“What thou wilt though wash him from his grave with tears.”
Shakespeare uses sarcastic hyperbole to show that Lady Capulet has no compassion and tenderness towards her daughter. This line gives the image of Juliet crying so much that Tybalt will be washed away from his grave. This suggests a level of insensitivity that Lady Capulet has. This line is quite contradictive as in some productions it is hinted at Lady Capulet and Tybalt having an affair. Although, Lady Capulet may just be hiding her feelings towards Tybalt. After Juliet’s reaction Lady Capulet replies by telling Juliet to stop grieving.
“But much of grief shows still some want of wit.”
Shakespeare shows again that Lady Capulet has a lack of compassion and that she has the views of a male in this era through this line. Lady Capulet obviously prides herself on her intelligence. She thinks that Juliet is too soft hearted and lacks intelligence as she is grieving. During the conversation between Juliet and Lady Capulet, Lady Capulet thinks that Romeo is a villain. She says, “As that villain which slaughter’d him.” Shakespeare uses this line to show the lack of compassion Lady Capulet has towards people. I think that Lady Capulet is an earlier version of Lady Macbeth as they are both strong-minded intellects who both have a lack of compassion. It seems that Lady Capulet plans to have Romeo poisoned in Mantua in the line. “That he shall soon keep Tybalt company”
Shakespeare shows that Lady Capulet is murderous through this line. The way that Lady Capulet has reacted to Tybalt's death hints at them having an affair together. In some productions this is emphasised as a possibility.
Lady Capulets sees herself as an authority figure and thrives off the authority she seems to think she has. Lady Capulets authority is shown when she asks the Nurse to call her daughter for her.
“Nurse, where’s my daughter call her forth to me.”
Shakespeare uses this line as a statement of Lady Capulets authority. This line also conveys that there is no intimacy in Lady Capulet and Juliet’s relationship. However, Lady Capulet could just be lazy and she could prefer her servants to do everything for her. Lady Capulet is shown to have no authority as; after the Nurse calls Juliet, Juliet then appears. Then Lady Capulet asks the nurse to leave and then to come back again.
“Nurse leave a while, we must talk in secret.
Nurse come back again, I have remember’d me
thou’s hear our councel.”
Shakespeare uses this ambiguous moment to show the level of distance between mother and daughter. It is shown that Lady Capulet has no authority over Juliet as Lady Capulet asks the nurse to stay. Lady Capulet could have realised that her and her daughter have no relationship; therefore the nurse would need to be present when they talk. Another meaning is that Lady Capulet has offended the nurse by asking her to leave, as the nurse ‘mothered’ Juliet from birth she has the right to be offended. Lady Capulet will then have asked the nurse back as to not offend her. During the conversion the nurse reveals a personal moment that happened to Juliet. The nurse finds this moment extremely funny and responds by laughing and repeating the moment again. Lady Capulet tries to silence the nurse by saying, “Enough of this I pray thee hold thy peace.” Shakespeare has Lady Capulet to speak in a tone of jealousy and authority. This would hint at Lady Capulet being Jealous of Juliet and the Nurses relationship, as it should be how a mother and daughter should behave. Lady Capulets authority is challenged, as the nurse who is a servant does not do as she is told first time. Lady Capulet could just be simply upset at the fact she has to raise her voice at a servant, when she should have a higher position of authority than the nurse. Later on in the play, Lady Capulet wakes up Juliet by saying, “Ho daughter are you up.” Shakespeare shows the audience that this is an awkward moment as Lady Capulet does not usually refer to Juliet as daughter. This informality puts across the lack of intimacy in their relationship. As Lady Capulet has called Juliet daughter, this line shows her having a lack of authority. Lady Capulets authority is challenged to the extreme. Lady Capulet tells Juliet to tell her father herself that she does not want to marry Paris. She says:
“Here comes your father, tell him so yourself:
and see how he will take it in his hands.”
Through this line Shakespeare shows that Juliet has challenged Lady Capulets authority. Lady Capulet can not handle the responsibility of telling Capulet Juliet does not wish to marry. This is why she tells Juliet to tell Capulet herself as Lady Capulet is scared of what Capulet might do. This will appear to be a very tense scene when witnessed by an audience.
Shakespeare perceives Lady Capulet as a strong feminist as she has strong feministic views. This is shown in the brawl between the servants of Capulet and the servants of Montague turns into a riot. Capulet asks for his sword. Lady Capulet prevents Capulet from joining the fight by saying, “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?” Shakespeare uses the sarcastic tone of Lady Capulet to challenge Capulets authority. As a feminist Lady Capulet assumes she is in the position to challenge her husband, a highly respected man in the society. Lady Capulet shows another feministic approach when she calls Benvolio a liar because he is Romeo’s friend.
“He is a kinsman to the Montague;
affection makes him false, he speaks not true.”
Shakespeare uses Lady Capulets rage and aggression to put Prince Escales in a tough position of what to do regarding Romeo’s punishment. This proves she is a typical feminist with feministic views.
Foreshadowing is a key theme in the play. Lady Capulet uses foreshadowing throughout the play. Lady Capulet is enraged at the fact of Juliet defying her by not wanting to marry Paris. Lady Capulet says to Capulet, “I would the fool were married to her grave.” Shakespeare uses Lady Capulets exasperation at Juliet’s request to marry. This is foreshadowing of fate as this is exactly what happens at the end. Paris kills himself when he discovers Juliet is ‘dead’. It would seem that Lady Capulet is not scared of death due to her personality, but in fact she is. This is shown when Lady Capulet sees the bodies of Romeo and Juliet she says, “O me, this sight of death, is a bell that warns old age to sepulchre.” Shakespeare uses foreshadowing to emphasise the fact that Lady Capulet is scared of death. Lady Capulet knows she will not live very long and the thought of her dying frightens her. Lady Capulets phobia of death could be brought upon her having miscarriages, still births and her babies dying at an early age. Now her only surviving child is dead she knows that she is likely to be next.
Shakespeare uses many techniques of presentation to show the character of Lady Capulet. Shakespeare uses ambiguity, sarcasm and hyperbole to put across Lady Capulets personality. Shakespeare’s intention of Lady Capulet is that of a strong minded individual who prides herself in her intelligence. Shakespeare expresses many ideas through Lady Capulet, such as foreshadowing. Foreshadowing is a key theme in the play and is expressed through Lady Capulet. Another key theme in the play is Lady Capulet also expresses the role of women in society throughout the play. Lady Capulets sensitivity and lack of compassion are major attributes in Lady Capulets personality. Lady Capulet shows that she can be compassionate and sensitive, but she can also lack both of them. Lady Capulets authority is sometimes challenged which is suggests that Lady Capulet has little or no authority in certain situations. Lady Capulets feministic views and her foreshadowing of events are also major characteristics in her personality. Personally, I think Lady Capulet is the most interesting character in the play. She is a strong-minded female, who sets a good example to women who are different, to that perceived by the males in their society. There are disadvantages to Lady Capulets personality as she has no relationship with her daughter and she shows no empathy to the people around her. However, I am sure Lady Capulet regrets not bonding with her daughter when she dies. In the end of the play in is suggested that Lady Capulet is heartbroken over her daughters death. She has now become a nervous, lonely wreck who thinks she will die. Now Juliet is dead she has nothing to show for her life; all she has to show is death as her family are dying around her. She is now trapped and overwhelmed with fear of death. If the play continued after the last act I would presume that Lady Capulet would commit suicide just like Lady Macbeth did in Macbeth.
