Literature Course Work - Drama Pre 1914
Shakespeare - Romeo and Juliet
Is Capulet a good father?
Examine Capulet's relationship with Juliet throughout the play and show how his speech and behaviour reflects the attitudes of the Elizabethan society.
In the play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Lord Capulet is a very well-known character. He is wealthy and a leader in his community. He is a very loving father to his daughter Juliet, he is a very hard person, and he trusts everyone to do as they are told and to act appropriately.
Romeo and Juliet was set during the 1900's when people were living in a patriarchal society. A society in which men were the leading figures and decision makers. They were dominate and ruled over the rest of their family. Which meant when it was time for their daughter to get married off it was their decision to whom, where and when they would get married and as always the daughter would agree, for if not she would get punished.
At the start of the play it is clear that Capulet isn't ready for is daughter to get married and he also think she is far too young and doesn't want to 'spoil' her. It can be seen in the line: "My child is yet a stranger in the world/She hath not seen the change of fourteen years/Let two more summers wither in their pride/Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride" He then agrees that if Parris can win Juliet's heart and she wishes to marry, he will give his consent
In Act 3 scene 5 Lord Capulet changes his mind and decides there will be a wedding after all. Sooner rather than later. Although you never really find out the reason or reasons behind this decision, it ma be due to the fact that Juliet's cousin had just bin murdered. He may also have thought that Juliet being such an obedient daughter. Lord Capulet is a loving father who deeply cares for Juliet. When he arranges the marriage between her and Paris, he is just trying to do what he feels is best for her. He knows Paris, ...
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In Act 3 scene 5 Lord Capulet changes his mind and decides there will be a wedding after all. Sooner rather than later. Although you never really find out the reason or reasons behind this decision, it ma be due to the fact that Juliet's cousin had just bin murdered. He may also have thought that Juliet being such an obedient daughter. Lord Capulet is a loving father who deeply cares for Juliet. When he arranges the marriage between her and Paris, he is just trying to do what he feels is best for her. He knows Paris, being handsome and rich will make a good husband to Juliet.
When Lady Capulet tells her daughter it's that early on Thursday Paris will make her a joyful bride at St. Peter's Church, Juliet shouts, "Now, by Saint Peter's Church and Peter too, / He shall not make me there a joyful bride" . She complains that she's going to be married off before the man has even wooed her, and she tells her mother to tell her father that she will not marry. To show just how much she is against the whole idea she declares that when she does marry, "It shall be Romeo, whom you know I hate, / Rather than Paris". Lady Capulet is not about to deliver any such message for her daughter and tell Juliet, "Here comes your father; tell him so yourself, / and see how he will take it at your hands".
When she refuses to marry Parris Capulet then goes into a violent rage, saying things he doesn't mean. "Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! / I tell thee what: get thee to church o'Thursday, / Or never after look me in the face." He feels that the marriage of the two will be beneficial for Juliet and he is disgraced that Juliet would throw away an opportunity like that. Lady Capulet, though she shares her husband's attitude towards Juliet, thinks he's lost control of himself and asks if he's gone mad. Her interference gives Juliet a chance to fall to her knees and beg for a chance to say just one word, but her father is not about to listen.
Capulet is used to having his way, and since he has decided that there will be a wedding, he proceeds to make all the necessary arrangements. Trailed by his wife and the Nurse, he gives out orders. When Juliet comes enters she says that she has been with Friar Laurence where she has learned to apologize for being disobedient to her father. She also says that Friar Laurence has told her to beg her father's pardon. In order to sell her lies she kneels and says exactly what her father wants to hear: "Pardon, I beseech you! / Hence forward I am ever ruled by you". Juliet's new attitude makes Capulet so happy that he decides to get things rolling right away.
As the nurse enters Juliet's bedroom to wake her for her wedding day she is hocked to see Juliet 'dead' moments later Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet enter on the sound of her screaming. His wife and the Nurse cry out that Juliet is dead, but for a moment he refuses to believe it, and examines her, only to find that she's cold and stiff. He says, "Death lies on her like an untimely frost / Upon the sweetest flower of all the field", and then he feels himself begin to choke up with grief, saying, "Death, that hath ta'en her hence to make me wail, / Ties up my tongue, and will not let me speak". It's now that you can see he is now feeling the loss of his daughter and the pain he is going through.
As the play ends Lord Capulet has his last speech after knowing the full story. He starts by saying "O brother Montague, give me thy hand/This is my daughter's jointure, for no more can I demand" The carries on saying after Lord Montague "As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie/ Poor sacrifices of our enmity" After them words you can tell he truly loved Juliet and for her he ended the quarrel between The Capulets and The Montagues so he could feel he had done the right thing by his daughter.
In Romeo and Juliet Lord Capulet, who expresses his fatherly love and concern for his only child Juliet, is a typical father. Like most fathers, Capulet adores his young daughter. He shows this when he says: "...My child is yet a stranger in the world - She hath not seen the change of fourteen years. This love and pride in his daughter cause him to want the very best for his daughter that is why he becomes angry when she disobeys him, that's Even though Capulet loves his daughter, his pride and hot temper sometimes gets the better of him and cause him to be controlling over his daughter. Which is not very different to some fathers today.
