Romeo and Juliet Literary Essay

Juliet is a Tragic Heroine

     Juliet’s decisions are in keeping with women’s rights and yet she is a flawed, tragic heroine of her time who pays the ultimate price for her defiance.  She was bred by her parents who provided a cushy life for her.  In her time, this ‘social breeding’, was in preparation for the day she would leave home. Ultimately,  to obey another set of rules - to be an obedient wife to a husband (chosen by her parents). Juliet lives a safe, sheltered life, she is young and inexperienced.  You could say her flaw is her eagerness to please others. Put that together with her natural curiosity and she will react impulsively and make bad decisions that get her into serious trouble.  It’s no wonder that her parents keep such a tight rein on her, knowing how ripe she is for the taking and how sweetly innocent she is.  

     Let’s take a look at her behavior with Romeo early in Act 2 Scene 2, when she is alone with Romeo for the first time. She starts out well-mannered and restrains herself “I have no joy in this contract tonight. It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden...” Then at the end of this scene, after allowing him to kiss her, she suddenly declares“...all my fortunes at thy foot I’ll lay and follow thee my lord throughout the world.” She disobeys her parents and breaks all code of conduct of a well bred lady.  She desperately clings to her new lord and master, Romeo who is probably as surprised as anyone to possess her heart and soul so rapidly.  She breaks from all modesty, losing her self control, in the name of love! 

     
     Back in Shakespeare’s time a young woman of Juliet’s class could not even consider ‘dating’ someone that her family did not approve of; and making a decision about who to marry was out of the question. As in Act 3 Scene 2 when Juliet’s father (Lord Capulet) is angered by her resistance to marry Paris and degrades her “Mistress, minion you, Thank me no thankings nor proud me no prouds, But fettle your joints ‘gainst Thursday next, to go with Paris...” and he warns and insults her,  “ I will drag thee thither.  Out, you baggage!...” He then goes on to yell at her calling her a “disobedient wretch” and telling her to shut up and do as she’s told, “ Speak not; reply not; do not answer me.  My fingers itch.” (that last part about his fingers ‘itching’ is telling how he would hit her if she doesn’t shut up and do as she is told).  

     Juliet listens to her heart and refuses the man her father has chosen for her. She is not expected to marry for love and if she is forced to marry Paris, she feels that a part of her will die. In the end she decides that dying with Romeo is better than living with that lie. This is shown in Act 4 Scene 1, Juliet confesses to Friar Lawrence (who is aiding her to make a Holy secret bond between her & Romeo), “ O, bid me leap, rather than marry Paris, from off the battlements of any tower.” This shows how she would take her own life, rather than conform to the social norm and obey her father’s demands. This defiance makes her a proud, strong woman because she makes this fearless decision to follow her heart no matter what the cost. Even though she breaks away from being her father’s obedient little girl, she is under Romeo’s influence and lets herself overlook the fact that he has killed her cousin. As seen in her defense of Romeo, in Act 3 Scene 2, hearing the news “Tybalt is dead and Romeo banished”-her reaction is as a dutiful wife, “O, that deceit should grow in such a gorgeous palace...” and then, “ Shall I speak ill of him that is my husband...” and “that villain cousin [Tybalt] would have killed my husband.” She is determined to stand by her man no matter how criminal and unspeakable his offense.

     Juliet’s freedom comes with her suicide, when she is finally free from her painful ordeal and everyone’s judgment.  All her life she’s told what to do, how to behave, what to wear, when to speak, when to wake up and when to go to sleep. At the end she is scared and alone, but with her final act she does something completely on her own for the first time, and bravely follows Romeo to the grave. Did she have a choice?  How would she live if she were cast out by her family with no training or skills? This was evidenced in Lord Capulet’s warning to her in Act 3 Scene 5  when he has his final say on the matter, “ I’ll give you to my friend, an you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets.  For by my soul, I’ll never acknowledge thee.”  This definitely rings in her ears when she realizes she will be cast out of society and shamed for life. She is not strong enough to bear this shame alone.  

     Juliet is both a heroine and a tragic figure.  She follows her heart and is inspiring because she decides to live her life with the man she truly loves. It is sad that she must defy her father’s wishes and bring shame on her family. It makes me thankful that I live at a time when women have so many more options and choices about how to live their lives. 

Outline/Thesis for Lit. Essay on R + J

Thoughts on Juliet and Women’s Rights:

Her father’s strict code of conduct turns the dial up on her sense of hopelessness. Juliet comes from a place where she feels trapped and doomed so it becomes pointless to ‘grow up’ and stand up for herself.  Part of her reckless behavior is because of Romeo’s influence on her that she obeys him.

