Thursday, August 13, 2015

How does Shakespeare present Lord and Lady Capulet in Act 4, Scene 5?

Shakespeare portrays Lord and Lady Capulet as distraught parents who have lost their most beloved daughter to death in Act IV, Scene v. When they come to find Juliet dead on the morning of her wedding to Paris, they break down as if they never had a horrible fight in Act III, Scene v. It's very interesting to compare these two scenes because both parents cast Juliet off in Act III, but then they act destroyed when she's "dead" in Act IV. The following passage shows part of how mean Lord Capulet is to Juliet in Act III when she asks for more time before being married to Paris:


"Wife, we scarce thought us blest


That God had lent us but this only child;


But now I see this one is one too much,


And that we have a curse in having her


Out on her, hilding! (III.v.169-173).



He goes on to say that if she doesn't show up Thursday to marry Paris then she can live in the streets and he will basically disown her. Compare what he says when he finds her dead in the following passage:



"Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir;


My daughter he hath wedded. I will die


And leave him all; life, living all is Death's" (IV.v.41-43).



Lord Capulet cries and seems truly sad that she is gone; however, he is still thinking of himself in a way because he thinks about what is left for him after she is dead. In a way, he's upset that he's not getting what he wanted rather than feeling remorse for his daughter's death.


Now Lady Capulet seems more upset than selfish at her daughter's death for sure--as a mother probably would. In Act III, however, she said to Juliet the following:



"Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word.


Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee" (III.v.2112-213).



Lady Capulet says this to Juliet after Lord Capulet's raging declarations of hatred. When Juliet needs her mother most, she is ultimately rejected. Fast forward to Act IV and Lady Capulet has a different tune.



"Accurs'd, unhappy, wretched, hateful!


Most miserable hour that e'er Time saw


In lasting labour of his pilgrimage!


But one, poor one, one poor and loving child,


But one thing to rejoice and solace in,


And cruel Death hath catch'd it from my sight!" (IV.v.46-51)



Clearly Lady Capulet is more upset about this death than Lord Capulet, but they are both mournful parents as well.

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