Romeo And Juliet Foils Essay

851 Words2 Pages

In a world dictated by societal norms, the characters in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ are forced to navigate these constraints with little help from their parents. Set in Verona, this timeless tragedy tells the tale of two star-crossed lovers from feuding families. Alongside the underlying theme of parental support, the play highlights how parental influence can drive one to extreme actions. In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet, playwright William Shakespeare uses foils to highlight the differences in how Lady Capulet and the Nurse act as mother figures to Juliet. In the play, Shakespeare uses dramatic irony with Juliet’s mother Lady Capulet, to display how she and the Nurse are foils of one another, emphasizing on the emotional distance between …show more content…

This scene demonstrates the societal expectations and parental pressure Lady Capulet puts on Juliet regarding marriage, along with comparing Juliet to other girls her age that are already married. While Juliet’s response to this lacks overall enthusiasm for the matter of marriage, it demonstrates the obedience she has to her mother by focusing on her mother's opinions rather than prioritizing her own desires. This scene presents the formal and curosy nature of their relationship. Where Lady Capulet’s main focus and concerns are prioritized by societal image, rather than her own daughter's emotions. This quote represents dramatic irony because the audience knows that Juliet’s romantic life will complicate in the near future and to her mother’s advice, which is ultimately irrelevant and unhelpful to the path that Juliet’s life will take. A similar situation occurs in Act 3 Scene 5 when Lady Capulet believes Juliet is grieving over her cousin Tybalt, and promises to avenge his death. "Well, girl, thou weep’st not so much for his death as that the villain lives which slaughtered him." 3.5 …show more content…

Along with underscoring her failure to provide the emotional support Juliet needs. In contrast, Shakespeare uses indirect characterization of the Nurse to display how she and Lady Capulet are foils, showcasing the loving, trust-filled bond between the Nurse and Juliet. In Act 2 Scene 4, the Nurse warns Romeo not to toy with Juliet. She states, “The gentlewoman is young; and therefore, if you should deal double with her, truly it is an ill thing to be offered to any gentlewomen, (2.4 171-173). This quote demonstrates the deep and genuine care the Nurse has for Juliet, warning Romeo not to lead her on or face consequences. It shows how the Nurse wants the best for Juliet, desiring to have her find someone kind, and honest rather than marry her off to the first suitor to offer. By using indirect characterization, the Nurse’s protective nature and distrust of Romeo are obvious, as she values Juliet’s happiness over her societal appearance.. One similar moment that demonstrates the Nurse's love for Juliet is when she tells Juliet that Romeo has been banned from Verona. “As Paris

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