|
Romeo and Juliet
OKay so i have to write a essay on it and im kinda stuck!
Heres what my sheet says...
How does Shakespeare introduce Juliet to the audience?
comment on:...
- What is said about her
- Who she is surrounded by (her mother and the nurse)
- What she says
- First impressions
- The influences from those close to her (the nurse)
so thats what i have to do... my essay has to be from the start of act 1 scene 2 up until the end of act 1 scene 3.. so yes its only to scenes but im really confused with it.
so if any one could help me i'd be sooo greatful! also if you have any other ideas of what i could include in my essay to get a better grace id really appreciate that to :) thankyou xx
has to be between 500 and 1000 words
[ ]
Want to answer more questions in the Work & School category?
Maybe give some free advice about: School?
Ah Romeo and Juliet. Studied it 3 times in 2 years. so:
1) Capulet and paris discuss her age mainly. A big deal is made of the fact that she is very young. In elizabethan times girls were married off in their early teens so the fact that Capulet is reluctant to give her away yet shows just how young she is and also (going onto no.2, that she has a protective father despite the later happenings in the play). Act 1 Scene 3 look for stuff the nurse says. She is he one who launches into juliet's history as a child. Lady Capulet has not a lot to say about her and the stuff she does say is wrong-eg:her age(we'll come to that in a min.) and focuses on Paris' virtues more than her daughter's.
2)Capulet, the protective father.
The nurse who takes on the mother-role in juliet's life (she was the one who breast fed her and rmemebers anecdotes from J's childhood. Nurse also lost her own daughter so Juliet is a substitute.
Lady C- the absent, socialite mother who married and had juliet young. She is concerned with uliet marrying the wealthiest, most renowned dude possible (Paris).
Paris- thinks J's pretty and from a good family. Knows nothing else about her although to be fair he does seem quite loyal later on when mourning her.
3)She begins very "yes mother, no mother, three bags full" a little bemused at the idea of marriage "it is an honour that I dream not of". This meek and mild attitude is important because as the play goes on we see her take more and more control of her own life (to the point of ending it even) and basically see her grow up very quickly. You'll realise as the pay goes on that Romeo actually plans very little-juliet is the practical one.
4)First impressions are your own thoughts. Do you think she's sweet? A sap? up to you. just justify it and make sure you take into account the different social contexts of now and back then. (now she might look pathetic but back then girls were supposed to be obdient and subservient for example)
5)The Nurse is a pretty "earthy" (dirty minded but not sick lol) character who basically thinks marriage is a great idea partly because it's the done thing and partly because it means Juliet will get laid. (Seriously). However although she sings Paris' praises, she doesn't particularly care who Juliet marries so long as he's a decent guy. When she marries Romeo the Nurse is as all for that as she was for marriage to Paris. Her enthusiasm isn't personal to Paris.
phew. Hope I haven't spoiled the entire play for you! I'm guessing you know the basic plot already.
Incidentally the most sickening phrase Juliet utters in the play is "I'll look to like if, looking liking move; but no more deep will i endart mine eye Than your consent gives strength to make it fly". Basically "if he's fit, i'm sure i'll like him but i won't do anything at all without your permission". Use it. It sums up her character (a young, naive puppet) as we first see her- she would never utter this by the end of the play which shows her development. Also it shows just how much she's been brought up to be traditional and confined making her rebellion a much much bigger deal than if that strong loyalty to her parents wasn't there.
Good luck with it!
]
More Questions: |