Juliet's Second Soliloquy
Juliet’s Independence
In Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare, both of the main characters go through major changes in the way that they deal with situations and in their maturity. However, Juliet perhaps goes through the more violent and noticeable change between the two. While Juliet does have a major change in her maturity, it is more in a rebellious way of maturing, acting like the stereotypical teenager. Because of the change in independence, especially because it happened in a matter of days, she acts very rashly, ultimately leading to her suicide.
At the beginning of the play, Juliet is a very well behaved child, almost always obeying her parents and showing reluctance to hurt anyone’s feelings or pride. She submits herself to them as shown when her mother calls her. Instead of answering the way a daughter usually would to a parent, Juliet replies, “Madam, I am here. What is your will?” (1.3.7). It is shown by her calling her mother ‘madam’ that she holds high respect for her. When she asks, ‘what is your will’, she is saying that she will do anything that her mother asks her to; this again shows that she holds her mother in high regard. When her mother asks her if she wants to get married, she states, “It is an honor that I dream not of” (1.3.71). Even when she is offered something she does not want, she shows respect, as indicated by her language and word choice. The fact that she calls something that she does not want ‘an honor’ shows that she has great respect for her parent’s wishes. Juliet retains this level of maturity and respect during her first encounter with Romeo. When Romeo suddenly takes her hand and asks if it’s okay, instead of acting shocked or repulsed, she calmly says, “Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this” (1.5.108-109). When she says ‘you do wrong your hand too much’, she means that she does not mind the physical interaction. While this may be because of personal feelings – namely attraction
In Romeo and Juliet, by Shakespeare, both of the main characters go through major changes in the way that they deal with situations and in their maturity. However, Juliet perhaps goes through the more violent and noticeable change between the two. While Juliet does have a major change in her maturity, it is more in a rebellious way of maturing, acting like the stereotypical teenager. Because of the change in independence, especially because it happened in a matter of days, she acts very rashly, ultimately leading to her suicide.
At the beginning of the play, Juliet is a very well behaved child, almost always obeying her parents and showing reluctance to hurt anyone’s feelings or pride. She submits herself to them as shown when her mother calls her. Instead of answering the way a daughter usually would to a parent, Juliet replies, “Madam, I am here. What is your will?” (1.3.7). It is shown by her calling her mother ‘madam’ that she holds high respect for her. When she asks, ‘what is your will’, she is saying that she will do anything that her mother asks her to; this again shows that she holds her mother in high regard. When her mother asks her if she wants to get married, she states, “It is an honor that I dream not of” (1.3.71). Even when she is offered something she does not want, she shows respect, as indicated by her language and word choice. The fact that she calls something that she does not want ‘an honor’ shows that she has great respect for her parent’s wishes. Juliet retains this level of maturity and respect during her first encounter with Romeo. When Romeo suddenly takes her hand and asks if it’s okay, instead of acting shocked or repulsed, she calmly says, “Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, which mannerly devotion shows in this” (1.5.108-109). When she says ‘you do wrong your hand too much’, she means that she does not mind the physical interaction. While this may be because of personal feelings – namely attraction