'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the perception of sin and societal expectations
I can explore the perception of sin in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and how it relates to societal expectations.
'Romeo and Juliet': exploring the perception of sin and societal expectations
I can explore the perception of sin in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and how it relates to societal expectations.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- By taking their own lives, Romeo and Juliet are committing a religious sin.
- Arguably, Juliet perceives the sin of bigamy as a greater sin than taking her own life.
- Through this, we might suggest that Shakespeare has positioned Romeo and Juliet’s marriage as religiously sanctified.
- Alternatively, we could say that Juliet’s perception of sin has been influenced by societal expectations of women.
- Arguably, both interpretations link the perception of sin to societal expectations.
Keywords
Sin - the offence of breaking, or the breaking of, a religious or moral law
Religious sin - a transgression against divine law that results in lasting punishment from God
Sanctified - to make something or someone holy
Societal expectations - the beliefs and norms that a society holds about how individuals should behave and act
Bigamy - the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another
Common misconception
Adding in an alternative interpretation weakens your argument.
As long as your alternative interpretation supports your overall argument then it will strengthen your argument.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of mental health issues
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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