Are Social Problems Socially Constructed or Biologically Determined - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 5 Words: 1645 Downloads: 9 Date added: 2017/06/26 Category Sociology Essay Type Compare and contrast essay Level High school Did you like this example? Are social problems socially constructed or biologically determined? The debate over whether social problems are socially constructed or biologically determined takes us immediately into the realms of constructivism and positivism. As such, we must begin our essay by offering a definition of the two fundamentally important sociological paradigms. Constructivism implies that social problems are indeed the result of socially constructed phenomena. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Are Social Problems Socially Constructed or Biologically Determined" essay for you Create order Viewed from the constructivist perspective, the myriad of social, cultural, economic and political factors that affect the day to day running of contemporary society are subject to a variety of competing pressures, each of which are able to create new social problems where – in a different social, cultural, economic and political context – none would have arisen. Thus, society itself is the trigger for conflict and resolution; society itself is the location of the answers to the questions posited by the complexities of social construction. Thus, â€Å"because we are locked into our society, because our journey of knowledge occurs within the journey of our societies, we cannot know things about society with absolute certainty – the ‘truths of the social sciences are interpretative.† The positivist tradition, on the other hand, takes a different approach. Beginning with the publication of The Positive Philosophy by French intellectual Auguste Comte in 1853, the positivist tradition to sociological theory has historically sought to underline the significance of science to the study of society and its ills. According to Comte, â€Å"the social world of human relationships could be treated as though it is similar to the natural world of inanimate objects.† As a result, positivist sociologists have since aimed to show how t is possible to develop a scientific study of society as though the study of society is equivalent to studying ‘social physics. Thus, human beings, their behaviour and interaction, have since been treated as scientific variables while society itself has been interpreted as methodological, scientific data with ‘cause and effect reduced to ‘results and equations. The implication here is that biology and other scientifically verifiable instances of pre-disposition towards deviance are responsible for the creation of social problems. Taken at face value, these two opposing sociological th eories would appear to suggest a deep-seated theoretical schism in the understanding of society and its many and varied problems. Yet both the positivist tradition and the constructivist tradition seek in the first instance to underscore that social problems are the result of delinquency and abnormal psychology. However, because, according to Gerald Davison, John Neale and Ann Kring, â€Å"the way different societies understand abnormal behaviour strongly affects the way they treat it,† the divergence between these two opposing sociological schools should be considered to be a natural schism over what is an inexorably complex, multi-faceted subject. For instance, if we start from the assumption that society is, as a construct of human beings, controlled by the behaviour of people, then we must assume that biology plays some kind of a role in determining which elements of society are prone to problem types of behaviour and, conversely, which elements of society conform to c ultural ‘norms. As the fundamental building blocks upon which humankind has been built, biology has historically been the first place to look in attempting to rationalise people and the deviations inherent within the organisation of any given society. Biology has, it can be argued, been able to show the innate behavioural differences between the sexes, highlighting how males have traditionally been more prone to producing social problems such as crime and disorder than females. However, according to Anthony Giddens, any attempt to understand society (even the differences between the sexes) as a ‘natural product of biology and genetic engineering can only remain fixed firmly within the realms of scientific hypothesis and not scientific fact. â€Å"There is no evidence of the mechanisms which would link such biological forces with the complex social behaviour exhibited by human men and women. Theories which see individuals as complying with some kind of innate predispo sition neglect the vital role of social interaction in shaping human behaviour.