The women in Much Ado About Nothing and Romeo and Juliet subscribe to Simone de Beauvoir’s “counter universe”. These characters have different behaviors and personalities based on the company they are keeping. When they are not in the presence of men, they appear to be much more liberated and expressive. In Act I, Scene I of Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy, the Capulets and the Montagues are in the streets of Verona preparing for a brawl. The two matriarchs of the opposing families arrive. Lady Capulet in response to Old Capulet’s request for a sword, tells him why ask for a weapon you really need a crutch, thus mock