Femininity in The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet (Essay Example)

In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, women were treated very poorly. In the play, there are many instances where women were treated unfairly by men and even other women. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is a play written by Shakespeare about two star-crossed lovers from opposing families who meet a terrible fate. Women are treated much better now than the women from the play because they can do more of the “men’s jobs”, women today have a much bigger influence than before, and women can do what they want now. 

Women can do more of the “men’s” jobs. In the Elizabethan era, women didn’t often have jobs. There were really only three jobs a woman could have which were mother, wife, or servant. Today, women can have any job that a man can have. It used to be that only men could work in fields such as engineering, medicine, or politics, but now, those fields are open to women as well. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, the women that were included were only shown with a job as a mother/wife or a nurse. Men in the story were supposed to be masculine and hold their families honor. Women served to care for the children and serve the men. The jobs that women can have now give them the ability to hold more influence throughout the world.

Women today have a much bigger influence than before. Women are much more prevalent in today’s media, they hold more influence over a majority of the population. In the Elizabethan era, women didn’t have any influence over anyone but now, they have gained a significant reputation. Women having a bit of influence over a man was possible, but not common. “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?” (I, i, 78). One example of a woman with influence is Billie Eilish. She has impacted many women’s lives with her music and has inspired plenty of people's style and hobbies. Since women have succeeded in gaining an influence it allows them to do more without having to rely on others.

Women can more or less do what they want now. Women were seen as objects that had one purpose, which was to carry children, during the Elizabethan era. In The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet even says Juliet will be “ripe to be a bride” (I, ii, 11) when she’s 16 after Paris told Capulet he wanted to marry Juliet. In today’s time, most men don't see women as just objects. Women are able to have separate opinions from their partner without. Women now serve a bigger purpose than just raising children. The arranged marriage of Juliet is another thing that shows how men felt about women. Lord Capulet and Paris were discussing Juliet’s marriage without even consulting her. Men were extremely controlling of women in the Elizabethan era. Now, women can find their own love. Some families do still have arranged marriages or tell their children to marry into big families, but it isn’t as common. Because women have gained such an influence to the point where they can get “men’s” jobs and can generally do what they want without a man’s approval shows that women have obtained more respect.

Women were treated differently in the Elizabethan era than they are now. Women from The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet were treated worse than women today because women can do more of the “men’s jobs”, women today have a much bigger influence than before, and women can do what they want now. After reading through the play, you can pick out certain parts where women are seemingly put down because they weren’t at the same level as men. Women are treated better in modern times.