† Ultimately, although adopting such a standpoint enables science to provide answers as to why social problems exist, it does not take into account the inherent diversity between peoples that is such a crucial part of the human condition. If, for example, we think of the modern urban space as representing a microcosm of human society, we can see how biology is completely incapable of accounting for the vast range of characteristics, problems and successes of the modern urban community. Factors such as ‘social exclusion and ‘urban degeneration are equally, if not more, important than biology in determining which sectors of society are subject to the most social problems. In bypassing the potentially debilitating sociological effects of poverty, exclusion and housing, the proponents of the positivist approach to sociology ignore some of the most basic triggers for social problems in the contemporary era. Only by understanding and acknowledging the complex interaction of sociological forces which conspire to render a person or a community problematic can policies be put in place to remedy the ills. We should also note how social problems are in many ways created by the very society which purports to be in such a state of distress. Stan Cohen observed as much in his seminal study Folk Devils and Moral Panics: the Creation of Mods and Rockers where the author acknowledged that, throughout history â€Å"societies appear to be subject, every now and again, to periods of moral panic. A condition, episode, person or group of person emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylised and stereotypical fashion by the mass media; the moral barricades are manned by editors, bishops, politicians and other right-thinking people.† Viewed through this prism, social problems – especially those social pr oblems relating to crime, delinquency and disorder – can be seen to have been constructed as a means of protecting the traditional socio-political elite from what it perceives as a threat to its moral authority with the global mass media being the vehicle through which the social construction of delinquency has been transported to the news-consuming general public. The vilification of youth culture which Cohen so brilliantly exposed can be seen to have been repeated in a variety of forms since the 1970s. When, for instance, we pause to consider the medias portrayal of youth culture at the dawn of the twenty first century with the incumbent demonisation of ‘hoodies, we can see the extent to which social problems can, firstly, be constructed by a fearful socio-political elite and, secondly, how that fear can be disseminated via the media as a sociological fact. This is what Cohen refers to as â€Å"deviancy amplification† whereby the projection of the threat from a perceived social problem is grossly over-exaggerated, resulting in many cases in the cultural myth transpiring into a social reality. In this way, then, we can begin to see how the question of society and its myriad of problems is not nearly as straightforward a question as it at first appears. Conclusion One cannot offer a conclusion as to the production of societys problems without reference to social construction. The idea that all of societys problems are the result of pre-determined biological engineering is little short of preposterous, having its roots in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries imperialism and the need to underscore the white European mans position at the top of the global hierarchy. Ultimately, sociology, while designated a ‘social science, is not a science in the strictest sense. As Ken Browne notes, â€Å"the differences between the ‘natural sciences and sociology mean that sociologists cannot follow exactly the same procedures or produce such precise findings as those in the natural sciences.† In the final analysis, as a study of people and their interactions with one another, the study of society cannot be reduced to scientific pre-determination, methodology, facts and figures. Only by acknowledging the complex interaction of forces that conspire to trigger social problems, can the broader issues of society and humanity be more adequately understood. References Browne, K. (2005) An Introduction to Sociology: Third Edition Cambridge: Polity Press Cohen, S. (2002) Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of Mods and Rockers: Second Edition London and New York: Routledge Davison, G.C., Neale, J.M. and Kring, A.M. (2003) Abnormal Psychology: Ninth Edition London: John Wiley Sons Einstadter, W.J. and Henry, S. (2006) Criminological Theory: An Analysis of its Underlying Assumptions London and New York: Rowman Littlefield Giddens, A. (2006) Sociology: Fifth Edition Cambridge: Polity Press Jacobs, B. and Dutton, C. (1999) Social and Community Issues, in, Roberts, P. and Sykes, H. (Eds.) Urban Regeneration: A Handbook London and New York: Sage Morrison, F. (1995) Theoretical Criminology: From Modernity to Post Modernism London and New York: Routledge Roberts, P. (1999) The Evolution, Definition and Purpose of Urban Regeneration, in, Roberts, P. and Sykes, H. (Eds.) Urban Regeneration: A Handbook London and New York: Sage Morrison, F. (1995) Theoretical Criminology: From Modernity to Post Modernism London and New York: Routledge, p.5 Einstadter, W.J. and Henry, S. (2006) Criminological Theory: An Analysis of its Underlying Assumptions London and New York: Rowman Littlefield, p.2 Davison, G.C., Neale, J.M. and Kring, A.M. (2003) Abnormal Psychology: Ninth Edition London: John Wiley Sons, p.2 Giddens, A. (2006) Sociology: Fifth Edition Cambridge: Polity Press, p.459 Roberts, P. (1999) The Evolution, Definition and Purpose of Urban Regeneration, in, Roberts, P. and Sykes, H. (Eds.) Urban Regeneration: A Handbook London and New York: Sage, pp.19-20 Jacobs, B. and Dutton, C. (1999) Social and Community Issues, in, Roberts, P. and Sykes, H. (Eds.) Urban Regeneration: A Handbook London and New York: Sage, pp.109-129 Cohen, S. (2002) Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Creation of Mods and Rockers: Second Edition London and New York: Routledge, p.1 Folk Devils and Moral Panics, p.13 Browne, K. (2005) An Introduction to Sociology: Third Edition Cambridge: Polity Press, p.3

Effects Of The Transatlantic Slave Trade Essay - 1291 Words

