Love/ Marriage

• The theme of love is explored throughout the play. The characters are driven by their passion for one another, but this also leads them into danger. Love can be both destructive and beautiful.
• Marriage: 


  Shakespeare explores different marriages, such as Juliet and Paris' arranged marriage (also most likely Juliet's parents' arranged marriage due to their age gap).

  Capulet, as the family patriarch, makes decisions for Juliet- and at the time was normal for the contemporary audience as typically marriages were arranged to secure an advantageous match for their children to retain status.

  Therefore, wealth and status were the main factors in arranging marriages- with little consideration of happiness or compatibility.
• Marriage:

  Juliet, being the only child of Capulet, has a duty to secure the family's future through an advantageous marriage as the is the sole heir of the estate.

  "I will not marry yet" (Juliet- Scene 3, Act 5) --> her defiance indicates her determination to control her own destiny; shows strength of character due to her willingness to challenge her parents and societal expectations all for her love for Romeo.

  However, this declaration may also reinforce the theme of destiny as this decision to defy her parents contributes to the series of events that leads to her death.
• Marriage:


  "And you be mine, I'll give you to my friend; An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets," (Capulet- Scene 3, Act 5)

  
  

  Capulet sees Juliet as a possession to be bartered than as an individual. Capulet's threats illustrates the extreme measures he is willing to take to maintain his authority and uphold societal expectations and severe repercussions Juliet is willing to defy.

  
  

  "Thy face is mine, and thou has slandered it" --> This quote shows the possession that Paris feels he is entitled to her; upon marriage Juliet would become the property of and be controlled by Paris
• Act 2, Scene 2- "And I'll believe thee" (Juliet), "If my heart's dear love" (Romeo)

  Romeo and Juliet fulfill the iambic pentameter by saying lines of 5 syllables each; demonstrating the equality between them.

  Despite the society around them, they have found an equal union in their love with each other, and together they become one, rather than two separate parts.
• At the beginning of the play, Capulet appears to disregard the patriarchal expectations of his daughter, as he tells Paris he should "Let two more summers wither in their pride, Ere we may think (Juliet) ripe to be a bride." --> shows his care/ love for daughter as he wants best for her wellbeing. --> "my will to her consent is but a part" (defies patriarchal expectations)

  
  

  However, later in the play he is willing to ignore Juliet's wellbeing as he threatens her into marriage.

  "My fingers itch" --> he feels such rage he's having to physically restrain from hitting her
• Lord and Lady Capulet:

  When Juliet beseeches her mother to delay her marriage to Paris after Capulet has left, she says "Talk not to me" --> she then follows after Capulet, demonstrating his authority over her. This shows the imbalance in their relationship as Capulet takes traditionally masculine role of being the leader in their marriage.
• marriage was seen as a tool to gain a higher social position