the relation ship between juliett andd her father

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 What do we learn about the understanding of the relationship between Juliet and lord Capulet in Shakespeare’s ‘Romeo and Juliet?’

'Romeo and Juliet' deals with the strict gender role of women during the Shakespearean period of history. Conventional females were considered to be second class citizens who were expected to refrain in conveying their natural feelings and emotions. Women were also socially neglected, as they were expected to remain at home whilst their respective husbands ensured the upkeep of the family by managing the family finances. The male population at this point in time ignorantly viewed women as coy, innocent characters, seemingly unaware that women had the same feelings and emotions as themselves.

In Elizabethan society, the majority of marriages were arranged. Property and power were two main factors which influenced negotiations for marriage between the two families of the bride and groom. As the bride was unable to provide land, she was expected to take a substantial amount of money to the marriage, which in turn, was given to the father of the groom. In this respect, daughters were considered to be a financial burden on their parents, hence their decision to get their daughter married into a wealthy family as soon as they could. In 'Romeo and Juliet', Lord Capulet was ready to let Juliet marry Paris at the tender age of thirteen, which, although sounds rather perverse when looked at from a modern day perspective, was actually quite routine at this period of history.

At the start of the play in Act One Scene Two, Juliet’s father speaks to the County Paris about his marriage proposal for Juliet. Here Lord Montague speaks caringly and dotingly about his dear daughter who he is afraid to let go of. He will not give in to County Paris in letting her go and is answering back by giving reasons to keep hold of her for just a couple more years. My child is yet a stranger to the world, let two more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride.’  This proves that he adores his young girl and will not let anyone take her away from him and cannot bear to see her gone and this makes it evident that he loves and cares for here exceedingly just like a father should do. He spoke about Juliet affectionately and in an overprotective manner. He made it absolutely clear to us that he was not going to give in to the proposition until Juliet herself was happy and eager to accept. There is one line that he says that he is willing to marry her off to whichever groom she chooses herself.

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Towards the end of the play Lord Capulet’s understanding of his affection towards his daughter entirely changes. The Capulet’s relationship towards their daughter started out friendly and amorously but turned right round getting to the end of the play and their bond with her deteriorated. Although he does say earlier in the play that he won’t give her to County Paris if she is not willing to, he ignores his word and uses language to make it stand out to everyone that he will not tolerate disobedience in any way.

        

Shakespeare uses a variety of different types of ...

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