Throughout Act 3 Scene 5 in Romeo and Juliet we are shown as an audience, a variety of dramatic ironies and tragic events. We are also revealed more about the relationship Juliet has with her parents and are learning more about Capulet, his personality and how Shakespearean language is used, to give an overall impact on how we feel about Capulet and how he is as a father.
At the start of the play when Paris asks for Juliet's hand, from his father, his father declines the proposal and says "my child is yet a stranger in the world, she hath not seen the change of fourteen years; let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her ripe to be bride". This quote makes us think that Capulet is concerned for Juliet's welfare and thinks she is too young to get married.However, moving on in depth into the play, we find out that Paris asks for Juliet's hand again and this time Capulet agrees and says "Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender of my child's love: I think she will be ruled in all respects by me; nay more, I doubt it more". There is a huge comparison between both quotes and it makes us think that why have Capulet's decisions changed, in such a short span of time?In Act 1 Scene 2, Capulet says his daughter is only 13, but he will agree for the marriage if Juliet consents. Nevertheless, in Act 3 Scene 5 Capulet is shown as a strict father - 'he flies into a towering rage on hearing of Juliet's refusal to marry Paris. He threatens and insults her'.
Juliet’s refusal to marry Paris affects her father in a variety of ways. On his first encounter with her Capulet asks why she is "evermore weeping", showing compassion for his daughter.Yet when he hears of her refusal he becomes angry and insulting; "disobedient wretch" suggests he not only feels betrayed by his daughter but his compassion and love for his daughter was merely superficial, and has evaporated along with the marriage proposal. Howsoever, Juliet still shows respect and submissiveness towards her father, "beseeching" him on her knees and "thankful even for hate". This symbolises how dependent Juliet is on her father, and how she is emotionally forbidden from self-pity.
Capulet proceeds to call his daughter a "tallow faced green sickness" implying she is a plague and therefore a burden on the Capulet family. Then he proclaims that "one is one too much, we have a curse in having her" and threatens to be "rid of her". He also says "and you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, for by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee, nor what is mine shall never do thee good. Trust to't, bethink you, I'll not be forsworn".Shakespeare's insults, swearing and use of affective words really brings an impact on to the modern audience as it conveys how strict, severe, demanding and pressurising it was in the olden times.
It makes us realise how well Capulet was shown as a father, whose sudden transformation from seemingly concerned parent to vengeful adversary, illustrates his tendency towards his impulsive, cruel and reckless behaviour; these tendencies may have contributed to the origination of the feud itself.To summarise, a male domination is shown through Lord Capulet's relationship with his daughter. This patriarchal domination makes him very powerful and makes other characters in the play weaker by comparison. Moreover, this power is very important in determining the outcome of the play as the portrayal of Lord Capulet's character, shows him as one who has the power of telling others what to do, as well as having complete authority over his household and what happens in his household; he expects his daughter, Juliet and his wife, Lady Capulet, to do exactly as he tells them.
