What Do We Learn About Juliet's Relationship With Her Father From Act 3 Scene 5?

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What Do We Learn About Juliet’s Relationship With Her Father From Act 3 Scene 5?

        During the Elizabethan period, daughters had to marry according to their fathers wishes. This was because men were seen as more dominant than women. Women could refuse to get married to her chosen husband but at a price. If women refused to respect their father’s wishes then they could be disowned and banished from their family household. I think that Elizabethan society was unfair towards women’s rights as they could not do much without permission from men. They weren’t aloud to have more intellectual jobs such as doctors and lawyers. This was all because women were seen as the ‘weaker sex’ and inferior to all men.

        At the start of the play, it is clear that Capulet is in no rush to get Juliet married to Paris as he feels that see is too young and would like Paris to get to know her first. A quote to support this point is, To soon marr’d are those so early made. She is the hopeful lady of my earth: but woo her, gentle Paris get her heart.’ I believe this means that Capulet is not totally rejecting the idea of Paris marrying Juliet, but first he wants him to get to know her and win her heart.

        Although Capulet changes his mind, this is due to the fact that Juliet is extremely upset. Her parents believe this is because her cousin, Tybalt, was murdered. This is actually far from the real reason. The real reason was that it was Romeo who murdered him and therefore is due to be executed when found. At this time, Juliet is married to Romeo and is also worried about what her parents would think if they were to find out as Romeo was a Montague, Capulet’s enemy. Capulet believes that a marriage and the celebrations that come with it will cheer Juliet and the rest of the family up. Capulet thinks that Juliet will accept Paris’s hand in marriage as he believes it is the right time. Capulet says to Paris, ‘Go you to Juliet, ere you go to bed, prepare her, wife, against this wedding-day.’ This means that the next time they will meet will be at the wedding on Thursday, and in the meantime, Capulet will prepare Juliet for the marriage.

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At this moment in time, Capulet is anxious for Juliet marrying Paris as he wants her to be happy as soon as possible. I believe that Capulet thinks that Paris is the right man for Juliet as he says, ‘Having now provided a gentleman of noble percentage, of fair demesnes, youthful and nobly train’d.’ this implies that Capulet thinks a lot of Paris and wouldn’t be letting him marry Juliet if he didn’t think he was right for her.

        Lady Capulet agrees with Paris marrying Juliet and quote to support this point is ‘The County Paris, at St. Peters ...

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