In 1510, King Ferdinand of Spain sent 200 Africans to his nation’s colonies in the Americas to clear land and to work rice, sugar, tobacco, and other crops. The African slaves resisted European diseases more than indigenous Americans and European indentured servants; and, readily adapted to agricultural work in tropical climates. As the African’s work proved fruitful, the Spanish and Portuguese soon entered into trans-Atlantic slave trade agreements with various ethnic nations in Africa to ensure a continual supply of labor for their expanding agricultural economies in Brazil, the Caribbean, and the Americas. In response to demands for African labor from other countries, the Spanish Crown developed a system of licenses, Asientos , that allowed merchants from Portugal, Holland and Britain to purchase slaves at wholesale costs that ranged from three dollars to twenty dollars. By the end of the 1500s, the extent and impact of the transatlantic slave trade surpassed the level of cruelty than any form of slavery that previously existed in Africa. When the Portuguese, Spanish, and Dutch transported over 200,000 people from Africa to the colonies in the Caribbean and the Americas. After 1663, the English intensified the slave trade after its investors formed the Company of Royal Adventurers, a slave trade conglomerate. By 1668, over a quarter of the company’s profits resulted from trading millions of slaves to the West Indies and Virginia. Many African nations stronglyShow MoreRelatedTransatlantic Slave Trade and the Effects on the American Economy1627 Words   |  7 PagesTransatlantic Slave Trade and the effects on the american economy Transatlantic Slave Trade The Transatlantic slave trade is a â€Å"wrenching aspect of the history of Africa and America† (Colin Palmer). The transatlantic slave trade transported African people to the â€Å"New World†. 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The Telephone Was Invented By Alexander Graham Bell

In the 1870’s the telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell. Before the telephone the only other means of communication was the telegraph and letters. Today we have many other means of communicating with others. We use electronic mail, postal mail, telephone and media to name a few. There is an extraordinary growth in the communication business doubling from $123 billion in 2004 to $282 billion by 2010. The internet based communications systems are vastly improving the efficiency of the supply chain for the 5000 largest companies worldwide. The communication avenues we have today help the United States communicate with other countries around the world. The growth and improvement in worldwide communication adds to the significance of culturally diverse teamwork in large companies. Many companies are using global communication. Companies do not usually have the same costs involved in hiring and managing employees overseas. The ability to successfully manage a culturally diverse organization is crucial to its success. More and more companies are growing and expanding globally. This expansion increases the potential for cultural diversity within a company. When you call your local phone company, wireless provider or long distance supplier, you may be speaking to a customer service representative that is located in India or China. This has created job opportunities for underdeveloped cities, towns and countries. At the same time this has decreased the need for customerShow MoreRelatedThe Invention Of Alexander Graham Bell882 Words   |  4 Pages Alexander Graham Bell was not an American born inventor. He was born in Edinburgh Scotland March 3, 1947. His father was a formal speech teacher. This might account for his early interest in speech and sound. As a boy he was so intrigued with sound he taught himself to play the piano. 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The Debate Over CEO Compensation - 1349 Words

This paper will discuss the reasons why CEOs are not being overpaid. It will apply the utilitarian ethical principle to many a few aspects to CEO compensation and whether or not it is justifiable for such pay. The paper will look at whether or not their performance is justifiable for the pay because they play such a big role in the livelihood of the company along with the principle agency theory and how it is being addressed for the benefit of the shareholders and others involved with the company, the supply and demand of the CEOs, and the paper will describe the comparison of other professions to help link the idea of CEOs being fairly compensated. CEO compensation has been a heated debate for many years recently, and it can be argued†¦show more content†¦The fact that CEOs do not stay with a company very long also factors into the supply and demand of the CEO position. With CEO positions being opened up all the time that means there is a high demand for such positions, but they must be filled with highly trained professionals with years of experience, something a lot of people do not have to the quality of work needed. So if there is a high demand and a low supply it would mean that the compensation for these high position employment opportunities must equally be high to entice people for the position. A way to counteract the Principal Agent problem would be to increase the liability that the CEO has in the company. If the CEO were not strictly paid on a salary but rather by the performance of the company then the CEO would be better benefited by the success of the company. There are many companies that have realized that and have implemented it into their CEO compensation packages. 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Problems Facing University Students Free Essays

