One of the main reasons why Capulet has such a bad relationship with Juliet is because he seems to think that he rules Juliet. Juliet does not like this though. This is shown when Capulet tells Paris ‘I think she will be ruled in all respects by me; nay more, I doubt it not’. This infers that Capulet will force Juliet into marrying Paris. Capulet is certain that he will be able to persuade Juliet into marrying Paris. He does not like Juliet making her own decisions. This is the source of many of the problems in the relationship between Juliet and Capulet. He shows how mean and aggressive he can be when he tells Juliet ‘ And you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets. This is a very detail description again. This is one of Shakespeare methods of showing how violent Capulet is. After hearing this vivid description it really makes you understand Capulet’s relationship with his daughter. This is a very bad one. He shows he will show no mercy to Juliet. When Capulet is angry or annoyed he tends to repeat himself and uses illitration. This is shown when he finds out that Juliet does not want to marry Paris.’How,How,How,How’. What Shakespeare is trying to show is that Capulet is very angry and his method is using illustration. He tends to use this style quite often.
Juliet’s mother Lady Capulet also has many arguments with Juliet. Lady Capulet is very different to Capulet. Lady Capulet is a lot more diplomatic in the way that she goes about doing things. She adopts a different approach to Juliet. Instead of speaking without thinking she is very friendly to start with, but when Juliet starts to disagree she begins to show her aggression. An example of this is ‘tell me daughter Juliet, how stands your dispositions to be married?’ When she does not get the answer she wants from Juliet, Lady Capulet’s attitude changes and she angrily asks ‘speak briefly; can you like of Paris love?’
Lady Capulet seems to be scared of Capulet. This is shown when Juliet says she does not want to marry Paris and Lady Capulet says ‘Here comes your father tell him yourself’. Lady Capulet is scared to tell Capulet herself. When there is an argument between Juliet and Capulet, she takes the side of Capulet as she does not want to upset him. She is not always arguing with Juliet. Before Juliet poisons herself, she is speaking politely to Lady Capulet. Juliet I think is quite fond of her mother because she gives her a polite farewell before poisoning herself.’Farewell.God Knows when we shall meet again’. The reason Juliet wants to wish her mother goodbye is because she likes her and if things do not go well she wants to end her relationship with her mother on a good note.
There is no excuse for some of the language that Capulet uses towards his daughter. Capulet threatens to kill his own daughter and to, kick her on to the street if she does not do what she is told. Whatever the problem this kind of treatment and language is unacceptable. Capulet should show respect for Juliet feelings.
Juliet is very clever in her responses to her parents and other people questions. Juliet thinks ahead and knows if she does not give the answer her parents want there will be mayhem. When Juliet says she does not want to marry Paris her Father threatens to kick her out on the streets. She always tries to avoid lying. She manages to balance these two factors in some of her responses to her parent’s questions. Juliet gives answers, which could mean two things. A good example of this is when Lady Capulet is talking to Juliet and Lady Capulet asks ‘Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death?’ and Juliet responds with ‘Yet let me weep for such a feeling lose’. Lady Capulet is saying are you crying because of your cousin’s death and Juliet responds with yes I am crying for a loss. Juliet is not crying because she has lost Tybalt, but is crying because she has lost Romeo. Another example is when Lady Capulet says ‘Speak briefly; can you like of Paris’ love? Juliet responds with ‘I’ll look to like, if looking liking move’ Juliet does not want to say that she loves Paris, but she does not say she does not love him. This shows that Juliet tells the truth and expresses her feelings without giving the answer her Mother does not want to hear.
All throughout the book Juliet only has one choice and that is her parent’s choice. Juliet is not allowed to think for herself. Juliet does think for herself thought. She knows that she cannot disagree with her parents. The way that you can tell this is because Juliet tries to avoid arguments as much as possible. This is why she uses words and phrases with double meanings and is able to lie to them. This is Juliet’s way of avoiding confrontation. Though there are still many confrontations.
The above account shows that Juliet’s relationship with her parents was not a very good one. Juliet is not able to make any choices of her own. Juliet is always getting ordered around by Capulet. Juliet fears to say her feelings to her parents, knowing if she tells her Parents about Romeo she will be killed. If Lady Capulet and Capulet were more open to her views and trusted her more and did not stop her making her own decisions there would have been no tragic outcome. Juliet would not have to sneak behind her parents’ back, which caused the tragic outcome. If Juliet had a more honest and open relationship with her parents’ there would have been no tragic ending resulting in two deaths.