In reading the story of Romeo and Juliet the question of the importance of family acceptance is raised. How significant was it for a woman of the Elizabethan era to have the approval of her family in order to marry a man? Well, this play definitely proved that Juliet's love for Romeo was stronger than anyone could possibly imagination, so strong that it brought her to her death. One can argue Juliet took matters into her own hands and for that reason alone she is responsible for her own death. Can the disapproval of love by one's family really become that strong that death can become the only option and if so, can love really justify faking one's death?
             In understanding who was really responsible for the death of Juliet one must first take into consideration how woman were viewed upon during this time period. This was a time where men had more power, opportunities and influence on society than woman did. Women did not have equal rights and were seen as possessions not people. Just as a girl's parents controlled her decisions and life, once the girl became a woman and was married, her husband controlled her. Husbands had expectations of their wife as much as parents had of their daughter; women were expected to behave accordingly, obeying their husbands. Their role as a wife would be to comply with their husband's decisions and bear him a family. At this time, women knew no other way of life, and so generally women complied with the traditions. So here we have Juliet who unexpectedly falls in love with a man whose family is the only enemy of her family. Even after she finds out that Romeo is a Montague she continues to see him and fall deeper in love. She tells only her nurse about the love she is has found knowing that if she told her family instead they would immediately disapprove. Juliet, unlike most woman of the time, followed what her heart told her to do even if it meant losing everything.
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