In Act 1 Scene 5 the audience views Capulet hosting a party where he is behaving in a warm and welcoming manner. “Welcome Gentleman, ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns will walk about with you.” Capulet is thoroughly enjoying himself which is further reinforced when Shakespeare incorporates the use of humor into the Act to represent Capulet as a sociable and friendly person yet he still has control over all of his guests at the party suggesting perhaps that he feels most comfortable and relaxed when he has control over people around him. At the banquet Tybalt spots Romeo, a member of the notorious Montague family. Surprisingly though Capulet decides to not act on the situation simply saying to Tybalt “He shall be endured” Tybalt obliges and continues to enjoy the banquet whilst being weary of Romeos presence. Capulet’s behavior contrasts starkly to his behavior shown in that of Act 1 Scene 1 where Capulet seems only to pleased for a feud to occur he is even at the centre of it but here he wisely decides to use his influence over the younger members of the family to prevent any outbreaks of violence. This leads the audience to question why Capulet only decides to use his influence to prevent the feud when it suits him rather than him and his Montague counterpart meeting and agreeing an immediate end to the feud. It appears that maybe Capulet enjoys participating in the feud.
In Act 3 Scene 4 Capulet is arranging a date for Paris to marry Juliet yet he has not considered Juliet’s views on this matter and his courage seems to have deserted him as he orders his wife to inform Juliet of his decision. “Tell her she shall be married to this noble earl”. The authority of the words tell and shall used by Capulet as he orders his wife to tell Juliet of his decision is most interesting as the words represent once again the strict control Capulet appears he must have on those people around him. The words tell and shall are very commanding and do not give his wife or his daughter Juliet any choice of his decision. It appears they must obey his every command as it is not a wish but an order. The audience are initially confused by his sudden change of heart but then it becomes clear that perhaps the reason for Capulet’s haste in finding a husband for his daughter is primarily due to the recent death of his beloved son Tybalt who is yet another victim of the feud which Capulet is encouraging. Perhaps Capulet wishes to lighten the mood of the family with a wedding as he indicates he wishes to defeat his daughters grief due to the loss of her brother I believe that maybe he is not only trying to eradicate his daughters grief but his own too as he views himself as the head of the family and to masculine to weep over his sons death publicly. Capulet is clearly troubled by all the pain and death and wishes for things to return to normality as quickly as possible possibly explaining why he is acting so hastily towards the end of the scene. “Monday, ha, ha! Well, Wednesday is to soon, A Thursday let it be a Thursday.” Capulet’s actions in this scene will result in the audience changing their views on Capulet from that of a secure loving man to a man who is both very controlling and temperamental.
In Act 3 Scene 5 Capulet has become a monster branding his daughter a disobedient wretch. Ever more worse he says “Out you baggage.” These are terrible things to say to his daughter whom he appeared so loving and protective of only a few scenes ago Capulet refers to his daughter as baggage which is an item or possession which suggests that Capulet has no love for his daughter but views her simply as an item with which he owns and controls. Here Capulet becomes the perfect stereotype of a 17th century father as they used to quite happily kick their disobedient daughters out of their house or send them to a nunnery to learn some respect. At this point the audience will no doubt be shocked by his seemingly explosive temper. Capulet proves to be an unpredictable tyrant intent controlling his Wife, Juliet and all those in his company.
Dramatic irony is used by Shakespeare in Act 4 Scene 2 creating enormous amounts of tension within the audience as Capulet is so appreciative of Friar Lawrence’s contribution to persuading his daughter Juliet to marry Paris when we the audience know that it is just a ploy enabling Juliet to avoid the marriage with Paris and alternatively marry the man of her dreams, Romeo.
Yet again Capulet changes his mood as Juliet apologises for disobeying him. Capulet’s attitude starkly contrasts from that in Act 3 Scene 5 where Capulet even goes as far as saying he would quite gladly remove her from his house and watch her die on the streets but now he is full of praise for his daughter for finally obeying him. Immediately Capulet’s thoughts are on organizing the party, he doesn’t even think to ask Juliet how she feels about the situation but is quick to reaffirm his control over the house members. Capulet appears to be a control freak intent on controlling the life’s of all those around him.
In Act 4 Scene 4 the audience view Capulet rushing excitedly around his house preparing everyone for Juliet’s marriage which is to be followed by a great banquet. “Come stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed, the curfew bell have rung, “tis three a clock. Look to the baked meats, good Angelica, Spare not for cost. Once again here Capulet appears as a very demanding person as he is ordering people around. Here Capulet appears very similar to the Capulet witnessed by the audience earlier in Act 1 Scene 2 as he once again appears very caring and loving towards his daughter and seems intent on her having the best of everything, emphasized when he says “Spare not for cost.” Capulet’s humorous side is once again displayed to the audience in this scene as he jokes with the servants, “Mass and well said, a merry whoreson, ha! Thou shalt be loggerhead.” By this time Juliet has drunk the poison and has been discovered by the nurse who assumes she is dead, here there is an excellent use of dramatic irony as the audience knows that Juliet only appears to be dead but is in fact in a deep sleep but breathing never the less. The alarm bells are immediately rang and immediately Juliet’s panic stricken parents race to her side very ironic considering that whenever Juliet needed her parents most and was calling out for help she never received her support but now they finally are their to comfort her it’s to late. Capulet even doubts the claim made by the nurse thinking it is just a prank by Juliet“Hah, let me see her” but when he sees her for himself he realises that she’s dead, “her blood is settled, and her joints are stiff”. Capulet appears shell shocked and lost for words but soon turns his attention to the proposed marriage of Juliet and Paris seeming to have momentarily forgotten of the tragic loss of life.
Capulet appears in the last scene and finally bears some emotions, so much so that the once proud, courageous man shakes hands with his long time rival with whom he has fought with on many occasions. Capulet and Montague dramatically declare an everlasting peace between the two families claiming enough hearts have been broken and enough love lost. “O brother Montague, give me thy hand. This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more can I demand”.
Capulet’s raw emotions are displayed here as he puts an end to the seemingly never ending feud between the two families. Capulet even goes as far as referring to his one time rival as his brother displaying to the audience the close bond and understanding established between the two counterparts in an instant as they share a life time of memories regarding the feud which are best forgotten. Capulet refers to his daughter very harmoniously, “Death lies on her like an untimely frost, Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.”. Capulet sorrow for Juliet’s death is further reinforced with the flower imagery as he refers to his daughter as the sweetest flower of all the field it seems Juliet was everything Capulet could have dreamt for yet he earlier claimed he would allow her to die on the streets. While the two families unite to share their sorrow at Juliet’s death we the audience can see the full irony of the scene because we know that Juliet is not dead but just in a deep sleep.
