Charlotte Day November 3, 2025
Traditional Essay
Toxic masculinity has been around since the beginning of time, and is still around to this day. All adaptations of Romeo and Juliet have a little bit of a different way of telling the story. One thing that all Romeo and Juliet adaptations have in common is gender roles, and in extension, toxic masculinity. The adaptation I will be watching is an adaptation made in 2013. Since this adaptation was made in a later era, we can make a safe assumption that it will have a more modern view of what times were like then. Toxic masculinity is still an issue in today’s society. It is important to recognize this, and see how it has progressed since 1595.
Naturally, in plays whether a tragedy, comedy, or both, male superiority has been an issue. For example, in the play it is stated that Romeo likes this girl named Roseline. However, when he sees Juliet, he immediately becomes very attracted to her. This can be considered a factor of toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is a mindset that gives men a sense of superiority. Benvolio says to Romeo “ Compare her face with someone I will show and I will make thee thing thy swan a crow” This shows men as people who only see women for their beauty, and can fall deeply in love, and then quickly out of love if a prettier woman comes along. It is obvious that he grows to love her, but he was originally going to be with Roseline. Juliet in the beginning is viewed as more of a he wants what he can’t have. This situation is an example of toxic masculinity.
This tragedy has a lot of different kinds of toxic masculinity. For example, In Romeo and Juliet 2013 adaptation when Juliet doesn’t want to marry Paris, her father threatens to beat her and disown her for dishonoring him, and going against his wishes. Another example is when Romeo goes to see Juliet. After he finds out she has taken her own life, Paris tries to fight him off, but Romeo kills him in cold blood so he can see Juliet one last time. Men fighting for anything, but especially women, this entitlement is supposedly a sign of manhood or bravery. In reality, it is more about proving themselves worthy and to assert dominance over others, especially women.
In Romeo and Juliet, there are often jokes or statements made to imply that women are objects, made for men above all else. For example, Sampson undoubtedly asserts his masculinity by calling women “the weaker vessels,” meaning men do not stand for weakness, therefore they can control women because he thinks they are weak. Men and their harmful beliefs that they can treat women like property is one of the greatest topics of this play, and how it affects society then as to now.
The problem and the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is mainly tied to how the men acted in Verona during the time period. If Romeo never killed Tybalt, he would never have been banished, he would have been able to stay in Verona to be with Juliet. This event is a direct cause and consequence of being expected to be, or act a certain way. The main reason Romeo died was tied to toxic masculinity. There is always a sense of entitlement that comes with men and their superiority complex. When the Friar demeans Romeo’s expression of emotions at the news of his banishment as “womenish”, he retaliates. Men who show emotions are not considered men in that society. When Mercutio calls Romeo weak for turning down Tybalt’s challenge, Romeo feels embarrassed and effeminate for turning down the challenge. He then chases Tybalt down and kills him. The only reason Romeo did this was to assert his masculine egotistical need to be in control, this showed the hyper violence and harmful ideology that men in Verona seemed to have had.
Juliet is not one to entirely conform to gender norms. For example, even though her family expects her to accept an arranged marriage, she plans her marriage to Romeo, the true love of her young life. In secret, she has an idea to set her own plan to escape with him. Even though it all goes horribly wrong in the end, she still appreciates her strong will, intelligence, and what little power she has with her stance in society. Additionally, she is brave enough to stand up to her parents, hating and resenting the idea of being married to Paris. Yet, her angry father still replies with a stream of insults, calling her a “young baggage!” and a “disobedient wretch!” This implies how strong Juliet was in that time period which was rare at that time.
It is interesting to realize what was toxic masculinity then is unacceptable behavior now. For example, in Romeo and Juliet (2013), Romeo still thinks he is entitled to have Juliet after murdering her cousin. It is interesting to see what the reaction is for a younger person like her, and how she responds. The most toxic thing in this film is how the men think they are obligated not just to a woman’s choices, but their bodies.
This play has a dark underlying theme of toxic masculinity affecting society, portraying the men as bullies, sexual predators, dominators, and ultimately murderers. Not being able to cry, not being able to talk to someone about their emotions, are some of the major effects of toxic masculinity. Attacking someone verbally, or physically, are also huge parts of toxic masculinity. In Romeo and Juliet, men often talked down about women, and would always say disrespectful remarks towards women, how they act, what they say, and how they do things. Sampson, one of the house’s servants states “ When I have fought with the men I will be cruel to the maids, I will cut off their heads”. This quote shows men that women are thought of as objects, and men could easily dispose of them if they wanted to. Men have to fight quickly for what they want, because if not, they were considered no man to society in that era.
Toxic masculinity has always been a severe societal problem. Toxic masculinity stems from the feeling of insecurity or weakness. The time period where Romeo and Juliet took place is not for the weak. I can imagine it was a hard time and environment for everyone, all genders. However, toxic masculinity has been the cause of many wars that were unnecessary, and many problems that were not needed, but happened because of pride and an egotistical complex. Romeo and Juliet’s plot was built off of societal problems such as toxic masculinity. Toxic masculinity is a big problem that women had to survive in that time period. It is important to try and understand the importance of this issue and evolve from it.
Work Cited
Sprockets and Springes 