Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in the 16th century, at a time when the role of a woman was to be subservient to men and act as a wife to her husband and a mother to her children. Women were expected to conform to society's expectations and were seen as possessions by their fathers and husbands. Fathers arranged their daughters' marriages, usually for financial or social gain for the family. In Romeo and Juliet, the unfair treatment of women is conveyed through characters such as Juliet, a young girl who is growing up in society's expectations, and Lady Capulet, who represents a traditional side of love and values ​​social position rather than men themselves . Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet centers on the relationship between two young protagonists, but much of what happens throughout the play is a result of the inequality between men and women. Juliet's arranged marriage to Paris, as well as the ancient feud between Capulet and Montague, contribute to the death of their children. In Act 1 Scene 2, Paris asks the Capulets, "But now, my lord, what say you to my cause?" which shows that Capulet and Paris are discussing Juliet's possible marriage without consulting her, perhaps implying that they think she is too naive to decide about her future. They are arranging her marriage for her, which implies that men were very controlling of women's lives, especially that of their daughters. The scene establishes how Juliet is subject to parental influence and how she is very constrained since her father can force her to marry whoever he wants. Juliet's status as a woman leaves her no power or choice in deciding who to marry. Throughout the scene, we get the impression that Capulet is ki...... center of the card ......t will accept his proposal. Lord Capulet takes it for granted that his daughter will do what he tells her, saying "I will make a desperate attempt / Of my daughter's love", taking the responsibility away from Juliet and perhaps suggesting that she cannot decide for herself. At first Juliet's parents seem to understand her pain, but then they plan the wedding in just 3 days, without giving her time to cry. Capulet shows himself to be very authoritative towards his wife, asking her to "go to Juliet" and "get ready". her for the wedding. This shows us that Capulet has no doubt that his wife will do what he tells her, and the use of imperative verbs such as "go" and "get ready" implies that women were forced to obey their husband's instructions. We are also shown that the mother's role was to prepare her daughter for her wedding day. Works Cited Romeo and Juliet sparknotes shmoop