Juliet and Plath
To explore how Juliet’s views on marriage contrast to Plath’s views on marriage in ‘Wreath for a Bridal’.
In both Juliet and Plath’s time, the 14th and the 20th century, the roles for women in society were similar. The two women had both lived through patriarchal periods where men ruled society and would be thought of as superior to women. In the 14th century, the concept of equality between sexes was foreign and women were expected to either marry, or be a burden to their family. Marriage was not always because two people were in love but because the marriage would bring good fortune and richness to both families. This was comparable to Plath’s era where a woman’s future would consist of marriage and motherhood or face being seen as ‘odd’ if they wanted to lead an academic life.
However, despite the similarities in their society, Plath and Juliet mainly view marriage in different ways. In Plath’s ‘Wreath for a Bridal’, she expresses her joy in her marriage and the poem is full of pure light and hope. But there is still a sense of unease and bitterness in her words. For example, she has no words at the end of each line which rhyme completely. They are either half-rhyme’s or they do not rhyme at all. As the poem is a marriage set in a forest surrounded by nature, this could suggest a natural feeling for Plath as marriage and motherhood is what society views to be the right path for women. But the half-rhymes could hint a sense of effort to make them rhyme and to let it flow smoothly. This could imply her regret and possible hostility that she did not follow the academic life she wished for.
Yet Juliet’s views on marriage contrasts this and show her willingness to get married to the one she loves. This is shown by just one night after meeting Romeo, Juliet herself suggests the idea of marriage in Act 2 Scene 2 (143-144) "If that thy bent of love be honourable, / Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,”. Here there is no thought of her own independent future
In both Juliet and Plath’s time, the 14th and the 20th century, the roles for women in society were similar. The two women had both lived through patriarchal periods where men ruled society and would be thought of as superior to women. In the 14th century, the concept of equality between sexes was foreign and women were expected to either marry, or be a burden to their family. Marriage was not always because two people were in love but because the marriage would bring good fortune and richness to both families. This was comparable to Plath’s era where a woman’s future would consist of marriage and motherhood or face being seen as ‘odd’ if they wanted to lead an academic life.
However, despite the similarities in their society, Plath and Juliet mainly view marriage in different ways. In Plath’s ‘Wreath for a Bridal’, she expresses her joy in her marriage and the poem is full of pure light and hope. But there is still a sense of unease and bitterness in her words. For example, she has no words at the end of each line which rhyme completely. They are either half-rhyme’s or they do not rhyme at all. As the poem is a marriage set in a forest surrounded by nature, this could suggest a natural feeling for Plath as marriage and motherhood is what society views to be the right path for women. But the half-rhymes could hint a sense of effort to make them rhyme and to let it flow smoothly. This could imply her regret and possible hostility that she did not follow the academic life she wished for.
Yet Juliet’s views on marriage contrasts this and show her willingness to get married to the one she loves. This is shown by just one night after meeting Romeo, Juliet herself suggests the idea of marriage in Act 2 Scene 2 (143-144) "If that thy bent of love be honourable, / Thy purpose marriage, send me word tomorrow,”. Here there is no thought of her own independent future