Juliet is portrayed to the reader as a graceful and innocent young woman, albeit still a girl. After all, Juliet is just a 13 year old girl proposing the idea of marriage. As Shakespeare writes “It is an honor that I dream not of”(1.3.67), when once …show more content…
Based on her thoughts, and the effect it has on others, the reader can come to the conclusion that decisiveness is truly a prominent trait. In Act Four, Juliet takes up the offer to drink a poison concocted by Friar Laurence. However, the poison isn’t deadly, it just puts Juliet in a coma-like state. As Shakespeare remarks, “Shall, stiff and stark and cold, appear like death. And in this borrow'd likeness of shrunk death Thou shalt continue two and forty hours”(4.1.106-108). Friar Laurence and Juliet hope to use this poison to prevent the wedding between Juliet and Paris. Juliet realizes she has a lot of pros and cons to consider, but by the end of her thoughts, Shakespeare quotes, “Romeo, I come! This do I drink to thee”(4.3.58). Juliet decides to drink the poison in hopes of her true love waking her. However, as Juliet drank the poison, she set off a domino effect, sealing her and Romeo’s fate. The messenger never departs to deliver the news to Romeo that Juliet is actually not dead. Consequently, Romeo kills himself with his own poison. Juliet wakes up, sees Romeo dead, and kills herself with his dagger. Both the Montagues and the Capulets are beside themselves with disbelief. After all, they had no idea what Romeo and Juliet were secretly doing behind their backs. Shakespeare states, “O brother Montague, give me thy hand. This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more I can demand”(5.3.296-298). Juliet’s …show more content…
We see Juliet execute her decisions with fierce determination and grace. This exemplifies the much desired trait of determined decisiveness, which has a timeless and relatable appeal among many. Modern audiences can relate especially to her unconditional love for Romeo and the internal conflict that she faces as a result of her and her family’s actions. As Shakespeare concludes, “...then I’ll be brief. O happy dagger! This is thy sheath; there rest, and let me die”