The scene opens with Capulet remarking that both he and Montague are “bound” (1.2.1) by the decree of the Prince. The restrictive associations of this metaphor suggest the power of the patriarch over his subjects, while alluding to the social structures that grant power to the prince due to his superior gender, wealth and social status. By opening the scene in such a way, Shakespeare establishes issues of power in the …show more content…
Capulet’s control of Juliet is immediately noticeable as she is absent from the scene, while her fate is being decided by two male figures. While Capulet somewhat offsets his control by stating that his “will to her consent is but a part” (1.2.17), readers may be led to doubt his sincerity when he remarks “the earth hath swallow’d all my hopes but she” (1.2.14), as he appears to think of Juliet as a possession, and a means of achieving his own desires. Capulet’s misogynistic attitude towards women is also highlighted when he refers to his guests as “fresh female buds” (1.2.29), reducing women to delicate, decorative objects rather than complex individuals with identities of their own. Ultimately, it is clear that Capulet does not fully respect the independence and selfhood of the women in his