string(43) " stores which tend be much more expensive\." Financial Challenges Facing University Students FA120-Skills to succeed Group Creative problem solving assignment By Megan Sweeney (12522637) Anna Heffernan (12743239) And Ross Swords (12344681) Word Count: two thousand two hundred and eight. Contents Page Section 1: Summary | Pages 3 and 4| Section II: Details of the students challenge| Pages 4 and 5| Section III: Findings| Pages 5 and 6| Section IV: Possible solutions and recommendations| Page 6| Section V: Recommendations| Page 6| References | Page 7| Section I: Summary. Introduction After discussing our assignment as a group we recognised what problems and challenges may be relevant to university students. We will write a custom essay sample on Problems Facing University Students or any similar topic only for you Order Now We felt the topic most relevant to ourselves as a group and the majority of university students, was the financial challenges faced by university students. For most students as they start university it is their first time living away from home which can create problems for both the student and their families financially with both the high costs involved in sending a student to university and the difficulties the student faces themselves in budgeting their weekly allowance. Many students struggle to prioritise their money correctly and often spend more money on socialising weekly than on the essentials such as food, and often there is little or no money left to put towards books and curriculum based activities. For the purpose of this assignment and to help ourselves as students manage our money in a more economical manner we have researched the problems and solutions which occur in the everyday life of an Irish university student. Statement of the student challenge The financial difficulties faced by a university scholar are brought about by the high cost of tuition fees which are constantly increasing as a result of poor management by our previous governments, the high cost of student accommodation for those students who have to move away from home to attend university. Students living away from home also have to have a weekly allowance for essentials, heating and electricity bills, and college equipment such as books, calculators, laptops and stationary. Many students that don’t move away from home face high travelling expenses each week with the cost of public transport constantly increasing as the government hike up the prices in order to attempt to get the country out of recession. The significance of the challenge We chose this topic as there is currently so much hype being created in regard to the economic crisis and the effect it is having on the cost of attending university which is creating huge financial problems for students and their families attending university. The government has majorly reduced the amount of financial aid available for undergraduates, many students no longer receive the grant payment which has resulted in many young people not being able to finish their degrees. Due to the current economic climate students are rarely able to secure a stable job so that they can support themselves, which forces many students to be dependent on government allowances. Again this causes financial problems for the students as the allowances available to third level students are minimal. We wanted to explore the different supports available to university students to help students overcome their financial problem’s. Section II: Details of the student challenge. For each student attending university the average cost can vary significantly depending on whether they have to move away from home, travel a long distance to college daily or travel a short distance from their home to college each day. The following table gives an indication of the monthly cost of living in Galway as a student. These costs are an approximation only as monthly costs will depend on each person’s individual needs (NUIG Student-Life 2012). Accommodation| 340 euro| Food| 260 euro| Books/academic requisites| 60 euro| Clothes, laundry| 60 euro| Recreation| 180 euro| Other| 100 euro| Monthly Total| 1,000 euro| Nine month academic year| 9,000 euro| As the average Irish yearly income is â‚ ¬24,316 (Irishexaminer. ie), the cost of sending a student to university is over one third of the average Irish yearly wage and this is before the tuition fees have to be paid for which in itself presents a huge challenge for a family to be able to support both the student and the rest of the family. With this in mind most students need as much help as possible to budget, manage their money and make use of the discount and financial schemes available through the university. The university provides a range of support systems to help students overcome financial challenges they may face. For students living away from home medical expenses can be a huge challenge as unfamiliar doctors can overcharge students, students can also be faced with the difficulty of budgeting for medical expenses as students can’t predict when they will become ill. The National University of Ireland Galway has relived thousands of students from the worries and challenges they face in regard to medical fees as they provide a full medical centre with Doctors, Nurses and physiatrist free of charge to all students in the university. â€Å"Only 10% of the student body is entitled to a medical card (GMS). A medical card entitles the holder to free consultation, free prescriptions and free hospitalisation. Students are not entitled to a medical card unless their parents have such a card or unless they are on a grant. Mature students