Theme Of Maturity In Romeo And Juliet

Juliet’s Developing Maturity

Juliet handles a plethora of responsibility for someone of her age. She is almost able to handle it with a degree of rationality before she meets Romeo, her fate decided love. Juliet’s feelings for Romeo transform her maturity and develop her character. Shakespeare originally creates Juliet as a more apprehensive character but throughout Romeo and Juliet he develops her character into a strong female protagonist. Juliet transitions from an adolescent to a woman in a few short days. throughout the play her sexual and emotional maturity increase. Juliet gains intelligence and independence while defying her parent’s desire for the boy she loves. Juliet’s parents wish for her to marry Paris but she wants to marry Romeo, her parents are disappointed with her behavior but she makes her own decision to marry Romeo in secrecy.

At the beginning of the play Juliet is willing to fulfill her parents wishes and marry Paris. During the conversation with Lady Capulet and the nurse, Juliet says: “I’ll look to like, if looking liking move” (I,iii, 98). This quotation shows that Juliet is obedient towards her family. This demonstrates her immaturity because she does not have her own point of view about her feelings until she meets Romeo in Act II. The changes in her obedience towards her family are shown in how she reacts to the

nurse and Lady Capulet when they summon her. In Act I she responds to Lady Capulet’s call with: “Madam, I am here, what is your will?”(I,iii,7). After she meets Romeo, she responds differently; During the balcony scene the nurse calls for Juliet and she responds with “I come, anon. But if thou meanest not well, I do beseech thee” (II,ii,150/151).
By Act II Juliet is a mature woman who now is independent enough to make her own decisions, She loves Romeo more than she respects her parents’ wishes. Juliet is willing to leave her family name behind if it allows her to be with Romeo. She proposes to Romeo and this shows her beginning to defy her parents’ desires. Juliet says to Romeo: “If that thy bent of love be honourable. Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow.” (II,ii, 144). This scene shows Juliet taking charge of her situation and demanding what she wants. Juliet’s character developed from the quiet, obedient adolescent to a woman who can take charge of her situation.
Juliet is able to make a rational decisions about Romeo’s actions and the adversities that come with her maturity and love.

She decided that if Romeo did not kill Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed Romeo. She says “My husband lives, that Tybalt would have slain, And Tybalt's dead, that would have slain my husband. All this is comfort” (III.2.105-107). This shows that Juliet is able to make level-headed decisions without overreacting. Juliet can make smart decisions on her own and is able to take control when she under circumstances. This maturity becomes of use to her when she finds out Romeo is banished for killing her

cousin.
Juliet also shows her mature side by putting other’s needs before hers. She is brave enough to take the Friar’s potion and suffer the consequences to be with the one she loves. She says "My dismal scene I needs must act alone." This quotation is another example of Juliet taking control of her circumstances. She shows her independence and intelligence nearing the end of the play.
Juliet is willing to do anything to be with Romeo, her one and only true love. She changes to be with him and to get out of a marriage with Paris. Many of her decisions were mature and rational. While thinking of others she handles problems with rationality but also urgency, which causes the tragic ending of the play. Juliet matures emotionally, sexually, and quickly but she still has an urgent need for everything. This shows that while she has grown, her maturity is still incomplete. She gains independence and cautious thinking but is still an adolescent; her urgency continuing to cloud her thoughts. Even though she is able to rationally decide what to do she still shows signs of immaturity through her actions.
By the end of the play Juliet has been transformed from a young girl, to a married woman, a widow, and finally a victim of suicide. Her ability to have control and calmly handle her situations has helped her through many adversities. Her decision to take her own life to be with her one true love can be seen from very different perspectives. It can be seen as a way to think of others instead of herself, at the time she was thinking about being with her destined love.
In conclusion Romeo and Juliet both mature emotionally in the few days that they are in love. Juliet shows her smart, witty, and determined side and grows to learn about love and heartbreak throughout the play. Shakespeare develops her character in a short amount of time and his audience learns to either love or hate her.
(Word count: 897)

Works Cited
Shakespeare, William, and Roma Gill. Romeo and Juliet. New York: Oxford U
Press, 2005. Print.