Monday, March 1, 2010
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This blog is for Ms. Shores' tenth grade Communications students.
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March
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- Romeo and Juliet Act V: question 4
- Romeo and Juliet Act V: question 3
- Romeo and Juliet Act V: question 2
- Romeo and Juliet Act V: question 1
- Romeo and Juliet Act IV: question 4
- Romeo and Juliet Act IV: question 3
- Romeo and Juliet Act IV: question 2
- Romeo and Juliet Act IV: question 1
- Romeo and Juliet Act III: question 4
- Romeo and Juliet Act III: question 3
- Romeo and Juliet Act III: question 2
- Romeo and Juliet Act III: question 1
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March
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16 comments:
Initially, Lord Capulet decides to allow Juliet two years time before making any arrangements for marriage. Though after Tybalt’s death, both Lord and Lady Capulet agree to plan the wedding between Paris and Juliet for that coming Thursday. This drastic change was not fully explained in the book. I feel that the Capulet’s extreme change in thought was completely affected by Tybalt’s death. The Capulets viewed Tybalt as Juliet’s guardian. He was a very protective, almost brotherly figure to Juliet. This is made evident during the party scene at the Capulet’s where Tybalt discovers Romeo. I think now that Tybalt is dead, Juliet’s parents feel she needs someone in her life to watch over her and provide support. They felt the pressure of having a young daughter, and almost wanted to hand their problems over to someone else. In my opinion they are not the most responsible parents, and cannot handle their own daughter, nor know how to go about handling her. The Capulet’s undeniably felt they either needed to step up as parents and take their daughter back, or arrange a marriage where she can be taken care of by someone else.
While Juliet is upstairs sobbing for Romeo’s fate, Lord Capulet is having a conversation with Paris downstairs. Lord Capulet tells Paris that he is willing to move Juliet and Paris’ wedding up to Thursday, only three days later. This is a drastic change from Lord Capulet’s decision earlier to have Juliet wait to be married and allow her to choose her own husband. I believe that the death of Tybalt, their nephew, led them to change their minds. With the exception of Juliet, all of Lord and Lady Capulet’s children had died at an early age. This being said, Tybalt was most likely a son figure to the Capulet parents. Lord Capulet may have feared that he would not have a male heir to collect his possessions after death, considering that the life expectancy was very low then. He decided that if Juliet married Paris, he would have a wealthy, high class man to inherit his items. The Capulets may have also been concerned about who would watch over Juliet if something happened to them. Tybalt would have been the likely caretaker of Juliet, but his death puts the family in an entire new position. It was almost unheard of to have a woman not watched over by a man, whether he be relative or not. This surely could have pushed Lord Capulet into rushing Juliet’s marriage to Paris.
I think that the Capulets have numerous motives to suddenly make Juliet’s marriage to Paris so dramatically close to the death of Tybalt rather than waiting for several years like they had originally planned. The main reason they do this, in my opinion, is the fact that they want an heir to their estate as soon as possible. They feel that since Tybalt is dead, they may not have the chance to give their money to anyone in the family, especially if other members of the family are killed in the future with all of the fighting that has been taking place. The Capulets may also be afraid that their deaths will be approaching at a closer rate, and they are in more danger from the Montagues since the killings have begun. They want to be positive that someone will be there that can take the money they will leave behind when they are dead. Having Juliet marry Paris would solve this problem very quickly, easing their minds about the subject. The Capulets want to continue the blood line for the purpose of continuing their blood line as well. They want to make sure that the Capulet family continues on in the future, not the Montague family. I believe that the Capulets would have had this reason as their most important motive because they are obviously extremely focused on themselves rather than on Juliet’s happiness. This fact is proven later in the act when Juliet says that she does not want to marry Paris, and her parents say that they will disown her if she does not do what they say. Juliet’s relationship is only based on conditional love and her parents only want what is best for their family, which is, they are convinced, the most superior family in Verona.
