Lady Capulet in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet Essay -- William Shakesp

brothel keeper Capulet in Shakespeares Romeo and JulietA woman during the 16th century did not have the freedoms that a woman at once enjoys. During Shakespeares life wives were not allowed the independence they take pleasure in today. Therefore, the role of the mother for Juliet in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is not commanding or authoritative because of the time period Shakespeare lived.The role of a wife must be looked at in order to understand and appreciate Juliets mother. When a orthodontic braces was matrimonial during the 16th century, Susan Amussen said it was the beginning of a partnership, but not one of equal proportions. The husband is awarded all the power in the family. He represents the family to the immaterial world and keeps the peace within the household. The wife is only an assistant. Her duties included feeding and running the household smoothly. Helping with the family business is another duty the wife has to widen out (86).Lady Capulet abides by these rules when dealing with her daughter. She knows her husband is planning to marry their daughter to Paris. It is she that must prepare Juliet for the news because one of her duties is to take care of the household. However, Lady Capulet has no say of who Juliet should marry, because that is left to the husband who is lord of the manor.Instead it is the wifes duty to inform her child that she must prepare herself for marriage. Lady Capulet was married at an age younger than Juliet is. She says, By my count I was your mother much upon these years that you are now a maid (1.3.73-75). It is time Juliet leaves her approach and adds to the familys fortune. The mother is the one to tell Juliet this news because she was put into the same situation as her daughter. During the ... ...s set for a woman of this time and carried them out with dignity. She was a true 16th century woman.Works CitedAmussen, Susan. The Family and the Household in A Companion to Shakespeare. Ed. David Kastan. Malden Massachusetts Blackwell Publishers Inc., 1999. 85-99.Dash, Irene. Wooing, Wedding, and Power Women in Shakespeares Plays. New York Columbia University Press, 1981.Pitt, Angela. Shakespeares Women. New Jersey Barnes & Noble Books, 1981.Rich, Barnaby. Women as Property in Dusinberre, Juliet. Shakespeare and the Nature of Women. New York Harper & Row Publishers, Inc., 1975. 115.Shakespeare, William. The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. The Norton Shakespeare found on the Oxford Edition. Gen. Ed. Stephen and Ed. Walter Cohen, Jean Howard, and Katherine Maus. New York Norton & Company, 1997. 872-941.