Two Gentlemen of Verona

Julia is a young noble woman of Verona who begins and ends the play as Proteus’s beloved. She is characterized by her youthful temper, her obsession with maintaining her reputation and her devotion to Proteus. In her introductory scene, Julia impulsively dismisses her maid, Lucetta, when she tries to deliver a love letter from Proteus. Julia immediately criticizes herself for “churlishly” (1.2.60) and “angrily” (1.2.62) rejecting the letter, comparing her behavior to “a testy babe” (1.2.58). Her self-awareness in this passage suggests that Julia is on the edge of adulthood: Although she still gives in to her teenage passions, she is mature enough to acknowledge when her behavior is irrational. The fact that she’s easily able to disguise herself as a pageboy also indicates her youthfulness, as she has not fully developed. Despite her youth, Julia’s character is more consistent than some of the more mature characters in the play, especially Proteus.

Despite her impulsive nature, Julia is hyper-aware of the expectations of others and the impact of her actions on her reputation. Her first oath in the play is the unusual “by my modesty” (1.2.41) which suggests that she values her modesty and reputation to an almost religious degree.