Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet
Lady Capulet is Capulet's wife. Lady Capulet is quite a timid, unknowing and selfish character, as she appears to be frightened of her husband and does not love her daughter like a mother should. In the play, she forgets Juliet's age and they have a formal relationship, illustrating the distance between them both. Lady Capulet is seen as a traditional Elizabethan woman.
| How is Lady Capulet like this? | Evidence | Analysis | |
| Selfish | Lady Capulet is selfish because she doesn't listen to her daughter's woes about her upcoming marriage to Paris; she refuses to listen to her as she is disrespecting her husband and therefore the family name. | "Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word, Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee." | This shows how Lady Capulet is selfish as she is unprepared to listen to Juliet as she cares more about her own safety and her relationship with her husband then she does for her own daughter. Shakespeare has made this speech very short to illustrate Lady Capulet's emotion and how she is not prepared to give Juliet any of her time. |
| Unknowing | Throughout the play, Lady Capulet appears to have a very formal relationship with her daughter and never knows what she is doing or who she really is. | "Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me." | The question Lady Capulet directs at the Nurse illustrates how Lady Capulet isn't aware of where her daughter is or how she spends her free time. The use of the word 'daughter' illustrates how their relationship is formal, as she is referring to her as what she is, rather than who she is. It also shows how Lady Capulet is possessive over Juliet, as if Juliet belongs to her. |
| Selfish | |
|---|---|
| How is Lady Capulet like this? | Lady Capulet is selfish because she doesn't listen to her daughter's woes about her upcoming marriage to Paris; she refuses to listen to her as she is disrespecting her husband and therefore the family name. |
| Evidence | "Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word, Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee." |
| Analysis | This shows how Lady Capulet is selfish as she is unprepared to listen to Juliet as she cares more about her own safety and her relationship with her husband then she does for her own daughter. Shakespeare has made this speech very short to illustrate Lady Capulet's emotion and how she is not prepared to give Juliet any of her time. |
| Unknowing | |
|---|---|
| How is Lady Capulet like this? | Throughout the play, Lady Capulet appears to have a very formal relationship with her daughter and never knows what she is doing or who she really is. |
| Evidence | "Nurse, where's my daughter? Call her forth to me." |
| Analysis | The question Lady Capulet directs at the Nurse illustrates how Lady Capulet isn't aware of where her daughter is or how she spends her free time. The use of the word 'daughter' illustrates how their relationship is formal, as she is referring to her as what she is, rather than who she is. It also shows how Lady Capulet is possessive over Juliet, as if Juliet belongs to her. |
Social and historical context
As the Capulet family are of a high social class, they employed the Nurse to be Juliet's wet nurse. It was the nurse's role to take care of Juliet and to breastfeed her from birth. This was common for wealthy families in Elizabethan times.
As the nurse looked after Juliet from her birth, they have more of an intimate connection than she and her biological mother do. This is presented through their relationship and how different it is to Juliet and Lady Capulet's.
Analysing the evidence
Lady Capulet
Here comes your father; tell him so yourself,And see how he will take it at your hands.
Act 3 Scene 5
Question
What does this quotation tell us of the relationship between Lord and Lady Capulet?
LADY CAPULET
Here comes your father; tell him so yourself,
And see how he will take it at your hands.
- By telling Juliet to tell her father that she doesn't want to marry to Paris herself, Lady Capulet is distancing herself from Juliet's decision, the situation and Capulet's reaction.
- This shows that Lady Capulet fears Capulet and is aware of his changing moods.
- The use of the personal pronouns illustrates how Lady Capulet is emphasising that this is Juliet's decision and she will have to suffer the consequences of Capulet's wrath.