She knows the ultimate sacrifice she makes and is in fact an emancipated woman because she listen’s to her heart instead of cowering to her father but Juliet’s fate is sealed either way.  To marry Paris would mean a part of her dies, if she must die than Romeo is a better choice than living a lie.

Juliet is out of control and stubborn.  She is determined to have her way.  She is spoiled rotten by her parents who have given her everything and this is a problem as she becomes a woman.  She is reckless and irresponsible. She is disrespectful towards her parents because she stands up to them.  

Juliet is sworn to Romeo and he is a man.  She goes from being a good little girl, to an obedient lover.  Now Romeo controls her. He betrays her by killing her cousin and she ignores this painful event because she is blindly following him towards certain death. Is she really that free thinking?

Juliet puts too much trust in people around her and takes herself too seriously.  She doesn’t trust herself so she gives in.  She is young and weak and so she makes bad decisions.  Her impatience makes her do things that get her into trouble.

I think that Juliet’s final freedom comes with her death when she is free from everyone’s judgment.  All her life she was told what to do, how to look, what to wear, when to speak, when to wake, to sleep and now she does something completely her own.  That one thing is hers and still she follows Romeo to the grave.  I wonder at this.  How this final act of suicide makes her more of a coward.  At the end she is scared and confused.  She is alone for the first time.  Does she have to give up just because Romeo is dead? She should have stayed to face the music.

I know that my parents tell me to do certain things so that I take responsibility for my life. They are strict with me when it comes to boys.  They say that I need to focus and that boys will be a distraction and that there is plenty of time later in my life to have a boyfriend.  When I finally have a boyfriend I will want there approval and I hope he passes the ‘test’.  There is a difference between parents that truly care about their children and parents that are blind to their children’s interests.  Back in history there was less opportunity for a young woman to even consider ‘dating’  there really was no such thing. At least I will get to look around and test out who I like  and who I want to be with.  Hopefully my parents will approve and trust me to make the right choices.  I think they know that I will make mistakes and don’t want me to be hurt by anyone.

If I do make mistakes I won’t feel like I’ve brought shame to my family and be treated like baggage or garbage. I will at least have a chance to live my life with dignity.

I feel sorry for Juliet.  She is a sort of tragic hero to me.  I wish she died feeling proud of herself.  I think a part of her was lost in love and her final death was a desperate act.

Becoming Who I Was Always Meant to Be; Transition by Chaz Bono

The title of this memoir "Becoming Who I Was Always Meant to Be: Transition" tells the reader about an extraordinary journey of physical, emotional, and spiritual change that few people ever get to do.

This is the story about the transformation of Chastity Bono, into Chaz Bono. 

The son of the famous duo, Sonny and Cher transitions as the title fortells into his authentic true self. From the first chapter Chaz describes his early years as already uncomfortable in the skin of a girl. He doesn't really know then how much has to change, how much he has to sacrifice and what a struggle it would be to become the person that he could live as - a man. 

Growing up in a “hollywood family” Chaz was allowed to explore his sexuality at a very young age. Encouraged by his mother and Aunt Gee, Chaz defines himself as a lesbian at an early age. But it would be years, doctors, pills, relationships gone bad , the death of his true love and his father’s untimely passing for his old old self to die and his true self to be born. 

At the end of the story Chaz is finally happy with who he is. Not only because of the physical change, but for the rewards of the struggle that he surpassed. And we understand that it was never his choice, this was something he was meant to do.

Just Kids by Patti Smith Non-Fiction Reading Response

The title of the book “Just Kids” has great significance to the book because its the theme that carries the story. The main characters, Patti Smith and Robert Maplethorpe are literally just kids when we meet them. Even at the end of the story, even when they grow older, even after Robert has died, they remain kids at heart.

The story opens with the central character, Patti, describing her early childhood in the South of New Jersey. In her own words she was, “dreamy,” “precocious,” and deemed “impractical” by her elementary school teachers. Less then ten years later, dissatisfied with the grown - up world of south Jersey she sets her sights on New York. In New York she imagines she could be her real self. To Patti that meant staying just a precocious kid. 

Using the excuse, “just kids” Patti and her new best friend Robert think they can get away with anything. Like on page 152 when Patti tells Robert she’s just peed in a take - out cup instead of a toilet and thinks that’s normal. Patty is a poet/musician and Robert is a photographer. Together they spend almost ten years “playing” in the New York art scene in the mid 1970’s.

Over the time that we get to know them the pair almost always do the opposite of what a grown - up would do. Patti and Robert both have equally strong imaginations and they see eye to eye on almost everything. They don’t live on very much money, but they feel rich. They live in a very tiny apartment, but they don’t care. Don’t get me wrong Robert turns into a super famous artist and Patti becomes a musical goddess, a mother, a widow, and the soul survivor of the story. Through all of that she stays just a kid. And looking at Robert on his deathbed describes him in his last moment as, “a sleepy youth cloaked in light.”

