In our first week together we have looked at the presentation of Lord Capulet in Act 3 Scene 5.
In Act 3 Scene 5:
- Lord Capulet enters and finds Juliet in tears.
- He initially things Juliet is crying over the death of Tybalt. Capulet compares Juliet’s tears to rain and her to a conduit (pipe from which water always flows) – suggesting she cries too much.
- After fiding out his wife has already delivered the news of the imminent marriage of Juliet to Paris, Capulet explodes with rage, when told Juliet is refusing to marry Paris.
The following clips shows this section of the play:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/learningzone/clips/romeo-and-juliet-act-3-scene-5-pt-2-2/8279.html
Act 3 Scene 5 questions Lord Capulet and Juliet’s relationship, particularly his love for his daughter. We may also question the love he has for himself – in what would have been a male centred patriarchal society.
The following offer some key points for language analysis:
- Shakespeare uses some negative language choices such as ‘green-sickness carrion’, ‘tallow-face’ and ‘hang’. Consider the use of macabre language and what this could perhaps foreshadow.
- The use of the metaphor “baggage” suggesting Juliet weighs Capulet down and she is a burden. An alternative interpretation presents Juliet as a possession of Lord Capulet’s – links can be made to the patriarchal society and the women’s rights during the 16th century. Could the use of this word choice suggest a love-less relationship between the two?
- Shakespeare’s use of the personal pronoun ‘I’ and the possessive pronouns ‘my and ‘mine’ are used repeatedly by Capulet in Act 3 Scene 5. This further demonstrates the dominance males had in the 16th century. Perhaps suggesting Lord Capulet only has love for himself?
- As the play was written to be performed, take note of the stage directions. In Act 3 Scene 5 we see Juliet ‘Kneeling’. Consider the positioning of the actors and what this could suggest about the hierarchy of the characters.
- Shakespeare also makes reference to ‘God’, and Lord and Lady Capulet being ‘blest’. Consider the importance of religion during the 16th century. Remember in Act 2 Scene 2 we see a lot of religious imagery too.
I’ll mark your work for Monday and as you to make amendments/redraft for homework.
Miss O
miss, the dog ate my homework 