i. e. ver 24 years of age could be entitled to a card in their own right depending on income. † (NUIG Student-Life 2012). This is a brilliant support service available to all NUI Galway students no matter what financial background the student comes from. The monthly food expense for a university student is two hundred and sixty euro, this can vary hugely depending on whether the student is economical about where the y shop and what they buy. Students can greatly reduce their shopping expenses by shopping in the cheaper supermarkets such as Lidl, Aldi and Tesco rather than smaller convenience stores which tend be much more expensive. You read "Problems Facing University Students" in category "Essay examples" And the key to good shopping is lists – lists you stick to. Never shop hungry and don’t rely on the big name retailers that your folks have shopped in for years, turn your back on brand names and only buy own-brand foods – you will save yourself a packet. A litre of milk from Avonmore costs â‚ ¬1. 14, a litre of Tesco milk costs 75 cents. † (The Irish Times, September 2012). The University also provides hot meals daily at only â‚ ¬5 in the university restaurant which can be very helpful to student who do not have time to return home to eat during the day. As well as the academic side to college students also have to have a social life, which can become very costly and makes it harder for students to budget their money. The titanium ents company put a discount card scheme in place to help students save money while socialising. â€Å"Galway Student Discount Card is estimated to save an average student â‚ ¬400 per semester / an average of â‚ ¬5 per night out ( â‚ ¬2 off a taxi, â‚ ¬2 off club admin â‚ ¬1 off food after). On sale for only â‚ ¬4† (Titaniuments. ie). This is a huge help to students in budgeting for the social side to their time in university. A huge financial problem faced by students is the price of textbooks required for the curriculum many of these books can cost up to â‚ ¬100 each and have to be bought brand new as they all contain individual access codes for course work that has to be completed online. Many students have to buy up to five books per semester which is a huge expense and creates a serious financial problem for students. Bank of Ireland is currently putting schemes in place to allow students to take out loans to pay for books. Section III: Findings Currently at NUI Galway there are several procedures in place to help students live off a small budget and save money. Loyalty cards such as the student union card can get students various discounts at numerous shops and restaurants run by the students union throughout the college. The student union card can also earn students money, by purchasing items at any shop or restaurant run by the SU. Students can build up credit over-time on their purchases and eventually this credit can be turned into cash. NUI Galway also promote the titanium ents card which promotes social discounts for students such as free entry into nightclubs, discounts on taxis, and discounts on fast-food take aways. In University College Dublin they offer many scholarships to students which can be found on www. smurfitschool. ie which is the business school in UCD. An example of one is ‘GMAT MBA Scholarship’ ‘Open to all applicants scoring above 700 on the GMAT. All scholarship applicants must already have been admitted to (have applied for, been interviewed and offered a place on) the full-time MBA Programme before they can be considered for any of the above scholarships. Open to Irish residents and international applicants. ( UCD-2012) in a university aboard such as Harvard, the offer financial aid also such as ‘Harvard College has provided assistance to students who need help in meeting their education expenses for over 350 years, enabling us to seek out the most outstanding scholars in the world and open our doors to students of exceptional ability and promise, regardless of their financial circumstances. Over 60% of undergraduates will receive an estimated $172 mill ion in need-based Harvard Scholarship aid in 2012-13. Just in the past five years we have increased our financial aid by over 70 percent, enhancing our program to ensure the affordability of a Harvard education even in these challenging economic times. We understand that the thought of financing four years of college can be a daunting prospect for anyone, and we are eager to help you and your family understand our financial aid programs and assist you in finding ways to meet your college costs’ (Harvard-2012) Section IV: Possible solutions and recommendations. After applying the creative problem solving process we as a group began to look at the different ways a problem such as this can be solved. While looking for solutions to the problem we researched numerous websites that offered advice on how students can budget and save money. (Schweitzer 2010) suggests numerous ways for students to save money such as avoiding impulse buying, hiding the credit card and finding bargains. While undertaking more xtensive research into the problem and after reading several articles, another common suggestion on how to budget efficiently was to invest in a student travel card; which can give up to a third off the price of all rail prices (Warnes 2012). Another area that may affect a student budget is clothes shopping. Many students can be fooled into buying expensive brand name clothes that they can’t afford. (Waldron 2012) suggests students should shop at local charity shops such as Oxfam where they can buy a lot of these brand name clothes second hand for a