Capulet Flashcards
Write down quotes displaying Capulet’s affectionate side (4)
My child is yet a stranger in the world
Paris discusses his proposal to marry Juliet with her father, and it seems as though, to begin with, Lord Capulet is reluctant to agree to an early marriage. Juliet’s age would not, in those days, have ruled out her marrying, but Capulet feels she is too young to do to, which shows his care and lover for her. by calling Juliet a “stranger”, not only does this refer to her innocence and youth, but perhaps also links to the “stranger” she will become later on in the play when she sneaks around everyone, or even perhaps when she dies. Again here, Capulet is talking for other people, referring to “the world”, as if he has a say over what everybody else wants and thinks and does - this, like before, asserts his power over Verona, but also Paris.
She’s the hopeful lady of my earth.
The use of the phrase “lady of my earth” suggests that the world had taken everything of value from him and Juliet was the only thing he had left. It is important to the play because if Lord Capulet was worried about letting Paris marry Juliet, then he would have never even given it a thought if Romeo would have gone to him for permission to marry his daughter, which also highlights to social construct of the time. “hopeful” may ironically foreshadow the rest of the play - Juliet’s death means that she can no longer be his “hopeful lady”. The use of “she” and “lady” present Juliet as anonymous, as if Paris needn’t have to know about who she is, just the status she holds. This also relates to the fact that, throughout the play, neither Paris nor Capulet really seem to care much about Juliet, just about the impact she has on her father’s wealth, and so in this sense, Capulet is almost dehumanising her. Again, “my earth” asserts Capulet’s power; everything is his and, in this sense, even Juliet, as he seems to be making all the decisions for her - he’s controlling.
Within her scope of choice lies my consent
And too soon marred are those too early made
Capulet suggests that early childbirth may risk Juliet’s life, which further suggests that he cares for her too much to let her do so. The use of “marred” has associations with spoiling something, as if early marriage would spoil Juliet, or perhaps his is worried about Juliet spoiling his wealth, as she is Capulet’s only child and if she were to die, his wealth would have to be passed onto someone else (when he dies). In some respects, this also refers to the ever so present death that unravels throughout the play - Juliet is “marred” because of her hasty decisions to marry Romeo in secret as she dies at the end of the play. Perhaps “so early made” also has relation to Romeo and Juliet’s rushed marriage - all of the political, older characters of the play seem to warm the couple (or alike) of the consequences of acting to quickly, yet the lovers’ rebellious attitude seems to be what fuels the play.
Write down quotes displaying Capulet’s violent outburst (3)
Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!
Capulet is anxious to secure a noble marriage for Juliet, which presents a sudden contrast to the beginning of the play, and detests that she would want to defy him in any way. Juliet’s marriage would elevate the status of the Capulet family and, when she refuses her parents, Capulet refers to her as a “disobedient wretch” - his depth and anger may imply that he is trying to assert dominance over her, as if he is almost trying to force her into the marriage with Paris by threatening her that he will “give you to my friend”, as if she is nothing more than “baggage” to him, yet we as the audience know this to be untreu - Capulet needs Juliet to marry so he can pass on his wealth, so here it is likely that he is just threatening her into submission. Capulet telling Juliet to “hang” herself creates a sense of distinct forebdoding to Juliet’s actions towards the end of the play, and as the audience are aware of this, this allows them to relate and follow the play more personally
My fingers itch!
Hang, beg, starve, die in the streets
Write down quotes displaying Capulet’s controlling behaviour (3)
I think she will be ruled in all respects by me
Wife, go you…
“Go you to her”, “Bid her”, “Prepare her”
Everything said here helps to reinforce the fact that Lord Capulet, as head of the household, is the decision maker. He decides on Juliet’s marriage and sets the date without even consulting her, and Lady Capulet accepts this as normal. Capulet gives orders to his wife and addresses her in imperatives, with “Go you to her” “Bid her” “Prepare her”, which seems to be a joyless business arrangement that Capulet is making, and it stands as a stark contrast to the passion and tenderness we have witnessed in Romeo and Juliet’s relationship, which only highlights the differential relationships between the older, more political characters, and the younger, rebellious ones. “Prepare her” has associations with Capulet’s comment of “make our daughter” when talking to Paris - Juliet is nothing but something for Capulet to use. Shakespeare uses these orders to remind the audience that Juliet’s choice to kill herself isn’t actually a choice - the orders and enforcement’s of Capulet seem to tell us that she had on other option to do what she did, as if it was an escape from the harsh societal construct placed on her.
Write down quotes highlighting Capulet’s attitude towards death (2)
“Death is my son in law”
“We were born to die”
”Capulet refers to death a lot throughout the play. The faked death of Juliet is personified here as “my son in law”, as though death were a person who has visited Juliet in the night. The phrase “son in law” highlights the problems between the marriage of Paris and Juliet, yet also hints at the secret marriage of Romeo and Juliet, as both of them die together because they cannot be married in anything but secret. When he comments that “we were born to die”, it also subtly relates to tragic fate that was written in the prologue - Romeo and Juliet’s fate was already “written in the stars” as a pair of “star-crossed lovers” - their deaths were a pre-determined state of fate. Alongside this, the juxtaposition of “born to die” creates a cynical sense about the play, as if the gift of Juliet as his child means nothing as her fate is already written, and soon enough her life will be take by death.
