By comparing Lord Capulet’s as a father with today’s fathers and his behaviour and attitude with the daughters it is completely different. Now a days father do not worry about their daughters marriage because they know she will get boy friend and if they want they could get married and then nobody could stop them because they can decide this marriage thing between themselves, they don’t need parents permission. It is all up to them who they want to choose. Whereas in the Shakespeare’s time fathers decided whom their child is going to get married with. And if someone stops them or disobeys their order they would simply throw them out from their house. As it happens in the “Romeo and Juliet” when Juliet refuses to marry The County Paris, Lord Capulet says “ Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.” Here we can see how angry Lord Capulet is? Because he uses words like “Graze” for his only child he has, which is usually use for animals. We can also pick the point up that he is no longer having feelings for Juliet as he treats her daughter like animal because she did not obey his order.
Another very interesting reason for Lord Capulet for being angry is that he was very confident about the marriage between her daughter ‘Juliet’ and County Paris. That is why when he orders her wife ‘Lady Capulet’ to go and tell Juliet that she is going to get married with County Paris he says “ Acquaint her here of my son Paris’ love,” You can see here that he calls Paris his son (Son-in-law) before even getting married with Juliet.
When Paris wanted to marry Juliet he straight goes to her father’ Lord Capulet’ but doesn’t goes to Juliet to ask if he could get marry with her, This also shows the power and strength of the fathers at that time.
In some Religions and Cultures people who wants to get married ask the Bride’s father e.g. in Islam.
Lord Capulet has some good points in his character. He is very calm and cool person when things are going in his favour. We can see that he is calm person when the Prince of the Verona announces the death penalty “If you ever disturb our streets, your lives will pay the forfeit of the peace” Lord Capulet tells the County Paris “ In penalty alike, and tis not hard, I think for a man so old as we to keep the peace”. Here we can see that Lord Capulet is in very calm and cool mood and not bothered about the death penalty but he has no doubt he will be able to follow the Princes command and will avoid trouble.
Lord Capulets good character comes even more out when he arranges the party and welcomes his guests. Here Lord Capulet is very happy, good and in welcoming mood and he speaks very quickly and fast to his guests, which shows his happiness. Lord Capulet also remembers his old and young days and when he says to his guests to dance and enjoy the party he says to his Cousin Capulet “For you and I are past our dancing days” and “ Some five, and then we masked.” He says this because he remembers how he and his Cousin Capulet use to mask and dance with the girls when they were young and much more active.
Another good point is when Tybalt spots Romeo at the party and says to Lord Capulet “Uncle, this is a Montague, our: A villain that is hither come in spite, to scorn at our solemnity this night.” Tybalt says this because Romeo is a Montague and he will be going to spoil our party tonight. Lord Capulet knows that Romeo is a Montague and says, “ A bears him like a gentleman; and to say truth, Verona brags of him to be virtuous and well ground youth.” and also says “ Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone” He means that Romeo is very good and nice boy that is what he has heard from every body and he will not spoil our party. This also tells us that if Lord Capulet is following what Prince of Verona have said (about death penalty). If Lord Capulet would have tried to send Romeo out from the party there would have been fight, which would lead to some one’s death, and then at the end Lord Capulet would be blamed for all this because he is the main head of the Capulet family.
Lord Capulet seems very good and caring father, we can see that when Lord Capulet goes into Juliet’s bedroom and finds her crying on the bed. Which he thinks the reason is because her cousin Tybalt has died. Lord Capulet looks at her tears and her shaking body and to give her a bit of comfort Lord Capulet says words which to water and storm. “How now, a conduct, girl?” “What, still in tears?” “Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind” “tempest-tossed body”. Lord Capulet says these words to cheer her mood up. Before using these strong and stormy words, Lord Capulet uses some soft and calm words “drizzle” “rain” and “tears”. The audience would admire these words because this makes the play interesting, entertaining and more enjoyable and it also tells the audience that the writer is very skilled and clever in writing and making imagery by using words.
By using these words it also create the atmosphere that his behaviour and attitude is about to change in anger.
In the start of the play when Montagues and Capulets were fighting with each other Lord Capulet gets very angry and loses his temper and wants to fight and says to Lady Capulet “ What noise is this? Give me my sword; ho!” Lady Capulet replies “A crutch, a crutch! why call you for a sword?” We can see here that Lady Capulet is insulting Lord Capulet because she knows that he is too old and will not be able to compete. It also shows that lady Capulet has not got any respect for Lord Capulet as she says “A crutch, a crutch!”