Another, possibly less strong, motive for the Capulets to have Juliet marry so soon is that they want to have a joyous event in the midst of such depression. They feel that a marriage would settle some of the pain of the family due to the loss of Tybalt. Capulet says before Juliet is given the news that some happiness is needed in their time of mourning. The Capulets, consequently, show an interest in the feelings of the other members of their family. They also show respect for Tybalt who was a significant member of their family. The Capulets do not seem like a couple that would make such a kind gesture, but they may have had other motives. For instance, they may have felt it their responsibility to make this gesture in order to show the Montagues that their family is capable of arising out of the most devastating situations no matter what conflicts may present themselves. The Capulets want to show their supremacy in all situations.
The final reason that the Capulets want Juliet to marry so much sooner than they had originally predicted is because they are afraid of the death of Juliet, not because they love her but for another motive. Juliet’s parents think that, in the event of Juliet’s death, they may not ever be able to have the heir that they need to continue their family on. This heir is needed for the family to continue the blood line of the Capulets so their family continues to live on into the future, maybe longer than the Montague family. The chaos in Verona shows that Juliet may not have a chance of surviving and would and, therefore, will not be able to produce this heir. Another reason the Capulets want Juliet to live is because if she lives they will have an advantage over the Montagues. It is not stately for women to participate in duels, and since Romeo has shown himself to be a partaker in these brawls, he has a higher chance of death. If Romeo were to die, the Montagues would not have an heir, and since Juliet’s chance of survival would be much higher, the chance of an heir to the Capulets would also increase. Overall, I think that the Capulets have several reasons for pushing Juliet marry at such an early point in her life, but on the whole, their motives are purely personal rather than for the good of Juliet.
In the beginning of the play the Capulets are going to let Juliet have time to think about marriage and decide who she is going to marry. In Act III they are forcing her to get married to Paris on that upcoming Thursday. I think that the Capulets change their minds so quickly because Tybalt has been killed. Tybalt was the closest person to be their male heir. Now that he is dead they think that Juliet must be married in order to have a man to take care of things if anything would happen to them. In the time period that Romeo and Juliet takes place parents would often have to pay a man to marry their daughter and having a daughter was like having a liability. They would have not thought that Juliet would be capable of living without having a man in her life. So, the Capulets think that if Juliet gets married to Paris then things would become more secure.
In the beginning, the Capulet’s don’t want Juliet to be married yet just because Paris asked for her hand. They wanted Juliet to marry for love, so Lord Capulet tells Paris, “But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part.” In Act III, the want for Juliet to marry out of love, and not when at such a young an age, is quickly changed. After Tybalt’s death, Lord and Lady Capulet arrange for Juliet to marry Paris on the coming Thursday. I think the change in pace for the taking of Juliet’s hand was due to the loss of Tybalt. He was probably looked at like the son they never had by Lord and Lady Capulet. A son, not a daughter, was who you left your wealth or belongings to when you passed on. Having a daughter was more like a burden than a blessing. Parents would pay the man who marries their daughter. Tybalt was the one most likely to be that heir to the Capulet family. Tybalt’s death made the Lord and Lady Capulet realize that they no longer had a male heir to leave their fortune to. I also think that Tybalt was like an older, overprotective brother to Juliet. The Capulets probably thought that Juliet marrying Paris would give her that protection once again. I believe that not only do they think of protection, but trying to replace Tybalt in hopes of getting rid of Juliet’s grief with a husband. One last reason I think for the Capulet’s haste is because of Paris’s social status. Paris is a high class man and Juliet being married to him would give that Capulet family a one up on the Montague family. Personally, I think Lord and Lady Capulet are very selfish and know very little of their daughter. They love her, but not in the unconditional way most parents would love their children. Remember that Juliet is basically being forced into this marriage with the knowledge of if she refuses she will be living on the streets alone.
