Gender is Fluid: Romeo and Juliet Essay Example

This is an exclusive in depth analysis of the tragic tragedy that sweeps the city of Verona as three noble families  discover their children have died a cruel death. The death of Romeo, Juliet, and Paris cast upon gloom to the people of Verona. With the more investigation of the sudden death of Romeo and Paris and the curious second death of Juliet, evidence shows a forbidden love affair between the children of the feuding families. The love between a Capulet and a montage with a curious power of lover. Evidence from eyewitness accounts, and eavesdropping show the curious dynamics of the scandalous love of Romeo and Juliet. 

The Victorian Area was an age where patriarchal ideologies were the standard and gender roles were strictly in place. A "true" man would be charged with violence and lust; while, a woman would have to be subservient to the man's needs. An account of a Capulets servant, Sampson, on a Monday morning, is the epitome of thought during Romeo and Juliet's fatal death, “Tis true: and therefore women, being the weaker/ vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore, push I will/ Montague's’ men from the wall and thrust his maids”. The remark suggests that women are weak and only viewed as objects of sex; while, men are powerful and aggressive. Delving into the political atmosphere of Verona, men controlled the laws and ignited the fights. For example, Lord Montague and Lord Capulet still fight each other even when they are old, and the whole city is tired of the conflict. The lords fight because they compete on whose side is more manly and assertive.

Romeo and Juliet first met each other at the Capulet costume ball as reported by record testimonies of an eye witness. Romeo falls madly in love with Juliet and kisses her on that fateful night. Later after the party is dismissed, Romeo sneaks back to outside Juliet’s room. Romeo idolizes Juliet as reported by one of the guard men on Capulet grounds “O, speak again, bright angel! For thou art/ As glorious to this night, being o’er my head” Viewing her as an object of beauty and idolization rather than an object of sex. Also later in the discussion, Juliet calls herself the falconer, the person of power, and Romeo as the falcon, ““Hist! Romeo, hist! —Oh, for a falconer’s voice, To lure this tassel-gentle back again!”. Juliet's assertiveness in their love affair breaks the stigma that women can be masculine as well. Also, Romeo is said to give up his name for his love for Juliet and marriage, traditionally what women do, “Call me but love, and I’ll be new baptized; / Henceforth I never will be Romeo” 

Later on in the week as Romeo and Juliet's love deepens, so does Juliet's assertiveness. As Juliet mourns over the lost of her cousin and banishment of her husband, she refuses her dad’s wishes, which going against the female role of being subservient, “i will not marry yet: and when I do, I swear/ It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate,/Rather than PAris” is Recalled by Juliet's mother. autonomy and masculinity . her two meaning remarks Romeo’s manliness is challenged and changed, “Thy beauty hath made me effeminate

And in my temper softened valor’s steel!” recalled by Benvolio he feels that his love made him soften and unmanly characterisation of Romeo as the submissive and effeminate gender role rejects the patriarchal expectation of male strength. In contrast to this, the other men in the play serve as counterparts to this role, in particular the character Sampson, who asserts his masculinity through violence and sexual remarks. juxtaposes Romeo’s effeminate role against the chauvinistic nature of Sampson to reveal that men can identify with either gender role. 

Moreover, Juliet is even more decisive and asterinve as she decides to drink the potion given by Friar Laurence or not. “Art thou a man? Ty form cries out thou art;/ Thy tears are womanish . . .” “I’ll warrant him as gentle as a lamb”

Lastly the idea of masculinity and femininity fluidity is shown by the prince's speech at the funeral of Verona, “For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo” 

exposing that women are able to identify with the masculine gender role, as masculinity and femininity are not binary oppositions

All in all, as the amusing tragedy stays with us, we all know that, “represents masculine and feminine traits as being accessible by both genders, contrasting this against the unconventional effeminate characterisation of Romeo, illustrating the mutability of gender roles.