Exploring Lady Capulet and the Nurse’s views on marriage in Act 1, Scene 3
I can explain how Shakespeare presents the Nurse and Lady Capulet’s views on marriage in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
Exploring Lady Capulet and the Nurse’s views on marriage in Act 1, Scene 3
I can explain how Shakespeare presents the Nurse and Lady Capulet’s views on marriage in Act 1, Scene 3 of ‘Romeo and Juliet’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- ‘Romeo and Juliet’ was written when society was patriarchal - men were in control.
- Women would have been expected to obey their parents’ wishes in terms of their marriage.
- Lady Capulet and the Nurse suggest that motherhood is an expected part of marriage.
- Lady Capulet’s metaphor of women as a “cover” suggests that women’s role in marriage is limited to outward appearance.
- Juliet appears to suggest that she will be obedient to her parents’ wishes in terms of her marriage.
Keywords
Patriarchal - relating to or denoting a system of society or government controlled by men
Bawdiness - the quality of involving funny remarks about sex
Obedient - doing, or willing to do, what you have been told to do by someone in authority
Conform - to behave according to the usual standards of behaviour that are expected by a group or society
Intertwined - closely connected so as to be difficult to separate
Common misconception
That women were slaves in patriarchal societies.
While women had less legal power in patriarchal societies, they could still be very influential and powerful.
Equipment
You may wish to have a copy of Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet' for this lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of sexual content
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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