Todays Lesson:
Learning Intention: To learn about the motivations and changes of the characters within Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet
Check your understanding:
- I have an understanding of how the characters change
- I can explain the motivations of different characters
- I can briefly describe each of the characters
- I could tackle an SAQ based on one of the characters
Answer the following questions in mini paragraphs. You need to include substantial detail and quotes to support your response.
The following blog explores how each of the main characters within Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. it is by no means a comprehensive resource but is intended to be a summary of the characters motivations and changes.
Romeo
- Describe Romeo's character at the beginning of the play?
- Describe Romeo's character at the conclusion of the play?
- How does Romeo change throughout the play?
- Describe Romeo's most prominent emotion?
- Is Romeo responsible for the tragic end of the title characters?
- What is Romeo's fatal flaw?
- What is Romeo's motivation throughout the play?
- Identify 4 quotes that are central to Romeo's character
Juliet
Juliet is obedient and a slave to society and her parents at the start of the play. “Madam I am here, what is your will?”, this moment in Act 1 Scene 3 where she talks to her mother shows how controlled by her parents Juliet is. Shakespeare infers that Juliet is an innocent and pure girl and it is the society around her that is forcing her to take actions. From the start of the play, her parents govern her will, she is trapped in a “prison” of expectations and she is attempting to break free and live her life.
2. Describe Juliet's character at the conclusion of the play.
By the end of the play, Juliet gains a rebellious spirit after she disobeys her parents to be with Romeo. She is passionate towards Romeo, through this, she becomes a strong, decisive character by herself. This is seen in Act 3 Scene 5 where Romeo states “Juliet wills it so” after she demands for him to stay. This quote displays that Juliet has developed a sense of independence from her parents and an ability to make her own decisions. Shakespeare is suggesting that love is a selfish pursuit that ultimately reflects the selfish emotions of the individual.
3. How does Juliet change throughout the play?
Throughout the play, Juliet develops a set of her own morals and rules. From a shy and innocent little girl to an independent woman, she grasps the concept that she deserves to be the master of her destiny. Her parents in the beginning expect Juliet to follow their command and the expectations of society, “Thou wilt fall backward when thou comest to age”. She defies her parents to be with Romeo and shows that she can be her own person.
5. IS JULIET RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TRAGIC END OF THE TITLE CHARACTERS?
The tragedy is not entirely her fault but she does play a role in the tragic end. This is because she decides to be an individual and makes decisions that are against the societal conventions and her family. She wants to be independent so she can make her own decisions instead of someone else making them for her and controlling her. She also wants to be with Romeo, which causes her to defy her parents in order to feel as if she is making her own independent choices. This desire to be with Romeo motivates both of them to rebel against the parents and marry each other.
6. WHY DO YOU THINK JULIET LOVES ROMEO?
Juliet loves Romeo because he is someone she can't have since her family and his family hate each other. She is benefitting herself by loving Romeo because by being with him, she feels as if she is making her own decisions, therefore feeling like an independent person. She feels this independence because she knows her parents are never going to approve of their marriage and her running away is Juliet literally breaking away from society in the hopes to become true individual. As well as that, unlike their parents, both Romeo and Juliet do not want to be involved in the hatred of the feud and therefore, by choosing him as her partner, she is demonstrating that the feud is restricting her from being herself and choosing the people she wants in her life.
7. WHY DOES JULIET KILL HERSELF?
Juliet kills herself because Romeo also dies and she loves him so much, she can't imagine her life without him. Since she couldn't be with him when they were alive, she believes that they can be together after death. Also, if she hadn't die, her parents would force her to marry Paris and she can also be captured by The Watch. By killing herself, she defies her parents and fate as well as proving to her parents that she is determined to be an independent person and if she doesn't get what she wants, she will do anything to get it. By killing herself, she rebels against her parents one last time and she also does it to get freedom. By committing suicide, she also wants to demonstrate to her and Romeo's parents the damage that the hate from the feud is doing on both families and the society and hopes that they will decide to end the feud.
8. IDENTIFY FOUR QUOTES THAT ARE CENTRAL TO JULIET'S CHARACTER?
1."O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name.
or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
and i'll no longer be a Capulet!"
2."Delay this marriage for a month, a week,
or if you do not, make the
bridal bed in that dim monument where Tybalt lies."
3."what's in a name?
That which we call a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet."
4."My only love sprung from my only hate,
too early seen unknown and known too late'
Parents
- Describe the parents throughout the play? Find a quote that supports your response.
- What does you think the parents symbolise throughout the play? Find a quote that supports your response.
- What is Capulet motivated by? Find a quote that supports your response.
- How does Capulet see Juliet and her individuality? Find a quote that supports your response.
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