Questions: What were the marriage laws at the time? If Juliet is married to Romeo in secret, can she marry Count Paris? Why would Count Paris be willing to marry Juliet even though she is currently going through a hard time? Why not be there for her in order to build a relationship before marriage? Is Lady Capulet actually excited for her daughter to marry at such a young age? Was she also a young bride? If so, does she judge the marriage fair? What is going through the nurse’s head as she sees the fit of rage from Capulet? Is she disgusted by Lady Capulet not protecting her daughter? If the nurse is a person that protects Juliet and someone to confide in, why does Juliet not tell of her plans with Friar Lawrence later on? Didn’t the nurse prove her loyalty to Juliet and her decisions? Relationships: Lady Capulet and Lord Capulet I find their relationship to be abusive, from Capulet’s end, and lacking in love for a multitude of reasons. One, when reading Act 1.2 Capulet mentions those who are married early are spoilt in short time, which is a nod to the decayment of his own marriage. Moreover, the early marriage is later confirmed by Lady Capulet who stated she was married and a mother at the age of Juliet. Although Capulet is abusive, he and Lady Capulet are still a team which is possibly due to her fear to stand up to him. For an example, he still uses terms such as our, showing that they take part in making the decisions together, even if they do not, and he always
This conflict in viewpoint shows itself when she encourages Juliet to overlook the expelled Romeo and wed Paris, deceiving Juliet's trust by upholding a false marriage: I think it best you wedded with the County. O, he's a lovely gentleman . Romeo's a dishclout to him. Juliet can hardly imagine how the nurse offers such a strategy after she praised Romeo and united the couple. The nurse attendant is at last subject to the impulses of society. Her social position puts her in the serving class — she isn't enabled to make change around her. Her maternal nature toward Juliet floats her to help Juliet in wedding Romeo; be that as it may,when Capulet winds up incensed, the Medical caretaker withdraws rapidly into accommodation and desires Juliet to overlook
Refer to Mercutio’s lines in Act 1. What kind of friend is he to Romeo? Would you like to have him for a friend? If so, why? If not, why?
Juliet and Lord Capulet at first have a caring relationship but soon after Tybalt’s death this changes. It was planned that she would marry Paris when she was fifteen but after her cousin’s death, the marriage is brought forward. In Shakespearean times, it is not unusual for girls to have marriages arranged by their parents and also to
Romeo, the lover of Verona, and Count Paris, the ideal partner in marriage, are intertwined in fate and are seemingly made opponents of love in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. Romeo, son of Lord and Lady Montague, falls in love with Juliet, daughter of Lord and Lady Capulet. Due to the fact that the Montagues and Capulets still sustain an ancient feud between their households, Romeo and Juliet keep their love a secret. Unaware of their daughter’s love to Romeo, Lord and Lady Capulet make plans to wed Juliet to Count
The relationship shown in Act 3 Scene 5 between Juliet and Lady Capulet is portrayed as poor. Lady Capulet is shown as a very distant mother, though this is to be expected when there is a Nurse taking care of the child from the early stages of the child’s life.
The father-child relationship between Lord Capulet and Juliet is a very strong one; during the beginning of the play Capulet is seen as a caring and protective father who wants what is best for his daughter. Shakespeare uses many techniques to present the relationship between Capulet and Juliet; the most common technique he uses is dramatic irony. Dramatic irony is utilized to develop tension within the audience; this tension builds up to the climax in Act 3 Scene 5 which is a turning point in their relationship.
It was a shock to Juliet that she didn’t support as before. The nurse played as an important role to her, however it wasn’t how Juliet was expected it was going to happen. Juliet was left on her own to make some very important decisions at the age of 15. I believe that if the Nurse had been around to help Juliet things may have turned out differently. Strangely, she advised Juliet to forget about Romeo and marry Paris, betraying Juliet’s trust by advocating a false marriage: “I think it best you married with the County. O, he’s a lovely gentleman. Romeo’s a dish clout to him”(3.5.218). Juliet can’t believe that the Nurse offers such a course of action after the Nurse praised Romeo and helped bring the couple together. She could not have gone to Lady Capulet or Lord Capulet, because they would not have understood.
Lord Capulet does love Juliet but he thinks of himself as the dominant figure. Which is how it would have been as the fathers did tend to take the dominant figure of the family. It is a very unequal relationship.
If Juliet married Paris it would most likely save both lives of the couple because Romeo would not have killed himself thinking Juliet was dead. “Thus with a kiss I die.” (5.3.120) The Nurse has assisted more than she has harmed. The Friar on the other hand, is not so innocent.
