Lord Capulet

Question 1

How does Capulet abuse his power to prolong the feud?

Answer 1

“Give me my long sword ho”

• Imperative “give” shows that he has no regard for his wife and is using his power to become embroiled in the violence.
• This shows how male bravado and ego get in the way of conflict resolution and is an example of irresponsible use of power

Question 2

How does Capulet respond to Juliet being disobedient?

Answer 2

‘Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch’

• The noun ‘baggage’ dehumanises Juliet, suggesting she is something Capulet is entitled to dispose of, through marriage or alternative means, showing how male patriarchs have control over their daughters.
• In describing her as ‘disobedient’, Capulet emphasises his anger that she would dare dispute this authority

Question 3

What phrase shows Capulet denigrating Juliet’s voice?

Answer 3

“Speak not, reply not, do not answer me”

• Shakespeare uses triplets here to emphasise the denigration of the female voice
• Capulet emphatically refuses to listen to his daughter.

Question 4

How does Capulet respond to his daughters death?

Answer 4

“Death lays upon her like an untimely frost/ Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.”

• This simile highlights the injustice of Juliet’s untimely death.
• The superlative ‘sweetest’ suggests that Capulet now values his daughter in a way he failed to do so when she was alive.

Question 5

How does Capulet reconcile with Montague?

Answer 5

‘O brother Montague give me thy hand… poor sacrifices of our enmity’

• This reconciliation highlights that Capulet has learnt his lesson, referring to Montague as a ‘brother’ and offering his hand in an offering of peace.
• Inclusive pronoun ‘our’ shows that he recognises his own part in the unnecessary deaths of R+J who paid the ultimate price for their parents’ actions.