Juliet. An additional character