Shakespeare is regarded throughout the world as greatest poet and dramatist, because of his use of rich and effective imagery, clever use of simile and metaphor, dramatic timing and use of timing to create tension throughout his plays.
This is clearly shown in act 1, scene 1 when the fight between the servants comes to a climax, because Benvolio suddenly comes in and draws his sword. Benvolio is the best character for this, as he is a natural born peacemaker.
Then Shakespeare shows a good sense of timing, by bringing Tybalt in at the exact moment that Benvolio has his sword out. Tybalt instantly takes this as an excuse to fight: "Turn thee Benvolio, look upon thy death" (1, 1, p.34).
This is dramatic language and, when Benvolio attempts to make peace with him, it gets worse: "What drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word,
As I hate hell, all Montagues and thee:
Have at thee coward" (1, 1, p.340). This speech is not only dramatic, but also very poetic.
Romeo and Juliet, is a story of two young lovers whose love was destined for destruction. They did not imagine that their love would lead to the tragedies that it did. These two young people did nothing wrong except fall in love. Three aspects of their destruction included the feud between the two families, the nurse and her betrayal of Juliet and the most important aspect of all is fate.
The feud between the two families was one factor that contributed to the love of Romeo and Juliet being destined for destruction. "From ancient grudge break to new mutiny". (Romeo & Juliet, Prologue, Line 3) The two families, Montagues and Capulets, had many problems. There was hate between the two families so much so that even the servants hated each other. This feud would have caused many problems for Romeo and Juliet: These two young lovers knew this and this is why they kept their marriage a secret. If their parents discovered their secret, they would have made their children's lives difficult for them.
We can see the bad side of Lord Capulet when she refuses to marry the county Paris. Lord Capulet is in charge of Juliet, and whatever he says, she now has to do. The death of Tybalt has changed his mood quite a lot.
We see Capulet in the scene afterwards, Act 3, scene 5; when he is having a large row with Juliet. They are rowing because Juliet has informed him that she does not want to marry Paris, this makes him furious. Lady Capulet talks to Juliet first, and finds out that she does not want to marry Paris; Lady Capulet then goes to fetch Capulet and tell him the news.
"What, still in tears? Evermore showering? In one little body Thou counterfeit’s a bark, a sea, a wind; For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea, Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is, Sailing in this salt flood; the winds thy sighs who, raging with thy tears, and they with them, without a sudden calm, will overset thy tempest-tossed body?" In this quote Capulet is confused as to why Juliet is crying, and he is comforting her with a beautiful, meaningful speech. The reference to the bark (boat) is a metaphor, as he is describing her to be like a ship tossed in a storm. This shows Capulet to be concerned. The audience know that the tears she is shedding are for Romeo as he has been banished from Verona. But Lady and Lord Capulet do not know about her love for Romeo, and they cannot understand the reasons for her hysterical behaviour. He asks Lady Capulet
"Have you deliver'd to her our decree?" A decree is a law passed by a head of state, so he is asking Juliet if she is going to go along with his decision. Upon finding out Juliet does not want to marry Paris, Capulet threatens her
"Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch! I tell thee what, go to church o' Thursday, or never after look me in the face." Capulet is threatening to throw her out of the house, unless she goes to the church on Thursday...
The Capulets are mainly guilty of neglecting their daughter; there are many examples of Lord Capulet's behaviour, which made the impending tragedy more likely.
Lord Capulet is seen to be uncompromising and expecting of blind allegiance from those around him. For example at the party, which is held at the Capulet residence. Tybalt sees Romeo and wants to make a scene but Capulet stops him.
(Tybalt) 'I will not endure him.
(Capulet) He shall be endured…Am I master here?'
Although Romeo being at the party was seen by Tybalt as a blatant threat, Capulet was not prepared to have his night ruined by his nephew's fiery temperament. Tybalt is clearly insulted by the fact that Capulet undermined him, but he would never disobey his uncle. However, Capulet's demeaning treatment of Tybalt only heightened the young man's determination to punish Romeo.
'I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest of gall.'
Tybalt's need to resolve the 'threat' resulted in the death of Mercutio, causing Romeo to take revenge and from this leading to his exile.
