Romeo and Juliet

            
             Lord Capulet Calls Juliet "my headstrong" (4. What evidence is there in the play to suggest that this is an accurate description of her? .
             During the time of Shakespeare men were often thought of as the dominant sex and therefore it was very unusual for a female to be independent and not to be under the influence of the men around her.
             Juliet is a unique character, for someone of her time, as she does not follow the above criteria. Instead she has the strength to be self-willed and to act differently to the other females around her; consequently it is because of this that the play really creates its shape. .
             It is unknown why Juliet acts as she does, is seems likely that her parents were never really around during the time she was growing up and so she has had to learn to be independent but the audience don't know and therefore I think that this uncertainty is what draws the audience in, the audience are taken aback at such a different character. I think most of them will just want to be able to answer the question: Why is Juliet so different?.
             Juliet's strength is first shown when her and Romeo initially meet. Romeo tries to seduce Juliet but she is not taken in so easily. Romeo uses a variety of different metaphors to try and overwhelm Juliet, but she to Romeo's surprise answers back and momentarily leaves him speechless and lost for words. They kiss.
             Juliet Have my lips the sin that they have took? (1.v.106).
             Juliet is talking about the "sin" from Romeo's lips.
             Romeo Sin from my lips? Give me my sin again.
             Here we can see that Romeo is again stopped in his tracks. He has been beaten at his own game. Romeo, after this, realises that he has met his match and concedes, asking Juliet for another kiss. Juliet persists to play with words. This is a good example of her strength.
             Another example of Juliet's character happens early on in the play - Juliet had told her mother that she didn't want to get married, "it is an honour I dream not of" (1.