In the beginning of the story the Capulet’s feel like Juliet will find love and marry when she is ready to be that way. After Tybalt’s death they instantly feel like her becoming to married to Paris will take away her sorrow. The one thing they do not know, however is the fact that Juliet is not weeping over her dead cousin, Tybalt, she is weeping over the one she loves, Romeo. Her tears are brought on by the fact she may never see her Romeo again. When her mother tells her the news about her and Paris, Juliet tells her mother and her father she will not marry him. I believe that her parents changed their minds about her being married to someone that she loves and her being married to Paris so quickly is because they believe they know what is best for her. Parents automatically assume they know what is best for their children in any given case, in some this is true but in others, much like Juliet’s case, they do not. Juliet was truly happy until Romeo was banished, and her parents do not even know about the two of them. In my opinion parents should want what is best for their children but they should also want their children to be happy.
“Not proud you have, but thankful that you have.
Proud can I never be of what I hate,
But thankful even for hate that is meant love.”
-Juliet
Act III, scene 5
After Tybalt’s death, while Juliet was upstairs mourning, the Capulets were having a discussion with Paris. They were arranging a marriage between Juliet and Paris within three days. Initially, Lord Capulet was going to allow his daughter to fall in love and chose her life-long partner, unlike many royal families. Lord Capulet then decides to change his mind and have an arranged marriage for his daughter. I believe he does this for two different reasons.
First of all, he believes he is being a good father for Juliet by trying to eliminate her sorrow. He wants the best for her, so he wants her to marry a gentle and wealthy man, such as Paris. He feels the joy she will eventually experience will replace her sorrow. Overall, he may want some attention from his daughter and gratitude that he chose the “perfect” man for her. But, on the other hand, he may be doing this for his own selfish reason.
One the other hand, like I just described, I believe Lord Capulet is doing this for his own selfish reason. I think Lord Capulet may also want to be recognized by the public for being such a good matchmaker. He also seems self-seeking. It seems as if he wants his daughter to be seen as the wife of the Prince’s relative, Paris, and a young nobleman. Tybalt’s death also caused the Capulet’s no panic because they had an heir, but now they have no one to take over their throne or possessions so they feel as if they have to find one. I believe Juliet’s father is so eager to wed her because he could be their next possible heir. In scene 4, Lord Capulet is even talking to Paris about Tybalt’s death. He discusses with Paris how everyone is in distress because of Tybalt’s death, and no one has time to persuade Juliet to marry him (page 95). He also made a bold offer to give away Juliet’s love. It seems really selfish to do that to your child, without talking about him or her first. In the end, the Capulets change their mind about Juliet’s marriage in just a moment. I believe they are two sided and do this for her happiness and also their selfishness. I think they change their mind so quickly because of the tragedy that has occurred so quickly also.
RE: Rachael Harrington
I agree with you Rachael. I think that Lord Capulet and Lady Montague knew that Juliet could eventually find a man she liked but after Tybalt’s death, they didn’t have an heir. I agree with you because of the sudden scramble after Tybalt’s death. Juliet really doesn’t want to marry Paris but I don’t think that her parents care enough to let her have a choice. In addition, I think that her parents wanted her to have someone to go to when she was sad or upset. They thought that having Paris there, she could get over Tybalt’s death sooner and easier.
When Paris first approaches Lord Capulet about marrying Juliet, Lord Capulet denies him. His reasoning for this was that Juliet was still too young and that all the girls that got married as young as her were spoiled. He told Paris to give Juliet two years then he could marry her. After the death of Tybalt, Lord Capulet drastically changes his mind. He meets with Paris again and decides that Juliet will marry Paris in three days. Juliet has no say in this matter because her father gives her the choices of marrying Paris or being thrown out on the street where she would die. This drastic change of decision is either due to the fact that Lord Capulet is frightened by Tybalt’s death and wants Juliet to be in good hands, or that Capulet has become selfish and is looking out for his own intentions.