fraction of the price. Although many students may not have been accustomed to shopping in charity shops previously Waldron insists the value for students in this market is a â€Å"no brainer†. Section 5: Recommendations After investigating the possible solutions we as a group discussed the various methods NUIG could undertake to help students tackle their budgeting issues. We looked at the offers that are already available to help students save money such as the SU loyalty card, the titanium ents card, the second hand book scheme etc. We then held numerous brain storming session where we thought of ideas that might help solve the problem. We considered various ideas such as opening a second hand clothes shop in the college or a grocery store where students could buy their weekly shopping at a discount price. We then concluded that projects such as this would incur too much of an expense that may not be affordable for the college. Another idea that we came up with was a student discount guide that could be published by the students union on a weekly basis containing information on where students could find the best discounts in Galway on a weekly basis. The leaflet could advise students on what supermarkets have the best food discounts on this week, what nightclubs are offering discounts, how students could save money on travel etc. Referencing nui galway. (2012). financial matters. Available: http://www. nuigalway. ie/student-life/financial-matters/. Last accessed 14th nov 2012. Titanium Ents and subsidiary groups. (2012). Galway Student Discount Card. Available: http://www. titaniuments. com/galway-student-discount-card/. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . C O’Doherty. (2012). Dublin â‚ ¬3k ahead of average income. Available: http://www. rishexaminer. com/ireland/dublin-3k-ahead-of-average-income-181644. html. Last accessed 14th nov 2012. nui galway. (2012). medical services. Available: http://www. nuigalway. ie/student-life/student-support/medical-services. html. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . C Pope. (2012). Cheap and cheerful way through college. Available: http://www. irishtimes. com/newspaper/finance/2012/0911/12243238391 57. html. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . UCD. (2012). Scolarships. Available: http://www. smurfitschool. ie/scholarships/gmatmbascholarships/. Last accessed 14th nov 2012 . Harvard University. (2012). WELCOME TO THE HARVARD COLLEGE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE. Available: http://www. fao. fas. harvard. edu/icb/icb. do. Last accessed 14th nov 2012. Schweitzer. (2010). 10 Easy Ways for Students to Save Money. About. com Guide. 10 (4), 33-34. Warnes, S. (2012). Top 10 brilliant student money saving tips. Available: http://www. neilstoolbox. com/bibliography-creator/reference-website. htm. Last accessed 10/Nov/2012. Waldron,C. (2012). Charity shops: getting too big for their Pradas?. Available: http://campus. ie/college-life/money-matters/charity-shops-getting-too-big-for-their-pradas. Last accessed 12/nov/2012. How to cite Problems Facing University Students, Essay examples

Romeo and Juliet Development of Juliets Character Essay Example For Students

Romeo and Juliet : Development of Juliets Character Essay This essay is about Juliets character and I am going to talk about how her behaviour develops towards Romeo, her Nurse, and on her own respectively. In the prologue we are informed that, a pair of star crossed lovers take their life, . This is to make us feel sympathy towards Romeo and Juliet. We also have to remember Juliet is only 13 at the start of the play and little more than a child; but she has potential to mature during the course of the play. Act 1 Scene 5 is the first encounter between the lovers. In this scene I think Juliet is clever just doing enough to keep Romeo interested, Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much, . She is obviously infatuated with Romeo and behaves coquettishly towards him, for saints have hands that pilgrims hand do touch, . Romeo and Juliet use religious imagery towards one another because in an Elizabethan times religion was their most important thing, This holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, . In this scene the religious imagery is used to woo each other and is formed into a sonnet emphasising their love. We will write a custom essay on Romeo and Juliet : Development of Juliets Character specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Act 2 Scene 2 is the famous balcony scene of the lovers. In this scene I feel Juliet appears immature although she is in a difficult situation. Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo? . Juliet says this aloud, forgetting anyone could hear her. The way in which she does not tell her family even though in act 1 scene 5 Capulet says, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth. Although I feel she does behave maturely on occasion, Whats Montague? It is nor hand, nor foot, nor arm, nor face, . Referring to that if Romeo was not a Montague the family wouldnt object. Juliet shows how forward she is in this scene as well by asking Romeo whether he loved her, and also proposing to him. This was a very odd thing for a woman to do in Elizabethan times. Going back to act 1 scene 3, this is the first time we see Juliet and also her first scene with the Nurse. In this scene Juliet shows maturity with her use of language as in act 1 scene 5. It is a honour that I dream not of, is Juliets reply to her mothers difficult question of marriage. This is resourceful because she says she is not ready, but at the same time using