Romeo and Juliet Character Development

Development of Juliet

Shakespeare’s development of characters, eventually lead up to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare uses specific characters to influence the plot. Taking for example the actions of Friar Lawrence and how he influences the decisions of Juliet. Shakespeare’s development of Juliet is the most dynamic, as she is in between the levels of maturity. Juliet had to undergo through a series of different changes in a day’s time span.

In the beginning of the story, Juliet is being introduced as a young teenager obedient to her parents, and is still shown as being innocent. As Lady Capulet and Nurse is talking about Juliet’s plan of marriage, Juliet describes the idea that she isn’t ready to marry someone yet. Nurse goes on about the sexual jokes to Juliet. Juliet goes on as she has not thought of the marriage yet, ‘It is an honor that I have not dreamt of’ (I, iii ll: 70). Juliet in the beginning shows no intention of marrying and has not taken the responsibility of fulfilling her royal duty. Shakespeare introduces us to Juliet, as she is beginning to realize what she must fulfill. Lady Capulet goes on and tells Juliet, Paris’s interest of marrying her, Juliet responds, I’ll look to like, if looking liking more, But no more deep will I ended mine eye, than your consent gives me the strength to make it fly (I, iii, ll:101-103). Juliet being introduced to Parsley Lady Capulet, as she is becoming a role in her royal duty. Shakespeare’s development of this character in the beginning of the story shows us the 14 year old that has always been obedient in everything she has been told to do. Shakespeare has shown us that Juliet is first starting off as a girl that hasn’t the choice of her life. Shakespeare tells us Juliet has more to her than meets the eye.

Shakespeare details Juliet as now growing and making choices for herself, she is on the road on being mature. She attends the dance with her family, and sees Romeo and immediately falls in love with him. “My only love, sprung by my only hate!”(I, v, ll: 147) Juliet is now maturing and being independent because she finds her own love instead of Count Paris. Shakespeare soon gives us Juliet as being more than innocent, as she starts kissing Romeo, with barely knowing him. When Juliet tries to find a way to be with Romeo instead of Count Paris, she makes the decision of acting dead, by the potion given to her by Friar Lawrence, “Give me, give me! O, tell not me of fear!”(IV, ii, ll:121) Juliet makes a rash decision of playing dead, as she does not think of the outcome for the rest of her family, but instead of herself. She makes the choice of being with Romeo, instead of what her parents initially wanted for her.

Later, in the play, Juliet is shown as being a faithful wife to Romeo in some of the decisions she has made. First after Romeo is banished, she still goes for him, but in a heartfelt way. “And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!”(III, ii, ll: 142) This meant she would cut all of her life just to be with Romeo. Juliet shown faithfulness in that she would only make love to the one she has truly fallen in love with and married. Later on, Juliet makes a rash decision of killing herself in the tomb after Romeo did, “Yea, noise? Then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rust, and let me die (V, iii, ll: 174-175).” She takes her life just because she couldn’t take the pain that Romeo died in her name. This shows her to be a faithful wife because it took a lot in her to commit suicide.

Juliet in the beginning of the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is revealed by Shakespeare as an obedient and naïve girl. Later on she progresses as an independent girl who falls in love with Rome. These two traits reciprocate with Romeo and she becomes a faithful wife. This leads up to the tragedy, when she commits suicide along with Romeo. Thus Shakespeare has shown Juliet as a dynamic character.