True love can strike when someone least expects it and change the course of his or her entire life. In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Juliet, the female protagonist, is a dynamic character who matures from a young innocent girl into an independent woman after falling in love with Romeo. In the beginning of the play, Juliet is depicted as a young girl who is not quite fourteen year old with no thoughts yet of an adult life. Juliet shows growth when she confidently asks Romeo to arrange for their marriage even though he is an enemy of her family. Finally, she gains total control of her life when she risks her life to takes the potion to be with Romeo. Romeo's love for Juliet is a catalyst that changes her from a young, innocent girl who is dependent on and obedient to her family into a strong, independent and mature young woman who is not afraid to sacrifice her own life to get what she wants.
Before meeting Romeo, Juliet is naive young girl who is dependent on her family. In the beginning of the play, marriage is the furthest thing on Juliet’s mind. As a matter of fact, before she meets Romeo, Juliet had never been in love or even had a crush. When Juliet's mother, Lady Capulet, comes in to tell her about the nobleman Paris's proposal and asks her “Can you like of Paris, love?” (1.3.98). Juliet is surprised but she politely replies, “I’ll look like if looking liking move. / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (1.3.103-105). By saying that she won’t let herself fall for Paris anymore than her mother’s permission allows, shows that Juliet is very dependent on her mother and obeys her. Because she has never been in love before this does not seem like big deal to her. Juliet does not know anything about true love until she meets Romeo.
As the love between Romeo and Juliets grows, Juliet shows amazing courage in trusting her entire life and future