Romeo & Juliet, with its focus on a heterosexual romantic relationship and its inclusion of a female protagonist, readily lends itself to feminist critique. Traditional gender roles are imposed on both women and men in the play, which causes all the characters to suffer as the oppression of women and the perpetuation of toxic, stereotypical masculinity lead[s] them to emotional pain and often poor decisions” (Buford, 2018: 54).
From this observation name how did traditional gender roles affect Romeo
1 answer
Traditional gender roles affected Romeo by forcing him to conform to stereotypical masculinity, which meant that he was expected to be aggressive, impulsive, and to prioritize his own desires and honor above all else. This led Romeo to make poor decisions throughout the play, such as killing Tybalt in a fit of rage and then fleeing the scene, which ultimately led to his own tragic death. Additionally, the pressure to embody traditional gender roles caused Romeo to feel emotionally isolated and unable to express vulnerability or true emotion, which further contributed to his tragic fate.