Juliet Capulet is the main heroine of William Shakespeare’s play Romeo and Juliet, a girl of thirteen years old, beloved Romeo Montecchi. At the end of the tragedy, she committed suicide when she saw that Romeo was dead.
Characters of Romeo and Juliet first appeared in literature in the work “Newly Found History of Two Noble Lovers”, written by the Italian author Luigi da Porto and published in 1530. As for Shakespeare, the main source of inspiration for the British playwright was most likely the poem by Arthur Brooke “The Tragic History of Romeus and Juliet” (1562).
At the beginning of the play, Juliet is presented as a sweet girl who is submissive to her mother. Despite the fact that the heroine only turns 14 years old in a couple of weeks, she already has a fiancé. Paris, a young handsome man and a relative of Escalà, duke of Verona, wants to get in tune with her legal marriage. Juliet agrees to meet him without any problems. Their meeting should take place at a festival organized by Capulet. Instead of Paris, Juliet meets Romeo and immediately falls in love with him. At first she does not know whom she loved. At the same time, the strength of the girl’s feelings is amazing. Juliet says that if her lover is married, then her “grave will be a marriage bed.”
In the famous scene in the garden of Capulet, Juliet, not knowing that Romeo hears her, confesses his love. She asks him to renounce her own name and is ready to do the same herself. When Romeo gives himself away, the first proof of love that Juliet requires of him is agreement to get married immediately. Without this, the girl does not need further relationships. She does not think of love, not bound by marriage.
Initially, Juliet was convinced that the feud between Montague and Capuleti was an obstacle that could be easily overcome. Montague for her is just a name. If Romeo was called differently, then all of his “sweet virtues” would remain. Unfortunately, Juliet can not stay away from the tribal feuds. When she finds out that Romeo has killed Tybalt, then at first she is angry. Anger and love fight in her soul. The girl calls Romeo “the fiend of hell with an angelic face”, “a wolf in sheep’s clothing”, “a dragon in a charming guise”, “a saint and a scoundrel in the same flesh.” After a short struggle, love wins – the individual turns out to be stronger than the family. Juliet forgives Romeo, and they spend the night together before he leaves Verona for exile.
In the morning, Juliet comes to her mother and reports that in a few days the girl is destined to get married to Paris. Juliet refuses. Father joins mother. He is not very interested in the feelings of his daughter. It is important to him as soon as possible to give Juliet married to Paris, whom he considers a worthy man. Infuriated by the disobedience of the daughter, the parent calls her “a dissolute girl”, “a recalcitrant creature” and so on. In the end, he threatens to oust Juliet from home if she refuses to marry.
Juliet appeals for help to his brother Lorenzo. At the same time, she is determined to be decisive – if the wedding with Paris cannot be avoided, then the only option for her is to commit suicide. The priest offers another option – to drink a potion, thanks to which Juliet will appear dead for 42 hours. She will be buried in the Capulets family crypt. Romeo will arrive there, summoned by his brother Lorenzo, and together the lovers will go to Mantua. Juliet agrees. The priest is worried that “feminine fear” and “indecision” may prevent her from embracing such a bold plan into life, but the girl, rejecting all doubts, drinks a potion. Due to the tragic circumstances, Brother Lorenzo’s plan does not work.
The play takes place within a few days. For such a short time, the character of Juliet has time to change, thanks to the love of Romeo. In particular, if at the beginning of the work the girl is submissive to her parents, then in the closer to the final she fearlessly goes against their will. Instead of a family, Juliet chooses love.