What is a Stereotype in Romeo and Juliet?

Answer 1

The woman ie. Juliet, lady Capulet, Lady Montague. They are seen and not heard and they can't make decisions for themselves ie. marriage. Juliet in particular has nothing to say in the play, and does not make decisions for herself, especially about marriage, since she marries Paris because that is who her father wants . . . hang on.

It looks like Juliet does not conform to your stereotype. She is heard from a lot. She is not afraid to speak for herself. She makes decisions for herself and agrees to be buried alive rather than give up the man she has chosen to marry.

Indeed, very few of the female characters of any significance in any of Shakespeare's plays conform to that stereotype. But there, the prejudice that all of the men of Shakespeare's day held this view of women is deeply-rooted, and the knee-jerk response is to say that all societies before a certain date were by definition misogynistic.

No, if you want a stereotype in the play, look at Paris. He is the stereotype of the unwanted suitor, favoured by the father, but who is not favoured by the daughter. And even so, he is less of a stereotype than Thurio in The Two Gentlemen of Verona, who is also an unwanted suitor, but who is obviously unattractive to boot.