Blog 03: Romeo and Juliet

In today’s blog, the focus will be another key GCSE text: Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

With all of these blog posts, I’ll be highlighting three important things to consider to elevate your exam responses.

Key Character

Juliet, around whom the tragedy revolves. Yes, Romeo is important, too, but the female protagonist’s decision to speak up for herself in a patriarchal society — to someone who can go from ‘Madam, I am here. What is your will?’ In Act 1, Scene 3 to ‘My dismal scene I needs must act alone.’ In Act 4, Scene 3 — is truly subversive.

Key Theme

Marriage, and the reasons behind this. Remember this was written in 1595/96, towards the end of the Elizabethan era, when the question of the English queen’s not having married — and produced an heir — was an important concern (bring in your knowledge of historical context [AQA AO3]). Capulet’s plan for his daughter (to marry Paris) is built on political expediency; Juliet’s own plan (to marry Romeo) has its foundations in love. The play is an exploration of this.

Key Quotation

From Juliet, to Romeo, in Act 2, Scene 2: ‘Wherefore art thou Romeo?’ Not only important because it gives you the opportunity to show off the fact you understand that this means ‘Why are you Romeo?’ not ‘Where are you, Romeo?’, but also because you can link it to the feuding families and the idea of marriage: in saying ‘Wherefore art thou Romeo?’, Juliet is bemoaning the fact that the man she loves is a Montague.

📌 If you want more of this focus on character, theme, language, and context to prepare you for your exams, get in touch.