Examine how Shakespeare's uses Juliet to subvert and or conforms to traditional sixteenth century female stereotypes.
             In the sixteenth century woman were treated as second class citizens. Their fathers owned them until they got married and then by their husbands. Women were excepted to defer to their husbands no matter what, and if they didn't it were acceptable for a man to beat his wife. If a woman did not marry she would have no life and woman who chose not marry usually became nuns. Women were also expected to provide children, preferably a boy and if they were unable the woman was always blamed.
             In the play "Romeo and Juliet" the Capulets are the perfect examples of a stereotypical couple for that time. This is illustrated many times throughout the play, like when Juliet's father tells her she is to marry Paris and she refuses. Lady Capulet doesn't get involved, she sticks with her husband and does not offer any comfort to Juliet
             However Romeo and Juliet are not a stereotypical characters which would have been expected for this period of time. Juliet subverts her female stereotype by not obeying her father wishes and argues that she will not marry Paris.
             Romeo is also not a stereotypical character in many ways. For example how he falls in love with Juliet and wants to marry her for no other reason than love. He has no interest in a downy as he is very wealthy himself. Nearly everyone in Shakespearean times married to gain money or land not for love as most people do today.
             When Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time in act one scene five they immediately fall in love. Shakespeare uses a sonnet to illustrate this. A sonnet is a love poem, which in Shakespearean times would have been recognised by an audience straight away, because in the Sixteenth century it was customary for a person to send a sonnet to their lover. Romeo is very respectful to Juliet and subtly shows he...