Feminist Perspectives: Romeo and Juliet(Personal Response)

What Women Can Do

The concept of feminism can be taken into perspective from many different viewpoints; it has an unparalleled meaning, whereas the concept of anti-feminism has restrictions over its meaning. There is a great philosophy behind the concept of feminism. In my opinion, I believe there should be a limit to the amount of freedom men and women have in society, meaning there should be societal constraints that apply to everyone.

The reason for having constraints contrasts to the theory of having laws. Without laws, there would be violence and society would be hard to control. No matter how many battles groups of people may have, prejudice against woman, cannot come to a complete end, without the courage to a development of an inner strength of self-determination within every woman who is living in an anti-feminist society. If such an action doesn’t end patriarchy, or anti-feminism or prejudice against genders, the feeling a woman receives in her heart, is what gives her a sense of satisfaction.

Equal rights have come into action for women, because of the women in this world that had the courage to develop a strength of self-determination and a justified sovereignty from men, by following their passion and desire, rather than being pressured by what society expects of them.

Throughout the play of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s writing contains profound evidence that Shakespeare, today could be viewed as a man that carried a feminist perspective, at least through literature. The term feminism didn’t come into being, until centuries after Shakespeare’s death, quite ironic to the fact that he was living in the English Renaissance period, during which society was utterly anti-feminist. During this anti-feminist time period, it has been stated that:

• Women were not qualified enough to think at a higher level, because their skulls were too small.
• When a woman was married, the main purpose was to unite rich families.
• Women had large hips, so they were given the role of bearing and tending the children, instead of getting involved in other matters.

However, through Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare supports the idea that women can also carry out actions through passion which gave his play a unique feminist perspective, in a society who had a prejudice against woman and their inferiority in comparison to the superiority of the masculinity. Many examples are depicted throughout the play that exemplify that a woman’s self-reliance and passion is her greatest strength, allowing her to escape from the anti-feminist society.

As a woman I do believe that having male superiority and parent authority is very critical to run a peaceful household, but when such powers are used in an immoral way, that is when action needs to be taken.

Throughout Romeo and Juliet, the three main women characters are Juliet, her nurse, and her mother, Lady Capulet who are all under the dictatorship of men at the time. How these women behave among themselves, how they behave with men and how men treat them, are all separate ways of looking at feminist perspectives in an anti-feminist society of that time.

“I hate to hear you talk about all women as if they were fine ladies instead of rational creatures. None of us want to be in calm waters all our lives.” –Jane Austen, Persuasion.

Passion and women, they are two unbreakable entities that always stick together when a woman is willing to cross any societal boundaries to carry out her desires. Throughout the play of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is portrayed as a woman who is defiant, but obedient and quiet. She exemplifies the character of a heroic female character, in love with Romeo, but since Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet such marriage is not possible in the eyes of their families because of the family feud that has been going on for decades. Although Juliet has been raised in an elegant manner, when it comes to making decisions about marriage and her future, Juliet is fairly self-contained.

The true love that has evolved between Romeo and Juliet has caused them both to agree and forever adhere to their decision of marrying each other. Even when Capulet brings for Juliet a marriage proposal from Count Paris, Juliet refuses, for she has already married Romeo. Through this scene, the audience can strongly observe the fact that Shakespeare has combined a feminist approach to the play. Instead of Juliet refusing to marry Romeo, she carries on with her decision to marry him. Even in front of her father who is the patriarch of the Capulet family and is threatening to abandon her, she remains steadfast on her decision.

I strongly believe that when decisions about marriage are being made it is very critical for parents to take into consideration the opinion of their child that is getting married. Juliet who is living in an anti-feminist society has shifted from innocence to experience, in other words, a development from a naïve individual to an assured, experienced and a capable woman who is positively capable of accomplishing her desires.

Women cannot be prevented from fulfilling their desires, as depicted through Romeo and Juliet, where Juliet will cross any societal boundaries to reunite with Romeo, and she absolutely does, but the tragic fate of these star-crossed lovers, united them in their tombs.