One of the main reasons that Lord Capulet changes his mind is because he is so hurt by the death of Tybalt that he starts to drastically think of Juliet’s wellbeing in a more serious manner. Being the loving father he is, Capulet only wants the best for Juliet and he knows that marrying her to Paris hold a good future for her. Capulet decides to take a drastic action by forcing the marriage on Juliet because after a death of a love one, people don’t always think clearly. Even though Juliet completely resented the marriage, Capulet won’t back down because he wants a bright future for her.
Another possibility to this change of mind is that Capulet is being selfish. After the death of Tybalt by a Montague’s hand, Capulet must want revenge. Paris, being related to the Prince, could boost Capulet’s power over Montague’s if he were to be his father in law. Also with Tybalt gone Capulet doesn’t have an heir. Realizing this, Capulet forces an unfair marriage upon Juliet so he will have someone to give all his dominion to after he has died.
My personal take on Capulet is that he is a loving father that only wants what is best for Juliet, but the death of Tybalt has affected him. The most likeable situation is that he just wants what is best for Juliet, not that he’s looking for self gain. Whether or not it was a decision for Juliet or him, this forced marriage made Juliet decide to take actions that would lead to catastrophic events to come.
Romeo and Juliet Act III: Question 3
People during the Shakespearean time married young. Lady Capulet for example was married and had her only child by the time she was Juliet’s age. Juliet on the other hand is still single to the knowledge of her biological guardians. Juliet is wrapped between true love, and an arranged marriage. Lord Capulet, in his pleasant state of being, allotted Juliet two years to consider the marriage between her and Paris. When the play progresses into a tragedy, the tension and patience of all fade away. Tybalt, a brotherly figure to Juliet, was killed by Juliet’s new husband Romeo. Besides the nurse, Tybalt was one of the only people who looked after Juliet. Lady and Lord Capulet realized that Juliet would live a life without a protector now that Tybalt has died. Considering this aspect of the play, I believe the Capulet’s arranged the marriage themselves for three days later because they wanted nothing to do with raising their only daughter. The Capulet’s have always had both Tybalt and the nurse to look after Juliet, and now they are feeling the lack of authority. Their answer to Tybalt’s death is for Juliet to marry suddenly. Personally I wonder why the Capulet’s chose not to take their only daughter in under their care. Instead they decided that Juliet shouldn’t have an option about marrying Paris, and will be forced into the unwanted marriage.
Lord Capulet at first feels that Juliet should wait to get married to Paris, because he feels that she is too young and that she should marry for love so she can be happy. Lord Capulet changed his mind about Juliet getting married after Tybalt died, and I think that Tybalt dying is the reason that he changed his minds. Juliet is an only child, and Tybalt was really the only person that was around her age that she could be around. I think in a way he was kind of a protector and a brotherly figure to her. Since Tybalt is gone her parents feel that maybe she needs someone to take care of her, and they look to Paris to fill the void. Also, I think that her grieving has an affect on Lord Capulets choice. Lord Capulet thinks that maybe getting married will help her get over Tybalt. I think that him and Lady Capulet don’t really want to put up with it, so they are kind of hoping to send her away in a sense so that they don’t have to deal with it.
I feel that the Capulets changed their minds so quickly because first of all, they saw that Juliet was upset, and mistakenly thought it was because of Tybalt’s death. And secondly, they decided that Paris was a prime opportunity to get their daughter married off.
We know that Juliet was upset because of Romeo’s banishment more than Tybalt’s death. Although it is probable that she was a little upset about his death as well. The only problem was that her parents weren’t aware of this fact, and they definitely weren’t aware that Juliet was already married to Romeo. The Capulets make arrangements for Juliet to be married to Paris later on that week to ease her grief. Juliet’s reaction was unexpected to them, but predictable to us. Juliet refuses, and this enrages her parents. They were so excited to marry her off. I think this means that they had really never intended to let her wait to marry for love, because it was such a quick change of mind. It seems like a minor thing could’ve easily changed their minds, although Juliet’s grief wasn’t really a minor thing.
