Skip to main content

How can I examine the significance of teen or child characters portraying the major thematic and social and political concerns of Romeo and Juliet...

The first issue we need to think of here is that our ideas of age have changed over the centuries. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Juliet, at the age of 13, would be considered of normal marriageable age, while during the Victorian era aristocratic girls traditionally "came out" by being presented to the Queen at ages normally ranging from 15 to 18. Now, of course, Juliet would be considered far below a legal age...

The first issue we need to think of here is that our ideas of age have changed over the centuries. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Juliet, at the age of 13, would be considered of normal marriageable age, while during the Victorian era aristocratic girls traditionally "came out" by being presented to the Queen at ages normally ranging from 15 to 18. Now, of course, Juliet would be considered far below a legal age for marriage. 


Literary renderings of young female characters in both periods typically represent a combination of innocence and passivity, demonstrating the gender inequality of the period. Often they are portrayed as victims, and their travails serve to evoke pity from the audience. Nancy, despite being a thief, combines the notion of the young female as a positive moral compass with the girl-in-peril trope. 


Many of the younger women serve to illustrate social inequality and injustice in their roles as victims. One could argue that much of the tragedy in Shakespeare's play could have been averted had Juliet had the freedom to choose her own husband. 

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more