Thursday, September 5, 2013

What concepts of love are presented by the female characters in Act I scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet?

I assume that you are talking about Act I scene 3, which
is when Lady Capulet first approaches Juliet with the idea of marrying Paris, and I have
edited your question accordingly.


In response to being
asked about whether she is ready to marry, Juliet responds that it is an "honour" she
has not thought of. However, from Lady Capulet's words, it is clear that marriage does
not actually have much to do with love. Juliet has reached an age where many of her
peers are already married, and it is clear that this marriage is more about the standing
and wealth that the Capulet family can gain than Juliet's own personal feelings. Love is
presented as a secondary motivation for marriage.


However,
Juliet, ever the dutiful daughter, agrees to look at Paris that night,
saying:



I'll
look to like, if looking liking move;


But no more deep will
I endart mine eye


Than your consent gives strength to make
it fly.



Note the way that
Juliet recognises that when it comes to whom she will marry, her own feelings will have
little consequence. The consent and wishes of her parents are paramount. The hilarious
Nurse in this scene points towards the way that, through marriage, "women grow by men,"
and is delighted at the thought of her little charge becoming a woman, but again,
marriage is shown not to be an affair of the heart. Love in the way that we conceive
this emotion is curiously absent from this scene.

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