Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is about how strong emotions can have tragic consequences. Through the character of Lord Capulet, Shakespeare challenges traditional attitudes to arranged marriage, implying that, if strong feelings of love are ignored by families who force their families into arranged marriages, there can be tragic consequences.
In the extract, taken from Act One Scene Two of the play, Lord Capulet is portrayed by Shakespeare as a good, loving father. Shakespeare has Lord Capulet describe Juliet as a ‘stranger to the world’, which demonstrates that he is hesitant in arranging the marriage too quickly, aware of the damage this may cause to Juliet’s youth and innocence. In fact, during the sixteenth century, the legal age for marriage was twelve years old and the fact that Juliet is unmarried at thirteen years old shows that Capulet sincerely cares for her wellbeing. In Elizabethan society, the father would always arrange the marriage of the daughter for practical reasons, in a way that suits the family and provides the daughter with a secure future. The Elizabethan audience would therefore have recognised that Lord Capulet was trying to fulfil his role as a good father and would have perceived his decision to delay the marriage for two years as very protective. Shakespeare’s choice to present Lord Capulet in this way makes his actions all the more shocking later in the play, when Juliet refuses to marry Paris.
In the extract Shakespeare makes clear that Juliet is the most important thing left to Juliet. Shakespeare has Lord Capulet describe Juliet as ‘the hopeful lady of my earth’. Shakespeare’s use of the word ‘hopeful’ conveys to the audience that Capulet has high ambitions for Juliet, which, ultimately, for a woman of Juliet’s status, would be a good marriage. Lord Capulet states that the ‘earth has swallowed all my hopes but she’. Shakespeare’s use of a metaphor in these words refers to the fact that the Capulets have experienced several miscarriages, thus their only hope of the family name being continued by a child of theirs is placed in Juliet. Perhaps this explains why Lord Capulet is so concerned with ensuring that this is a good match for Juliet, and one that she is happy with. An Elizabethan audience, familiar with the concept of arranged marriage, would have recognised that Lord Capulet’s actions in choosing Paris as a suitor were beneficial for Juliet.
In the extract, Shakespeare demonstrates that Lord Capulet seems willing to seek Juliet’s consent in the marriage. Shakespeare has him command Paris to ‘woo her’ and ‘get her heart’, which indicates that he wishes for there to be love and happiness within the arrangement. He also refers to the fact that Juliet should be ‘agreed’ to the marriage, although, of course, ‘within her scope of choice’. Again, an Elizabethan audience, familiar with arranged marriage, would have understood that Juliet’s choice of suitor would be limited, and would have respected Lord Capulet for giving Juliet a degree of freedom and independence in the decision. It is clear, therefore, that Shakespeare is presenting Lord Capulet in a way that commands respect from his Elizabethan audience at this point in the play.
Later in the play, the audience sees a different side to Capulet, through his aggressive and threatening behaviour towards Juliet. After Tybalt’s death, Lord Capulet brings the marriage to Paris forward, misunderstanding Juliet’s tears as tears for Tybalt, and believing that a marriage will bring her joy. When Juliet refuses to respect his wishes, Shakespeare has him respond angrily with the words ‘hang, beg, starve, die in the streets’. Shakespeare’s use of violent and cold language within these words contrasts greatly with the protective words Capulet uttered to Paris in act one. This contrast undermines how protective he seemed in act one; it is hard to believe that his willingness to seek Juliet’s ‘consent’ was sincere, as he now threatens homelessness or death if she continues to disobey his orders. An Elizabethan audience may have sympathised with Lord Capulet’s response because his actions reflect the patriarchal attitudes of the time; it was highly unusual for a girl of Juliet’s age and status to disobey her father in this way. In spite of this, it is hard not to hold Lord Capulet partly responsible for Juliet’s death. Perhaps if Lord Capulet had tried to understand his daughter’s wishes, her death could be avoided. Shakespeare could therefore be aiming to educate parents to pay more attention to the feelings of their children, allowing them to marry later and not forcing them to marry young.
In the final scene, Shakespeare reaffirms the love that Lord Capulet has for Juliet. When the characters assemble at the tomb, Lord Capulet is the first to initiate the end of the feud, reaching out a hand to Lord Montague and offering to build a golden statue of Romeo in his memory. These actions demonstrate love and respect for Juliet. It appears that, after her death, he is willing to acknowledge her own choice of husband and build a statue that will remember their love and marriage forever. Perhaps Shakespeare presents Lord Capulet in this way to give his audience hope that, through the tragedy, the parental figures have learned to pay more attention to the feelings of their children.
In conclusion, it is clear that Lord Capulet tries to be a good father, arranging a marriage that he thinks will secure a good future for her. Unfortunately, the fact that is unused to his authority being challenged, and unwillingness to consider her feelings, results in her dying tragically young. Perhaps Shakespeare aimed to challenge traditional ideas of patriarchy and arranged marriage, which forced many young women into difficult situations.