Essay About The Breaking of Renaissance Roles in Romeo and Juliet

 “My only love sprung from my only hate” (Shakespeare I.v. 135-140), said Juliet. She was a thirteen year old Renaissance girl who became enamored by the son of enemies. Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespeare in 1595, portrays the love story between the two descendants of families who disdain one another and would later end with the death of two souls. Their true bond for each other proved to be strong enough to defy the stern gender roles of their century but not strong enough for their love to last forever. In Verona, Italy, men and women had societal differences and expectations to live up to the standards. Women from Verona would keep quiet of their thoughts and opinions and would let men choose for them, like Capulet chose Paris to marry Juliet. In contrast to men from Verona, men would make sure that their masculinity and honor would be held high unlike their femininity, which they did not show. Shakespeare shows that characters like Romeo, Juliet, and Friar Lawrence live their lives how they desire as opposed to following the rules of the Renaissance for their place in society. 

For most of Renaissance history, women were subordinate, viewed as inferior, and limited in power. The courage it takes to challenge gender-based social constructs is very difficult, but when it comes to Juliet, the rules are not taken seriously. Juliet's father, Capulet, chose Paris to marry his daughter because he believed she would love him and be content with him for her entire life. Regardless of Paris being wealthy and handsome, Juliet did not find him appealing. In Women’s role in the Renaissance it says, “...led some families to marry off only one daughter” (Victoria and Albert Museum), implying that the families are the ones choosing who the daughter marries, not the actual daughter. In the story, Juliet defied what her nurse, father, and mother had to say about her marrying Paris. She did not care about the benefits of her being with Paris if it did not have the same irreplaceable love she had for Romeo. Furthermore, as a strong, assertive woman, Juliet took no joking pleasure in voicing her opinion and made sure it was heard and not taken in jest, regardless of her parents’ objections. Juliet confesses her feelings for Romeo and more, “If that thy bent of love be honorable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow. By one that I’ll procure to come to thee. Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite” (Shakespeare 2.II. 140-145). Juliet was the one who asked Romeo to marry her. This is so unlike Renaissance times for women because it was not their role to do that. This shows Juliet’s strong independence because of how soon she wanted the wedding, how upfront she was for marrying this man, while not caring how she looks or comes off. In summary, Juliet’s different behavior from girls her age during that era, shows that defying sexist social constructs is an example of her strong, rule-breaking character and also her love for Romeo. 

The masculinity and femininity of a man, one is to be held with pride and the other is to be hidden away, unknown to a man's eye; Romeo carried both, he showed his masculinity with his battles but showed his femenine side with no fear of what other men would think. It is interesting to note that Romeo was quite open about his delicate feelings for Juliet since he had a kind and gentle manner towards her and brought the importance of Juliet above his own. This is not typical of a Renaissance man. It has been said on A look at male gender roles in Shakespeare’s Renaissance, “In this type of Renaissance society, men would call on women simply for their sexual pleasure” (Leann Pettit), it proves that men would only use women for something they would want, not caring if she says no. Romeo never intended to use Juliet for sexual intimacy; rather, he cared for her as an individual and was considerate of her feelings and thoughts, which set him apart from other men of his era. Moving on, men during the Renaissance tended to display anger and intensity to portray themselves as manly and to fit gender roles, but not Romeo; he could show emotion without fearing retribution. As stated in the reading, “Have they been merry, which their keepers call, a lightning before death! Oh, how may I call this lightning? --O my love, my wife!” (Shakespeare 5.III. 95-100), Romeo is grieving for his wife, Juliet, thinking she’s dead. During the Renaissance, people identify crying and sadness as feminine traits, but Romeo disregards it and couldn’t care less. All in all, Romeo does not show a lack of knowledge in expressing his love and emotions to Juliet and he does not care if he demonstrates them alone or with people. His character is not to be afflicted with toxic gender stereotypes.

Friar Laurence played a crucial role in Romeo and Juliet, his compassion and sympathy for the lovers were very out-of-the-ordinary considering he was a Renaissance priest. While Friar Laurence had an altruistic personality unlike other priests at the time, he did some deceitful things, lying and concealing Romeo and Juliet's marriage for their own good. As said in Priests in the Middle Ages, “The priest was in charge ensuring that the religious occasions and events were observed” (Simon Newman). Getting married in the Catholic way would mean getting married properly, without anyone objecting. Any priest during the Renaissance would deny Romeo and Juliet’s need for marriage because of their long line of family animosity, and also not wanting to get in trouble by the Capulets and Montegues. If the family of those two did come to the wedding, obviously they would object, so Laurence married the two discreetly. Priests during that time wouldn’t do that because it shows dishonesty. Continuing on, Friar Laurence had a curious hobby, collecting herbs and weeds to make potions, something a normal Renaissance priest would not engage in.  When Friar Laurence was outside he stated this, “I must upfill this osier cage of ours, with baleful weeds and precious-juiced flowers” (Shakespeare 2.III. 5-10). He is collecting his ingredients for his potions, potions that a priest would not do. The potions that Friar would make would be potions that make you appear dead, fathers in the Renaissance would not do that because it’s not a Catholic nor a normal thing to do. In short, Friar Laurence chose to go against his role as a priest, he didn’t care if people thought of him as weird because of his hobbies nor did he care if word spread around and was exposed as dishonest; he took in consideration of Romeo and Juliet’s love and did what he had to do to make them happy; not only is this very admirable of him but it reveals his nonchalant attitude.

As a final observation, Romeo, Friar, and Juliet all proved to be powerful lawbreakers of sexist and peculiar Renaissance gender roles; they did what they desired, freely, without regard for hardships or consequences of being different in a Renaissance society. The independent nature of Juliet and her intense love for Romeo would make her an outsider in the Renaissance; her distinguishable personality would set her apart from the rest of the characters in the story.  Romeo held no hate for his femenine side, dissimilar to other men from the Renaissance. His character combined well with Juliet because they both left an impact together when they died, changing the fate of the Capulets, Montegues, and Verona as a whole. Friar Lawrence, the priest of the story, suggested to Romeo and Juliet that they marry as he was sympathetic to their circumstances. Knowing that they ought to be enemies by all rights, he sacrificed the hopes of their love. Thus, he shows compassion and does not care if he makes the Capulets and Montegues angry. In Romeo and Juliet, love is the greatest theme, specifically the intense feelings of passion that springs up at first sight between the two lovers. The actors portray romantic love as a violent, ecstatic force, one that is stronger than values, loyalty, and emotions of others. Romeo and Juliet’s feeling of love was prohibited yet uncontrollable just like you might have experienced before in your own life.