During the Early Renaissance Era, the society believed if a woman was disobedient and didn’t obey her parents demand, she would be punished with an appalling fate, which was another anti-feminist argument in the play.

In my opinion, I strongly feel that gender discrimination is caused by the imbalance of rights between different genders, which then creates a worldview of inferiority and superiority, but as time progresses, the worldviews of different societies also gradually changes, either for the best or for the worst. The way society decides to deal with such conflicts is what will shape feminist and anti-feminist perspectives and inferiority and superiority perspectives.

Men under the pressure of other men will often be compelled to take actions against their women. While under the constraints of society or men, a woman must behave fearless in order to surpass the obstacle that is preventing her from fulfilling her desire.

During Shakespeare’s time, it was a usual situation, but there were few young women like Juliet who were clever, but determined enough to overcome societal expectations and obstacles.  In reference to the father and daughter connection between Juliet and Lord Capulet, before Juliet got married to Romeo, Lord Capulet was very compassionate, forgiving, domineering and very auxiliary towards Juliet, especially when Paris was asking to marry Juliet. Capulet says, “ My child is yet a stranger in the world; She hath not seen the change of fourteen years, Let two more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride… And too soon marr’d are those so early made.” (1.2- lines: 8-13) This quote supports the fact that Capulet is concerned about Juliet; he will not take any step without her consent. He then explains to Paris, that Juliet will only get married to Paris, if he is able to woo her and she falls in love with him.This was a very affectionate and honorable decision a father could take in such a situation.

Through this act of Lord Capulet, it is also evident that Capulet takes into consideration the opinion of his daughter, which in addition means that Juliet has fewer obstacles in her path to achieve her desire of marrying Romeo. This would only be possible if a male gave permission to a female to carry out such a decision, because of the male’s patriarchal authority. This doesn’t last for long, when Capulet who is indirectly pressured by Count Paris’s money, status, and political connection, is persuaded, that marrying Juliet to Paris would be his utmost priority.

In Act 3, Scene 5, Capulet says, “To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. “(3.5 lines 154-155) An inference can be made from this that Capulet is wanting the best for Juliet, after all she has been grieving for Tybalt’s death and looks quite saddened in the eyes of her parents, in addition to this her parents are getting her married so she is able to live a blissful marriage.

These examples also support the fact; men can be soft-hearted towards women, but the evil anti-feminism within other men, causes persuasion and shift in one’s character and a shift in the decisions a man makes.

During the Elizabethan time, women would be open on stating their opinions among each other, but when it came to communicating with men, a feeling of fear aroused. Wives would fear their husbands, daughters would fear their fathers and sisters would fear their brothers. There was a great amount of respect in this, but often men took advantage of such respect.

No matter how strong, how furious men can be in overpowering women, women like Juliet must not lose their faith in achieving their desires, even if it may be love that is not permitted by the society they are surrounded by.

As a young woman, I still have a world to see beyond, but I fear of anti-feminism within society, and of the substantial steps that are required to get rid of sexism at a whole.

The most crucial step for a woman living in an anti-feminist society, under the pressure of her family, would be to take a step forward, defy themselves and do what they think is right. I am a Muslim woman and I am proud of wearing a hijab and society doesn’t discriminate me for such a reason. I am thankful to be living in a society that gives equal rights to men and women, but if I were to be living in a developing country, where rights have yet not been put into action for both genders, their law would allow dictatorship and control over women by men.

I believe it is important to be proud of male qualities, for example their strength and ability to protect their family, but at the same time I also feel women have remarkable qualities that our world could not prosper without. The list can go on and on, about the discrepancies between men and women, but one concept if every individual would follow to create a peaceful home, where everyone belongs would be: to give equal value and respect to the opinions of each and every individual.

There are many ways to stop gender prejudice and controversy between the roles of male and female. Speaking out is definitely one; through literature, spoken word or even physical actions.

Feminism doesn’t mean us women hate men; it means we strive to achieve gender equality in a humanist world.

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