In this scene, what sort of father is Capulet?
Despite the unfortunate relationships in the Capulet household, in this scene Shakespeare portrays Capulet as a loving, caring father. As Paris requests Juliet's hand in marriage, Capulet repeatedly postpones him. Capulet consistently claims that his “child is yet a stranger in the world” (Rom. 1. 2. 8). He wants to protect his young daughter from being forced into a marriage that she will despise forever. In addition, he is protecting her from potentially dying in childbirth due to her body's youth. Since Paris is the prime suitor for Juliet because he is kin to the prince, Capulet acts in her best interest when persuading Paris to pursue her. Capulet urges Paris to “woo her … [and] get her heart” …show more content…
1. 2. 13). He is informing Paris that he does not want his daughter to marry too young for fear of her becoming marred. A common cause of death in the time is childbirth. Worse than being marred, if Juliet is married at an age where her body is not prepared for childbirth, then she could die. Capulet is also referring to his own marriage when commenting on a woman that is bitter due to young marriage. Earlier, Lady Capulet responds to Capulet with a defiant, “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a/ sword?” (Rom. 1. 1. 77-78). Capulet wants to prevent his daughter from becoming marred like her mother.
Did Capulet have other children?
One reason that Capulet is so protective of Juliet is that she is his only remaining child. Capulet mournfully admits, “Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she” (Rom. 1. 2. 14). Capulet had other children but they have all been buried either due to childbirth or other means of death. Capulet expresses that “[Juliet is] the hopeful lady of [his] earth” (Rom. 1. 2. 15), meaning that she is his only heir. Capulet clearly had other children but now pins all of his future descendants on Juliet.
What does he mean by “My will to her consent is but a part” (Rom. 1. 2. …show more content…
They discuss Juliet's proposed marriage and the challenges of young marriages, such as death during childbirth. The conversation includes more sophisticated language for the more educated in the audience. Their conversation reaches such a depressing point that Capulet admits, “Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but [Juliet]” (Rom. 1. 2. 14). Capulet mentioning the death of his previous children is very relatable for the audience and darkens the mood greatly. Shakespeare lightens the mood by having the stupid servingman splutter, “It is written, that the shoemaker should/ meddle with his yard,” (Rom. 1. 2. 40-41). This helps the audience move past the thought of death with a humorous character. This comic scene also draws in the audience by mentioning many common occupations that the audience likely has. In addition, the less educated in the audience might find the denser scenes harder to understand and by adding the comic scene Shakespeare is able to captivate the uneducated and help them engage in the play
Despite the unfortunate relationships in the Capulet household, in this scene Shakespeare portrays Capulet as a loving, caring father. As Paris requests Juliet's hand in marriage, Capulet repeatedly postpones him. Capulet consistently claims that his “child is yet a stranger in the world” (Rom. 1. 2. 8). He wants to protect his young daughter from being forced into a marriage that she will despise forever. In addition, he is protecting her from potentially dying in childbirth due to her body's youth. Since Paris is the prime suitor for Juliet because he is kin to the prince, Capulet acts in her best interest when persuading Paris to pursue her. Capulet urges Paris to “woo her … [and] get her heart” …show more content…
1. 2. 13). He is informing Paris that he does not want his daughter to marry too young for fear of her becoming marred. A common cause of death in the time is childbirth. Worse than being marred, if Juliet is married at an age where her body is not prepared for childbirth, then she could die. Capulet is also referring to his own marriage when commenting on a woman that is bitter due to young marriage. Earlier, Lady Capulet responds to Capulet with a defiant, “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a/ sword?” (Rom. 1. 1. 77-78). Capulet wants to prevent his daughter from becoming marred like her mother.
Did Capulet have other children?
One reason that Capulet is so protective of Juliet is that she is his only remaining child. Capulet mournfully admits, “Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but she” (Rom. 1. 2. 14). Capulet had other children but they have all been buried either due to childbirth or other means of death. Capulet expresses that “[Juliet is] the hopeful lady of [his] earth” (Rom. 1. 2. 15), meaning that she is his only heir. Capulet clearly had other children but now pins all of his future descendants on Juliet.
What does he mean by “My will to her consent is but a part” (Rom. 1. 2. …show more content…
They discuss Juliet's proposed marriage and the challenges of young marriages, such as death during childbirth. The conversation includes more sophisticated language for the more educated in the audience. Their conversation reaches such a depressing point that Capulet admits, “Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but [Juliet]” (Rom. 1. 2. 14). Capulet mentioning the death of his previous children is very relatable for the audience and darkens the mood greatly. Shakespeare lightens the mood by having the stupid servingman splutter, “It is written, that the shoemaker should/ meddle with his yard,” (Rom. 1. 2. 40-41). This helps the audience move past the thought of death with a humorous character. This comic scene also draws in the audience by mentioning many common occupations that the audience likely has. In addition, the less educated in the audience might find the denser scenes harder to understand and by adding the comic scene Shakespeare is able to captivate the uneducated and help them engage in the play