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Female Protagonists in Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Three female protagonists, Juliet, Cimorene, and Catherine, in three different critically acclaimed novels, suffer similar betrothal quandaries. Juliet, in Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet, is engaged to Paris, but her heart teems with love for another man. Catherine, daughter of a loathsome and avarice father, is regularly troubled with abominable suitors in Cushman's Catherine, Called Birdy. In Wrede's Dealing With Dragons, Cimorene is despondent with princess life and has no desire to marry Therandil, a dreary prince. The three major characters in the above novels, Juliet, Cimorene, and Catherine, share identical struggles for bliss.

Juliet and Romeo go to great lengths to make their relationship work. The immediate consequences of their actions are truly dreadful, however. Promptly after Juliet lays eyes on Romeo at a festival, she falls in love with him. Nevertheless, Juliet is already engaged to Paris, an arrogant kinsman to the Prince. To make matters worse, Romeo is the son of her family's paramount adversary, the Montagues. Romeo and Juliet secretly marry with the assistance of Friar Laurence, but because of fate, uncanny events take place to separate the two. Capulet, father of Juliet, grows angry and coerces Juliet to marry Paris within a few days; and Romeo, while avenging his friend Mercutio's death, kills Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, which lead to his exile in Mantua. Friar Laurence formulates a plot to bring the paramours together once again. Friar Laurence gave Juliet a sleeping potion to prevent her from marrying Paris. When Juliet drinks the brew, she instantaneously falls into a deep sleep.

Juliet's parents believe she is lifeless and take her away to the temple of the dead. Balthasar, Romeo's diligent servant, brings Romeo the news of Juliet's death, unaware that her death is simply a hoax. Romeo makes his way back to Verona to ascertain his servant's claims. During his visit to Juliet's burial location, Romeo encounters Paris and kills him in a duel. Finally, after an intriguing soliloquy, Romeo takes his life beside Juliet. Ironically, however, Juliet wakes from her deep slumber minutes after her lover commits suicide and she immediately takes her life using Romeo's dagger. Friar Laurence plans for the illicit lovers to reunite after Juliet's awakening, but the destiny of the paramours is to die together. At the end of the story, six people die, including Romeo's mother because of a broken heart. The Capulet and Montague families resolve their differences after discovering that hatred will only lead to turmoil and more revulsion.

Cimorene escapes an unfulfilling life and discovers happiness far from the outskirts of her old palace. Basically she is fed up with the "proper" duties of a princess and an unwanted marriage with Therandil, a dull prince. Cimorene takes refuge in the grotto of Kazul, a female dragon. During her stay at Kazul's home, several princes, including Therandil, confront Cimorene and tell her that they had come to liberate her from Kazul. Ironically, Cimorene refuses their offers, claiming that she enjoys her new life. Cimorene helps Kazul in many ways. She makes her cherry-jubilees, organizes her library, and most importantly saves the Dragon Kingdom from the wizards, Zemenar and Antorell, with the help of Morwen, a gentle witch, Kazul, the stone prince, and her friend Alianora, who was the princess of Woraug, a tyrannical dragon. By stories end, Cimorene ensures Kazul's position as King of the Dragons; finds Megan a soul mate, defeats Woraug and the ruthless wizards, gains the respect of the other dragons, and asserts herself as the King of the Dragon's chief princess.

Catherine yearns for adventure, but her mother wants to teach her sewing and decent conduct, while her detestable father wants to find her a suitor with a hefty dowry. She lives lavishly, but her lack of choices and her role in society frustrate her tremendously. Catherine has a keen mind, and a big mouth to go along with it. She frequently argues with her father, insults her abominable brother, Robert, and scares most suitors away with her repulsive behavior. The main dilemma Catherine experiences is with the abhorrent suitor known as Shaggy Beard. His traits are indistinguishable between that of a pig. Catherine's father doesn't have a problem with Shaggy Beard's vulgar ways because Shaggy Beard is filthy wealthy. Many disputes surface between Catherine and her father since she exceedingly objects to marrying Shaggy Beard. The day before Catherine and Shaggy Beard are to marry, Catherine rims away to her uncle George's house and is instilled with insightful information regarding the momentous situation. While at her uncle's house, Catherine decides that Shaggy Beard is going to be her husband, whether she likes it or not. However, luckily for Catherine, Shaggy Beard dies during a brawl at a tavern, only the night before her revelation. Catherine is pleased to take Shaggy Beard's shrewd son, Stephen, as an alternative.

The quandaries of Juliet, Cimorene, and Catherine, are seemingly alike, but they all turn out differently. The tragic death of Juliet and Romeo leads to reconciliation between the rival families, Cimorene's getaway to Kazul's home restores justice in the Dragon Kingdom, although Catherine endures several bumbling suitors she finds true love in the end. Juliet, Cimorene, and Catherine, desperately desire true contentment and yet only two of the three obtain it.

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