Long before the women's rights revolutions of the early 1900s, the women of Verona, Italy were limited by intense social constraints. Expected to be polite and submissive, girls were married off at the age of thirteen and had children shortly thereafter. In Juliet's soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 2 of the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, Juliet is awaiting her first night with Romeo as her wife. Her parents are unaware of this feat, because Juliet has hidden it for fear of their disapproval. While Juliet followed social law in previous acts by showing modesty and shyness when she met Romeo just a day before, she now breaks free but is buried in wrong ideas. The personification and symbolism of the night, as well as the words that describe it in Juliet's soliloquy, suggest alternative visions of women's rights. Juliet's personification of night who identifies the secrecy of darkness as a positive quality is also Juliet who defends her own secrecy. Literally, darkness makes Romeo and Juliet's love possible by disguising it from their parents. Juliet asks at the beginning of the soliloquy: "unfold thy closed curtain, night of love, / that the eyes of fugitives may wink" (3.2.4-5). The darkness of the night hides the love of Romeo and Juliet just as a curtain blocks the view of a room from curious spectators. If anyone had seen it, Juliet's reputation would have suffered greatly, as would her relationship with Romeo. Later, Juliet asks the night: “Cap my unmanned blood; beats my cheeks,” (3.2.13) Not only is Juliet grateful that the night will allow her to meet Romeo in secret, but she is also grateful that the night hides her affection for him. In Verona women were expected to be polite and moderate, yet Juliet's affection for...... middle of paper ......magic of religious and sexual purity for Romeo's love. As Juliet welcomes the darkness of the night, she is accepting the religious and social consequences of her actions. This is Shakespeare commenting on how the social norms imposed on Veronese women were trivial and harmful. Truth be told, Juliet was probably never informed about what a healthy relationship was because love and sex were not something to talk about and this led to her early death. Many of these restrictions remain today, even though women are not allowed to vote, work and hold positions of political power girls are often informed by their parents, but only during hygiene lessons. The media defines love as sacrificing oneself, even one's life, for the well-being of someone else. In reality, no true love will ask you to sacrifice a part of yourself, only to care unconditionally.