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Romeo
How does Shakespeare present the character of Romeo?
Shakespeare uses Romeo to engage with idiosyncrasies in the Elizabethan Era. It
could be argued whether his intentions were didactic and confrontational, or if it was
to simply mirror society. Romeo’s lack of a masculine stance both during his
relationship with Juliet, and with his friends, especially in act 3 scene 1 is portrayed by
Shakespeare, who suggests to the audience he is more feminine than masculine.
Romeo calls himself ‘effeminate’ saying ‘in my temper soften’d valour’s steel.’
Shakespeare contrasts the comparison between the hardiness imparted to steel by
tempering with Romeo’s emotion. He’s presented as a blunt sword symbolising his
emasculation. To add to that sword have connotations with violence and bravery.
Within the Elizabethan era the inability to conform to violence would have been
considered feminine and the quote represents how Juliet acts as an antidote to
Romeo’s violence. Shakespeare further diminishes his masculinity with the sibilance to
make the line softer and quieter, qualities that the contemporary audience would
associate with women as they were believed to be naïve and timid.
Shakespeare further presents Romeo’s change in attitude and feminine stance as
even his spiritual father, Father Lawrence says to him ‘Thy tears are womanish’ with
the word ‘womanish’ conveying the patriarchal society in which the text was written.
A sense of dehumanisation is felt as the religious man exposes his loss of self-worth and
respect depicting him as ‘womanish’ and further describes his actions of ‘wild’
connoting animal imagery whilst drawing on images of beat lie behaviour which adds
to the dehumanisation. Overall Romeo’s emotions are the downfall in the play, hence
why he is the tragic hero. Due to Romeo’s ups and downs over the course of the play
the Elizabethan audience is likely to sympathise with him, particularly because
through his death he gets to be with Juliet whilst also foxing the feud between the
families.
Romeo is portrayed as ‘fortune’s fool.’ Romeo is supposedly controlled by fate as
stated in the chorus, as even before the play begins they are destined to die. Romeo
uses the excuse of fate more than every other character and allows it to overcome
him. Shakespeare thus portrays him having a distinct lack of self-autonomy and
responsibility.
Romeo’s simple sentence of being ‘fortune’s fool’ underlines his subjugation to
‘fortune.’ His language prowess has now been diminished to an unimpressive syntax.
Romeo makes himself the object and communicates his passive stance on life and his
inability to accept responsibility for his actions. Elizabethans believed strongly in fate,
like Romeo, and would’ve believed their fate was written in the stars and Romeo here
sees himself as a subject to fate. To an extent Shakespeare utilises dramatic irony as
what Romeo speaks is the truth because by killing Tybalt he’s laid the foundation for
fate to ‘take their life.’
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