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore Reading Response

The title, I Am Number Four, has great significance and is the theme of the story.  The story opens just as number Three is murdered.  We don’t know it yet, but the main protagonist, John Smith, is number Four and he is next to die.  John Smith, a sophomore in high school, has just arrived in Paradise, Ohio, but he has been moving around since he landed here on planet earth many years ago.

When John Smith was just barely able to walk his planet, Lorien, was invaded by its planetary neighbors the Mogadorians.  These evil neighbors were running out of resources to keep their race alive.  Their plan was to conquer earth, but this couldn’t happen until the last of the Lorien race was annihilated.  Number Four’s grandfather, who had raised him (all Loric children are raised by their grandparents and a guardian/protector), led him and his protector, Henri,to safety.  Along with eight other children and their guardians, John was sent to planet Earth on the last transport pod before Lorien was destroyed.

After their space journey the Loric children, each with their own protector, scattered over the Earth to start new lives.  John, for example,  lived in many places before finding a home in Ohio.  Each child also has a charm that protects them from being killed.  But the Mogadorians know their fatal weakness.  If they want to kill every last Loric child they have to do it in the sequence that the Lorien elders assigned.  To the Mogadorians these Loric children would be known as numbers One through Nine.

The Mogadarians have an inner sense when the children are near and can track them.  The Loric children just want to live a normal life without having to run.   They mostly get along with and learn how to share their lives with humans.  John is taught at an early age to act like his fellow humans. In Ohio he finally finds the girl of his dreams.  He falls in love with Sarah Hart and hopes that he will get the chance to make a life with her.  But from the minute we meet him, we know as well as he that at life with Sarah will not be an easy one to make. When the Mogadorians come for John he has to make the decision to fight back and defeat them and live a life with Sarah or let them kill him so they can conquer earth. He choses the obvious choice. Defeat the Mogadorians and find the other Loric children so he can live a long and harmonious life with Sarah. 

The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chobosky

I just finished reading The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. It is about a young boy, Charlie, who is just about to enter high school. Charlie had a tough time last year because his best friend, Michael shot himself. Charlie is entering the year by writing to this "friend". I don't really know who the "friend" is but the reason Charlie is writing to the friend is because, "...she said you listen and understand and didn't try to sleep with that person at that party even though you could have..." 

Throughout the book Charlie makes friends with two seniors, Sam and Patrick (sister and brother). They take Charlie under their wing and teach him "the ways of life and good music". They introduce Charlie to all their cool senior friends, Mary Elizabeth who is quite a pill, if you ask us. With a tattoo and belly button ring, she's a teenage American Buddhist, and she has a lot to say about the matter; Alice who likes vampires and stealing jeans at the mall even though her family is rich, and then theirs Bob, he throws a lot of parties and smokes a lot of marijuana. They all have a lot of fun and they party and do drugs and other crazy things. 

In the end, Charlie gets the girl (Sam) and they all go off to college. 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling

The book, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling is all about Harry finding himself selected to be apart of the Triwizard tournament. The Triwizard Tournament is a magical contest held between the three largest wizarding schools of Europe: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Durmstrang Institute, and Beauxbatons Academy of Magic, each school being represented by one Champion. Selected Champions compete in three tasks - traditionally judged by the Headmasters or Headmistresses of the competing schools - designed to test magical ability, intelligence and courage. Champions compete for the honour and glory of winning the Tournament and for the Triwizard cup and a monetary prize. Harry has to face dragons, mermaids, and magical mazes. The first few chapters of the book were mostly him getting ready and processing the fact that he's in this race for good, but then in the third or fourth chapter Harry has to face his first challenge. He has to battle a dragon to win the golden egg (the golden egg has the clue to the next challenge.) Harry barely defeats the dragon and he now has to figure out what the next challenge is by opening the egg underwater. He then finds that the next challenge is having to save one of the four students that are trapped underwater by creepy looking mer-people. Harry ends up saving two students and wins that challenge. The next challenge that Harry must face is the labyrinth. In side the labyrinth is where the triwizard cup is hidden. Harry and Cedric Diggory both make it to the cup and touch it at the same time. But, as it turns out the cup is a portal to a mysterious graveyard with surrounded by death eaters. Death eaters are slaves to the most evil wizard in the world, Voldemort. That is when Voldemort is awakened by one of his most loyal servants, Wormtail. Voldemort then kills Cedric and faces off with Harry himself. But then Harry, him being in a graveyard finds himself with the help of his dead loved ones. He then takes the portal back to Hogwarts with the dead body of Cedric Diggory and the triwizard cup. In the end, there are two tests that Harry had to face. One, being the Triwizard Tournament and the other being the test of his loyalty to his friends and family.