William Shakespeare said that both male and female characters in Romeo and Juliet were losers. However there were themes that won Shakespeare’s play. Lady Capulet, Juliet, and other women were both considered losers by the patriarchal society in Verona. Romeo’s characteristics of writing poetry and hatred for fighting were two examples of this. This made him a loser in the play. Lord Capulet or Lord Montague, both of whom lost their children as a result of feuding between their two families, are another example. Even though Romeo and Juliet, the play’s protagonists, are losers at the play’s end; Love was the winning theme.
Shakespeare said that women were oppressed by patriarchal societies because of their gender. Lord Capulet responded to Juliet’s request to marry Romeo by saying “young baggage,” but he was not interested in agreeing. Lady Capulet had been submissive to her husband, and she didn’t defend Juliet when she was being scolded. Lady Capulet was being submissive towards her husband and did not defend Juliet when she was being scolded by her father. Shakespeare depicted Lady Capulet’s complicity as she refused to defend her daughter because her husband’s beliefs were more significant to her. In the play, women are seen as losers. They don’t have the same rights and privileges as men in the patriarchal social order of verona. Romeo is a character with many characteristics, including writing poetry, hatred of fighting and crying which make him effeminate. This behavior is not acceptable in patriarchal societies, as men are expected not to behave like a woman but rather as fighters. Friar Lawrence states that “thy crying is womanish and thy wild, uncontrollable acts are indicative of the fury of an animal.” Unseemly woman …” Shakespeare implied Romeo’s effeminacy as he was weeping in a scene where he is supposed not to act courageously in patriarchal society, where men hold power. Both Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet were also defeated by patriarchal males. Lord Capulet told Juliet when she was discovered dead that her child was dead the day before she was to marry Paris that his child was dead.
Even though there are no winners in the play Romeo and Juliet, love is the dominant theme throughout the play. Romeo tells Juliet that love is revealed when he says to her, “With love’s light wings did i o’erperch these wall. For stony limitations cannot hold love out Shakespeare suggests Romeo is in love. He says that even stone walls can’t keep love out. Juliet recognizes this, but wants Romeo safe. She tells Romeo that he would not be able to keep him from seeing Romeo. Shakespeare also shows this scene by saying to Romeo, “I wouldn’t for the world they seen thee here.” This shows their love and willingness to do whatever it takes to keep each other safe. Juliet’s love is shown in her words, “O happy Dagger, This thy Sheath.” There rust and I will die.” This indicates that she was willing give up her life for Romeo, since her life is no longer worth it without him. Shakespeare could have also played Juliet. She would not have imagined Paris as her alternative. This play shows that love is always the winner. Romeo as well as Juliet are willing to give their lives for love.
William Shakespears’ play “Romeo and Juliet”, which is based on William Shakespears’s plays, shows that both genders can lose and are limited by patriarchal societies. Although both genders experience defeat, love is the winning theme at the very end.
