masculinity

• "out, you green- sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!"-lord capulet


  -lord capulets true authoritarian demeanour is revealed as Juliet refuses to marry paris

  -use of caesura breaks up speech and suggests how outraged he was at juliets insolence

  -harsh insult, comparing Juliet to a rotting corpse, someone afflicted with a disease (green-sickness, a form of anaemia)

  -The repetition of "out" emphasizes Capulet's desire for Juliet to leave his presence and his home.
• "thrust maids to the wall.. my naked weapon"- sampson


  -sampson believes in hegemonic masculinity

  -sexual inuendo relective of normalised misogyny in contemporary patriarchal societies

  • forebodes deeply embedded violence in the play, particulaily how male aggression has cataclysmic consequences

  -"naked weapon" is a phallic symbol linking sexual aggression wih physical violence, reinforcing the theme that verona is defined by dominance

  -bawdy/ crass tone contrasts with Romeo and juliets later sacred poetic love which is shakespeares contrast of sexual and true love
• “o sweet Juliet, thy beauty hath made me effeminate, and my temper soften’d valour’s steel!- romeo


  -reveals his internal conflict(between his love and duty to his friend)and self-blame after Mercutio's death,

  -blames his femininity on Juliet. the metaphor comparing his "valour" to "steel" suggests how he feels his bravery should be strong and unyielding but has been "softened" by Juliet

  highlights:

  • Gender Roles: The quote also touches on the traditional gender roles of the time, where men were expected to be strong and brave, while women were seen as more delicate and emotional. 
• "what, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee” -Tybalt


  -Tybalt's equates peace with "hell," highlighting his extreme hatred and preference for conflict.

  -His hatred extends to all Montagues, demonstrating the deep-seated feud between the two families.

  -the line is dramatic and impactful, immediately setting the tone for the play's tragic conflict.

  -Tybalt's words foreshadow the tragic events to come, as the feud will ultimately lead to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.
• "ay ay a scratch a scratch "- Mercutio


  -The line is an example of understatement and irony, where Mercutio deliberately minimizes the severity of the wound to appear nonchalant, even though he is mortally hurt.

  -This line highlights Mercutio's quick wit and tendency to make light of serious situations, even in the face of danger.

  -This scene marks a turning point in the play, as the violence escalates and the tragic events of the later acts begin.