Juliet Character Analysis edexcel 1-Shakespeare

Juliet is a determined, cautious and defiant character whose deep love for Romeo makes her defy her family and societal expectations, which results in her tragic end.

Juliet character summary

Why is Juliet important?

At different parts of the play, Juliet is depicted as:

• Innocent and obedient: at the outset of the play, Juliet is presented as a young girl who dutifully follows her parents’ wishes. She initially has little interest in love or marriage and responds to her mother’s suggestion of marrying Paris with politeness: “It is an honour that I dream not of.”

• Romantic and idealistic: after meeting Romeo, Juliet transforms into a more romantic and idealistic character. Her love for Romeo is portrayed as sincere and intense, quickly overtaking her duty to her family.

• Impulsive and disobedient: like Romeo, Juliet’s impulsive nature begins to emerge as her love for him deepens. On the balcony she urges Romeo to “Deny thy father and refuse thy name”. She becomes impetuous and decisive when she marries Romeo in secret without her parents’ permission and this disobedience marks a change in her character. Her impulsive decisions, such as drinking the sleeping potion to avoid marrying Paris, stem from her desperation to be with Romeo even at great personal cost.

Juliet’s use of language

The language Shakespeare uses for Juliet — elevated iambic pentameter, rhyming verse and her use of celestial imagery — reflects her passionate and romantic nature.

• Iambic pentameter and rhymed verse: Juliet often speaks in iambic pentameter which gives her dialogue a rhythmic and elevated tone. This formal style aligns with her status as a noble and romantic heroine. Juliet’s early language reflects her innocence and childish ways. Upon finding out about her possible betrothal, she is non-committal: “But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly”. Her use of rhymed verse in scenes lіke the balcony scene convey her youthfulness and idealism, as well as her intense love for Romeo.

• Celestial  imagery: Juliet’s language is often filled with romantic, celestial imagery which reflects the transformation she undergoes after falling in love with Romeo. Initially innocent and obedient, she later adopts a more passionate nature. For example, when she states: “When I shall die / Take him and cut him out in little stars” she is suggesting that his appearance and love is so radiant that it deserves to be immortalised in the heavens. Her use of celestial imagery reflects the intensity of her love and her idealisation of Romeo.

• Emotive: as the play progresses, Juliet’s language, like Romeo’s, becomes more emotional and urgent, reflecting her growing desperation. Her soliloquies, particularly the one before she takes the sleeping potion, reveal her deep fear: “I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins”.

Juliet key quotes

Juliet character development

Juliet character interpretation

Juliet and the patriarchy

During Shakespeare’s era, society was predominantly patriarchal with women’s futures typically controlled by their fathers. Juliet is only 13 years old, but marriage at such a young age was not uncommon during the period in which the play is set. Marriage was considered a sacred union ordained by God and viewed as the foundation of society, with its breakdown seen as a danger to social order. Arranged marriages were common, especially among wealthy families where parents selected spouses for their children to secure social and economic advantages. Daughters like Juliet were often used as a means to elevate family status and wives were expected to obey their husbands. Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris and her defiance of her father highlight the patriarchal structure of the Capulet family and the societal expectations of the tіme. Juliet’s defiance in refusing to marry Paris would have likely shocked a contemporary audience as her behaviour would have been seen as rebellious and disrespectful.

Sources

Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor (eds), 2005, The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works (Second Edition), Oxford University Press