Paris’s obvious good looks and good name were most likely another impetus for the quick decision made by the Capulets. Although Juliet is also from a wealthy, powerful family, and said to be fairly good looking, it could’ve been possible that another opportunity would not have come along for her marriage. I think her parents wanted to seize the opportunity while it was still on the table, rather than risk not marrying Juliet off to a good man such as Paris.
I think the Capulet’s still love their daughter and want her to be happy, but seeing her in her grief, and misunderstanding it, caused them to change their minds so quickly. But in their defense, they didn’t have the information needed to make the best decision. Parents make mistakes sometimes too, and in this case it was a huge one.
The Capulets care deeply for Juliet's happiness. This is understood because of their initial plan to allow Juliet to marry for love. But when Tybalt dies and Romeo is banished, Juliet is no longer happy. The Capulets believe that this is because of Tybalts death, rather than Romeo's banishment. In a desperate attempt to make her happy, her father arranges her marriage to Paris in three days time. Lord Capulet feels that a wedding and marriage to Paris will bring some joy into Juliet's life and make her a tad bit happier. I think it hurts him to see his only child weeping and morning because I feel he really truly loves her and wants to see her happy, as any parent would. It may not be the best thing for Juliet or the thing that would make her the happiest but I do not think Lord Capulet knows her well enough as a person to know what would make her the happiest. I think he is doing the best he can by doing the only thing that he can think of that may cheer her up, even if it will not cheer her up at all.
Lord Capulet is a dynamic man, wooed by emotions left and right. He first sees that he should force anything such as marriage on his daughter Juliet while she is still young, coming from his own expirience with his rough marriage to Lady Capulet. But it is after the sudden murder of his dear nephew Tybalt that his emotions are rampant. I feel he has a few things going through his head such as, he doesn't want to have to lose another child in his family, especially not his own daughter, and also he thinks that if Paris take Juliet to be his wife then he wont have to take care of Juliet anymore. he feels that it is best to send off Juliet sooner than later. Capulet then is furious with Juliet when she refuses to accept the marriage of Paris, and then he is thrilled once again when she is for the marriage. The Capulets definetly have their issues sand this causes them to make rash decisions
Lord Capulet is a dynamic man, wooed by emotions left and right. He first sees that he should force anything such as marriage on his daughter Juliet while she is still young, coming from his own experience with his rough marriage to Lady Capulet. But it is after the sudden murder of his dear nephew Tybalt that his emotions are rampant. I feel he has a few things going through his head such as, he doesn't want to have to lose another child in his family, especially not his own daughter, and also he thinks that if Paris take Juliet to be his wife then he wont have to take care of Juliet anymore. he feels that it is best to send off Juliet sooner than later. Capulet then is furious with Juliet when she refuses to accept the marriage of Paris, and then he is thrilled once again when she is for the marriage. The Capulets definitely have their issues sand this causes them to make rash decisions
The death of a loved one is a highly tragic event that no one wants to see happen, but in life is inevitable. For many people, a loss is the turning point of many major decisions, whether they be about health, achieving goals, or falling in love, perceptions are skewered in a time of grief. This to me seems to be the case in Romeo and Juliet, with the Capulets' resolution to marry Juliet off in three days rather than two years. Juliet is the only child of the Capulet family, and with the death of the only male heir, Tybalt, the Capulets must make a choice to find a new heir to their fortune. I believe Lady and Lord Capulet love their daughter- though only conditionally- and want her to be secure, and to marry a man who will help her keep a comfortable life. With a son-in-law to inherit their riches, the Capulets can see that Juliet will have a stable life. Still unaware of her secret marriage to Romeo, they assume she will be thrilled. As a person who has experienced loss, I know that big decisions almost on a whim are created during the time when we should be lamenting the decease of a loved one. Death in itself is a horrible thing, but for those affected can be a reminder that life is short, and I believe the Capulets' genuinely worried for Juliet's well being, therefore making the decision they think will most likely benefit her the most.
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