This proves that The Nurse does not have any pre judgmental thoughts about Romeo, that she believes in him, and is substantial because it solidifies that she is kind not only just to Juliet (Act 3, Scene 3, line 85-173). The Friar actually accompanies her in this scene, acting out the same behavior, attempting to keep Romeo from slipping into a deep depression at the thought of never seeing Juliet again. And When The Nurse is commanded by Lord Capulet to bring forth the news to Juliet that she must marry Paris, though reluctant as she is, she agrees that marrying Paris would be in her best interests, and The Nurse tells Juliet what she must do which is critical because it validates that The Nurse will do anything to keep Juliet from harm even if she does not like it. Although marrying Paris is not something Juliet wants to do, The Nurse knows that that is what is best for her, and Juliet lies and tells her that she will marry him (Act 3, Scene 5, Lines 176-246).
Second, when Juliet was asked about marriage and when she wanted to be wedded, she told her parents she had no interest in marrying, and she thought she was too young. “Marry, that 'marry' is the very theme I came to talk of.—Tell me, daughter Juliet, How stands your disposition to be married? It is an honor that I dream not of.”(1.3.68-71) This is the first time Juliet is asked about marriage, and she clearly makes it known that she is not interested. Out of nowhere, Capulet arranges the marriage of Juliet and Paris on Thursday. Juliet says she does not want to be married to Paris, and says that she will not truly be happy. Lord Capulet does not like what Juliet says, and gets very angered with her. He even goes on to say that she is not welcome under his roof if she doesn’t marry him. Without having any support from her parents, Juliet feels very alone. First, she does not want to get married to Paris, and second, she is in love with a Montague. This is all frowned upon from both families, and the only people Juliet seems to trust are Friar Lawrence, and the Nurse. Unfortunately, Nurse even suggests she marry Paris, so the only people she feels are on her side are Friar Lawrence and Romeo. When Romeo and Juliet decide to take their own lives, the fact that they didn't have many other people besides themselves made suicide more appealing to them.They were desperate to be with each other.
Lord Capulet is forcing Juliet to get married and doesn’t take into consideration that Juliet doesn’t desire to get married. Lord Capulet conversed to Paris, “ . . . Thursday tell her, she shall be married to this noble earl” (Shakespeare 198). Lord Capulet is indubitable for wanting Juliet ot get married, and arranges the wedding, as she is unaware of this. He plans the wedding thinking it will assist her from her grief of Tybalt dying, but he doesn’t know that for certain, and is planning something that will greatly affect her future, without her consent. Furthermore, this quote shows that when Juliet gave an ixnay on why she did not aspire to marry Paris, Capulet belabored her until she was on the ground crying asking for the nurses aid. Lord Capulet explains to Juliet, “But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next, go with Paris to Saint Peters Church or I will drag thee on a hurdle*” (Shakespeare 214). This proves Capulet wants nothing more for his daughter than to get married to Paris, and it shows the extent he will go to, to receive his wish. Overall, Lord and Lady Capulet want Juliet to get married to Paris more than she wants to. This shows they don’t mind if she’s happy or not, as long as they get what they want. This goes deeper into the accusation that Juliet’s parents are at fault for the adolescents
In the Elizabethan era, children of the high class were expected to obey without question. There was no free will to make their own decisions about their own lives. Few had experiences relating to romance before marriage. They were expected to grow up, get married, get their money, have kids, pass it on, and carry on in the cycle. Juliet’s parents say that she should give her consent to marrying. Marrying Paris would increase their wealth and raise their social status in society. Lady Capulet says of Paris, “…And what obscur’d in this fair volume lies /Find written in the margent of his eyes,/ This precious book of love, this unbound lover, / to beautify him only lacks a cover.” Besides describing his beauty, she also concludes with “So shall you share all that he doth possess by having him making yourself no less.” This means that
that is why is was acceptable for Juliet to marry at only 13. It was
As a woman, Lady Capulet can relate to how Juliet feels when she is told she is to marry Paris. However, as a wife, she cannot voice an opinion of who or when Juliet is to marry. She is experienced, and asks Juliet, "Speak briefly: can you like of Paris’ love" (1.3.98). Because she is the caretaker, she respects Juliet’s feelings, but she can do nothing, even if Juliet does not learn to love Paris. Perhaps she asks this question because her own mother never asked it. She may want to know her daughter’s opinion, because until a woman is married, she has all the rights of a man according to Pitt. However, the father ruled over his daughter, and it was virtually impossible to remain unmarried while the father held all the decision making (14).