“Romeo and Juliet” by William Shakespeare is set in ‘fair Verona’ and is also set at a time where a woman was often seen as a possession by a husband rather than a companion. This is one of the aspects of the play that make it so powerful since Romeo and Juliet’s love is the modern, Western love affair. It goes against the wishes of the feuding families but also against the routine of society. This means that Juliet is faced with many problems as she pursues her love affair with Romeo and from her first scene the amount of help she receives is unclear and cause for argument.
Juliet first appears in Act One Scene three. She is an obedient and well brought up child, rushing to her mother whenever she calls. This scene also introduces her two parental figures. First of all her mother, Lady Capulet and then Nurse, who would have brought Juliet up and fed her as a baby since this would have been unfashionable for Lady Capulet to do. The two women are complete contrasts to each other, therefore on one hand, Juliet has all the guidance she should require from her kindly Nurse, but on the other, her mother, who should always be there for her, appears to know little about daughter. Lady Capulet is direct and formal in the way she addresses Juliet, in comparison to the Nurse who is talkative and repetitive, repeating, “thou wilt fall backwards when thou has more wit” over and over again. This contrast only emphasises how Nurse has been there for Juliet since she was born and so has many memories of her, while Lady Capulet has not has these experiences and as a result is distant from her daughter. This is shown when she tries to have a private talk with Juliet but requires the Nurse’s assistance calling out “Nurse come back again, I have remembered me.” The discussion is about marriage. Juliet has never been in love before, being only fourteen. “It is an honour that I dream not of” and so she is almost not interested in it. Yet her mother pushes her into the marriage to Paris and Nurse does not see that she does not care for marriage. Lady Capulet goes into a long extended metaphor of comparing Paris to a book:
“Read over the volume of young Paris’ face
And find delight writ there with beauty’s pen”
However, the comparison has little effect on our emotions. Juliet’s reply is that of an obedient child replying that she will “look to like, if looking liking moves.” By the end of this scene, the fact that Juliet is not keen on the proposal and yet her Nurse and mother are, we see that Juliet may have to take some strength on herself, without the support of her elders.
By the end of Act one Juliet has fallen in love with Romeo. The only person she confides in is with her Nurse, not her mother. Her Nurse is supportive and helpful. She does not object or cause argument but acts as a messenger, passing on and collecting messages from the two lovers so that they can pursue their love. It could be argued that without the help of the Nurse, Romeo and Juliet would have been prevented from continuing their relationship. Nurse therefore throughout the play acts as guidance for Juliet and her role means that Juliet has help whenever she requires it. Whether or not she uses it is up to herself.
The Friar Laurence also acts as helpful figure and again without his work the two lovers would be separated. It is he that Juliet runs to when she finds out the definite plans for marriage to Paris at the end of act three, and without his services Romeo and Juliet would never have been married in the first place. Friar Laurence prevents Juliet (and Romeo) from killing herself at the thought of marrying Paris and it is his advice that keeps her from slaying herself.
Nevertheless, neither the Friar nor the Nurse are members of the family. From her family she receives little support and when looking at the play from the twenty first century, where family is extremely important, our sympathies cannot help but be let out to the young girl. A first her father in Act one Scene two appears like a loving and giving person. He describes Juliet as the most important person in his life since, “Earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she” and is willing to let her choose her husband, believing that, “my will to her consent is but a part.” However, when Juliet exclaims that she will not marry the County his attitude changes. Act four shows him as a violent and thoughtless man. He describes her as a “wench” and threatens to throw her out on the street where she would have no money. This scene cannot help but capture the spectators’ emotions since they know the love that she has for her husband. While Juliet turns down the proposal out of respect for Romeo, Capulet takes it as disrespect for him.
The most powerful part of this scene is the end. Juliet’s father and mother have walked out on her and she is left with her only advisor, the Nurse. Even she cannot stand up for Juliet. Her advice is to marry the County and forget about her one true love. The spectator here can empathise with both characters. From the Nurse’s point of view Romeo has only caused problems for Juliet and she only wants the best for her; but Juliet’s love for Romeo is so strong that “myself have power to die” if she cannot be with him. Nurse lets her down and apart from at the scene of her “death” she does not appear in the play again. Juliet no longer needs the assistance and guidance that she gave. Everyone has let her down but this powerful female character does not require the spectators’ sympathy. She is headstrong and worthy to her husband. No longer does she need the Nurse, the Friar or her parents since she has her one and only love. She dies by is side, and ends up with the only person she would ever listen to and take advice from.
Juliet’s character is probably one of Shakespeare’s greatest portrayals of a female character. Her development throughout the play shows her changes from a young obedient girl into a powerful woman. There are points in the play where it would be impossible not to feel sympathetic for Juliet since her fate does seem to be forfeited and society does not allow her to be with the person she loves. Nevertheless I felt that Juliet, by the end of the play, did not require assistance or guidance. She had decided to spend the rest of time with Romeo and if that meant killing herself then she was willing to do it. Advice telling her otherwise would have not prevented her and as a result this beautiful love story is only made more tragic.