What Does Lady Capulet Think About Juliet Marrying Paris?

By Robert Palmer

Lady Capulet’s Perspective on Juliet’s Marriage to Paris

The topic of marriage is a recurring theme in William Shakespeare’s famous play, Romeo and Juliet. The play revolves around the love story of the titular characters, Romeo and Juliet, but it also explores the perspectives of other characters towards marriage.

One such character is Lady Capulet, who is Juliet’s mother and has her own views on her daughter’s marriage to Paris.

Marriage in Elizabethan Era

Before delving into Lady Capulet’s thoughts on Juliet’s marriage, it is essential to understand the context of marriage during the Elizabethan era when the play was written. In those times, marriages were often arranged for economic or political reasons rather than love.

Women did not have much say in their marital decisions, and their parents had complete control over their lives.

Lady Capulet’s Opinion on Paris

Lady Capulet presents herself as a traditionalist who adheres to societal norms around marriage. She believes that marrying a wealthy and powerful man like Paris will bring honor and status to her family.

In Act 1 Scene 3, she tells Juliet that Paris is a “gallant gentleman” and asks her daughter to “think of marriage now.”

However, Lady Capulet does not know her daughter well enough to understand that Juliet does not share her views on love or marriage. When she talks about Paris with her daughter, she describes him only in terms of his wealth and status but does not consider his personality or compatibility with Juliet. Lady Capulet sees Paris as an appropriate match for Juliet since he belongs to a wealthy family and has royal connections.

Lady Capulet’s Relationship with Her Daughter

Lady Capulet has a distant relationship with her daughter. She has a more formal approach and does not share a close bond with Juliet.

In the play, it is evident that Lady Capulet is not comfortable discussing sensitive topics with her daughter like love or marriage.

Conclusion

To sum up, Lady Capulet’s perspective on Juliet’s marriage to Paris is influenced by the societal norms of the Elizabethan era. She believes that marrying a wealthy and powerful man will bring honor to her family, but she does not consider her daughter’s feelings or opinion.

Her relationship with Juliet is formal and distant, which reflects in their conversations about marriage.

  • Marriage during the Elizabethan era was often arranged for economic or political reasons rather than love.
  • Lady Capulet believes that marrying a wealthy and powerful man will bring honor to her family.
  • Lady Capulet does not consider her daughter’s feelings or opinion when discussing Juliet’s marriage to Paris.
  • Lady Capulet has a distant relationship with her daughter and does not share a close bond with Juliet.