honour to compliment her mother, thus keeping her on Juliets side. As with the Nurse Juliet is very patient with her when the Nurse reminisces at length about her past, and since that time it is eleven years, . This scene also really shows how close Juliet is with the Nurse, Thou was the prettiest babe that ever I nursed, , which is a compliment Nurse gives to Juliet. Juliet is loving towards the Nurse and takes her advice seriously, that is why Lady Capulet calls her back, Nurse come back again, , to talk about marriage. At the end of this scene the Nurse says Paris is, Hes a man of wax, , which is a metaphor, and als o Lady Capulet says Paris is a flower to compliment him. Act 2 Scene 5 is Juliets main scene with the Nurse. In this scene Juliet is again immature like in act 2 scene 2, and also petulant. You can see this when she is waiting for Romeos reply about marriage. In half an hour she promised to return, , O she is lame, . It also shows impatience and irritability. When the Nurse does finally arrive she is very impatient in contrast with her being patient with the Nurse in act scene 3. Juliets is unthoughtful about the Nurses condition. The Nurse says, I am aweary, give me leave awhile, , but Juliet replies, Nay come, I pray thee speak, , showing no care for the Nurse to whom she is supposed to be close. When the Nurse eventually does tell Juliet the news, Juliet now says something complimentary to her, Honest Nurse, farewell, but because this is said after the good news is given, I feel this shows Juliet to be spoiled and she is only pleasent when she gets her own way. .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .postImageUrl , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:hover , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:visited , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:active { border:0!important; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:active , .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9 .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u3e203b51d53c14c4d4f17a1b714843a9:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Act 1 Scene 1, Act 1 Scene 5, and Act 2 Scene 5 in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night EssayIn act 3 scene 2 Juliet shows her continuing obsession with Romeo, Come night, come Romeo, come day in night, and this reinforces Juliets immaturity in wanting something she cant have. In this scene overall though I feel Juliet behaves maturely. The Nurse is wailing and mourning Tybalts death, while also saying bad of Romeos name, Will you speak well of him that killed your cousin? . Juliet is the opposite staying quite calm and thinking logically saying, That villain cousin would have killed my husband, meaning one of them had to die so better it be Tybalt than Romeo. In this scene Juliet uses a hyperbole saying, that one word, banished, hath slain ten thousand Tybalts, . Conveying her intense emotion towards the situation. Act 3 scene 5 is Juliets last scene with the Nurse. In this scene their relationship mainly breaks down due to a difference of opinion. The Nurse thinks Juliet should marry Paris, I think it best if you marry with the county, . Juliet has given the Nurse a last chance to make peace with her but the Nurses response does not please Juliet. Juliet is mature here though because instead of telling the Nurse this she conceals her feelings so as to not hurt the Nurse. When the Nurse leaves she reveals her true feelings to the Nurses response, Ancient damnation! O most wicked fiend! Is it more sin to wish me thus foresworn, , showing Juliets true feelings of the Nurses comment. Finally, I am going to write about Juliets character while she is alone, later on in the play. The first time is in act 4 scene 3. In this scene I feel she is unnecessarily courageous. Juliet has decided to take the potion but it can be seen that she is apprehensive in her soliloquy, I have a faint cold fear thrills through my veins that almost freezes up the heat of life, . There are many possible complications with taking the potion that Juliet can think of, What if the mixture does not work at all, and, What if it be poison, [line 25 act 4 scene 3. I think she should have just gone to Romeo because the end result is the same without the unnecessary complications. Act 5 scene 3 is the final scene and like in the last scene Juliet is again bold in her decision. She has just awoken to the site of Romeos dead body and the Friar has left her. She now has a choice either to go away where the Friar sends her or to die with Romeo. She decides to kill herself, O happy dagger. This is thy sheath. There rust, and let me die, . I feel this was a necessary decision due to her other option, which would not lead to a promising future with no money or skills. Also in Elizabethan times once you are dead you go to heaven although suicide was against God. Even so Juliet loved Romeo enough to go against God. In conclusion I feel Juliet is immature at the start, but develops as the play goes on. Throughout she uses her brain to get out of tough situations, like in act 1 scene 3 when asked about marriage. Then towards the end she becomes more independent and shows maturity and inner strength. I believe this play is about the effect of hate in society. It shows how futile it is and the consequences of it on peoples lives like Romeo and Juliet. This play is a tragedy like others of Shakespeares, such as Macbeth and Richard the III. Like in this play, good conquers evil. The families in this play make friends at the end and both the evil Macbeth and Richard III dying in theirs.