Joseph Bryant is correct in saying that Juliet is Shakespeare’s real miracle in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Like a lump of clay, Juliet is molded and transformed throughout the play to become the most courageous character. She goes from being totally dependent on others, to no longer relying on her father’s decisions, her mother’s distant love, and her nurse’s close, yet overprotecting love. In the end she depends on herself, but is inevitably brought to her demise by a world that wishes to control what cannot be controlled: love and the rebellious nature of an adolescent girl in love. Very good opening, sharp and suggestive.

When Juliet is first introduced she is very submissive towards her mother, for example (run-on: use semi-colon) Juliet speaks of marriage as an honor the she dreams not of, yet she says she will look to favor marriage as long as she has her parents consent. Juliet’s compliance towards her parents is first questioned when she meets Romeo at the party. After Romeo sneaks his first kiss from Juliet. (do you want this period here?) She playfully leads him on to receive a second, and, although Juliet was adverse to marriage, when Romeo and her part ways for the first time she states that, "If he (Romeo) is married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed." In Romeo and Juliet’s second meeting, at the balcony, Juliet introduces the idea of marriage to Romeo and in doing so she fully disregards the guidance of her father and mother. When Juliet’s parents do decide on a man for her to marry Juliet finally defies them, face to face, and refuses to marry Paris. At this, Juliet’s father calls her a curse and threatens to kick her out of his house. When Juliet looks to her nurse for comfort she is given the opinion that Romeo is dead and that she should marry Parris. Now, Juliet, having lost everything, even the consolation of her life long nurse, is alone in a world that frowns upon her actions, but using her newfound couage and love as a guide, Juliet acts as if she will obey her parents and marry Parris when in actuality she is scheming with the Friar to get back to Romeo. It takes bravery for Juliet to go along with the Friars plan, for she is wrought with many questions, like, is the Friar just killing her off to cover up his mistake? Or, what would happen if she ran out of air in the tomb? But she, of course, will do anything to be with her true love.

The tragic ending of Romeo and Juliet is all too well known. Juliet, although almost a symbol for independent and courageous young girls, fell victim to the world, a world that longed to control her. Most of the girls her age in Verona where already married, but he father waited too long, allowing Juliet to come to an age were she was able to see the beauty of the world, the beauty of Romeo, and became of a mind to make her own decisions. Living in a land where dissension from your parents is unheard of, she bravely took society on, but inevitably failed.
An interesting response.  It begins very well, but the long central paragraph is hard to follow, has too much plot summary, and several confusing sentences.  But then the ending is quite good.  Perhaps more focus is needed, on a specific element of J's maturation, rather than the whole process.  8.0