Society

• Capulet, as the family patriarch, makes decisions for Juliet- and at the time was normal for the contemporary audience as typically marriages were arranged to secure an advantageous match for their children to retain status. Therefore, wealth and status were the main factors in arranging marriages- with little consideration of happiness or compatibility.
• "Two households, both alike in dignity" 


  -makes the feud between the families more ironic through showing their likeness --> shows they have the same social standing
• "Peace you mumbling fool (Capulet to Nurse)


  Shakespeare makes the divide between social classes clear with these quotes
• "What's in a name?" (Act 2, Scene 2)- Juliet


  Juliet's rhetorical question challenges the cultural value placed on family names and honour, defying the conventions of the time

  Juxtaposes idea of marriages at the time as for the upper class: arranged marriages were generally to secure/ maintain status. Juliet believes love and compatibility are more important: and that a person's true identity is not defined by their name/ background.

  she believes love should transcend these societal labels

  Juliet questions the absurdity of the feud and its ability to create unnecessary divisions
• "wherefore art thou Romeo? Defy thy father and refuse thy name... and I'll no longer be a Capulet" (Act 2, Scene 1) 


  Juliet is once again challenging the cultural values placed on family names and honour (defying conventions of the time)- and questioning why he must be a Montague, son of her family's greatest enemy

  She says she will deny her family in order to be with him if he merely tells her that he loves her; she believes love transcends these societal labels