Argumentative Essay On Romeo & Juliet Coursework

In this piece of writing I am going to explore Juliet's relationship with her father from Act 3 Scene 5. You will understand how powerless women were during the Elizabethan period. Women in the Elizabethan period were over-powered by men, they had to obey their father, brother and husband. Men were superior to women. I am going to discover the truth of how women were treated.

Women felt that they had no voice within society, there were only three options for women, these were to cook, clean and wash, women were only known for these three things, they were known as the domestic goddess.

Women had no power over anything not even money, women lived in a society in which men were the leading figures and made all the decisions, men dominated and ruled everything. Fathers had complete control of the women in his family this meant wife, sister and mother.

Women were not allowed to make financial decisions, they were not even allowed to work, men were in charge of government and law, women had no say in anything, they had to hold their opinions, views or lifestyle, women were known to be 'inferior' to men.

Get quality help now

Dr. Karlyna PhD

Verified writer

Proficient in: Anger

4.7 (235)

“ Amazing writer! I am really satisfied with her work. An excellent price as well. ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

The only way for women to take control of their lives, was commit suicide.

Even to the day the woman gets married, she is not allowed to have choice, her father is the one that has to choose who his daughter marries because it is said that men were the only ones with wisdom and knowledge.

The women cannot refuse to marry because they are forbidden to say what they think, therefore their only option is suicide.

During the Elizabethan society was totally unfair to women because everyone should have equal rights and everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and thoughts, no-one should be known as inferior to anyone else. All these women worked really hard behind closed doors so they should have at least had chance at being something or some one in society. Men should not have underestimated women because they did not give them a chance to show that they were capable of, and some of these women could have been better than some of the men at their jobs.

Romeo and Juliet is set during the 1500's when men were in total control of everything. When Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet, it was when men had power over everything, Juliet was a young beautiful girl who was told what to do by her father, her father even had the right to tell her who she had to marry.

In Act 1 Scene 2 Paris asks Lord Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage, Lord Capulet's initial reaction is utter shock, and I think Capulet could not believe that Paris wanted to marry Juliet, it was unexpected, I know this because this because he say's, "Let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her ripe to be a bride." Although Capulet liked Paris he thought that his daughter was too young to marry him, because he say's, "She hath not seen the change of fourteen years." This means that his daughter is only thirteen. There are a number of occasions where Capulet show's his feelings, such as, "And too soon are those so early made," although Capulet makes a lot of excuses he allows Paris to marry his daughter as long as she agrees.

It is obvious that Capulet did not want his daughter to wed Paris, but he thought it was right to allow the wedding to follow through, as long as Juliet agrees.

The reasons for Capulet's change of heart, is because he thinking of how his daughter feels about Paris, he also may think that there is no other worthy man in the world to marry his daughter, I know this because he say's, "But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart."

It does not come across Capulet's mind that Juliet does not love Paris, he just assumes that they are in love but obviously not, he does not realise this, he only chose Paris because he may have thought that he was the perfect one, and the perfect choice from Capulet's point of view.

To Capulet's belief he thinks that Juliet will accept the proposal because the 1500's it was right that you listened to your father if you were a female, Capulet really thought that he had the power to make Juliet marry him. Capulet thinks that Juliet will not be upset by what he has said; he is just doing it for the best of his knowledge, he just does what every other father would do. Capulet believes that Juliet will accept this because, women in the Elizabethan times had to do as they were told, this is the right behavior, but unknown to him Juliet disagrees.

Capulet also thinks that this is the right thing to do because perhaps maybe this will give Juliet closure, because her cousin Tybalt, has just passed away, he thinks that Paris just maybe the "one," to help her through her depression, he thinks that this is the only solution. Considering that he thinks that she is too young to marry at her tender age. Capulet's emotions at the moment are extreme excitement, because he thinks he is going to become a father in-law, so he tries to push towards the marriage as much as possible, on the other hand, if you read on Lady Capulet, disagrees with her husband but because she is the woman she keeps he opinion to herself, because she will have to suffer great consequences.

Capulet thinks that Paris is noble and gentle man who is worthy of marrying his daughter, because he say's, "Paris is a gentle man."

Capulet shows what he thinks about Paris, as revealed by the quote, where he states, "Still my care hath been To have her matched. And having now provided A gentleman of noble parentage, Of fair demesnes, youthful and nobly ligned." This means that it's been his one concern to find her a husband. And how I've provided a gentleman from a noble family, of good appearance, youthful, well brought up- 'really decent' as they say, a handsome figure of man. From this it is obvious that Capulet thinks that Paris fits the criteria, he is praising Paris. This means that he thinks that Paris is a good young man that has been brought up by good parents and that they have done a good job raising him, Capulet also thinks that Paris a really decent and a handsome who is a good figure of man. I think that there is no better evidence that shows how much Capulet likes Paris.

Lady Capulet's views are very strong and well spoken, she thinks that Juliet is to young to get married, although Lady Capulet has such strong opinions but she does not express them because in the Elizabethan period women had to obey their husbands, and Lady Capulet was to scared because if she said something she would have to commit suicide. In society she was doing the right thing by keeping quite. If Lady Capulet agrees with the marriage it is only because she is being faithful and obeying her husband, she also may think that her husband may have more wisdom than her, and he is doing this for the best of his daughter future. As well as Lady Capulet may think that Capulet is just doing his job as a father. Furthermore Lady Capulet would not speak her mind even if she wanted to because living in a patriarchal society if she said anything it would look like she was very disrespectful to her husband. An important quote used by Lady Capulet that shows her views are very strong but this quote shows that she is too scare and just agrees with Capulet is, "Well, well, thou hast a careful father," this just shows that Lady Capulet is being a good wife even though she doesn't agree.

When it is time for Juliet to know who she is to marry Capulet approaches her on a Thursday evening and say's that he has arranged for her to be married to Paris. The reaction that Capulet gets from Juliet is unexpected, Capulet expects that Juliet will accept the arrangements but he is in for a shock because she disagrees. The emotions that Juliet has is that she is extremely scared because she is already married to Romeo and the Capulet's hate Romeo's family and she has done this without her parents knowing, and her father has not allowed her to go through with this procedure, he has not given her his blessing.

The consequences of Juliet doing this with out her parents knowing are very severe, another one of Juliet's emotions are that she is very angry because she does not want to marry Paris, because she does not love him, although Capulet realises that Juliet is angry he thinks that she is angry for different reasons he thinks that she is upset because her cousin Benvolio has past away. In Act 3 Scene 5 Capulet's anger is shown by the quote used, "Proud' and 'I thank you' and 'I thank you not' And yet 'not proud'? This quote shows that Capulet is showing what he thinks of Juliet's behavior he thinks that she is not grateful for what he has done for her, he thinks that she is a cheeky girl, who does not mean what she say's when she says thank you. In Act 3 Scene 5 it is obviously shown in this quote that Lady Capulet is just agreeing with her husband she is just doing what is reminiscent to how women behaved in Elizabethan times. The quote used is, "Ay sir, but she will none, she gives you thanks. I would the fool were married to her grave, by this quote it is obvious that Lady Capulet is only doing what is right in society, which is sticking to her husband's word.

As you read on Capulet's feelings are shown immediately because he say's, "Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you green-carrion! Out you baggage! You tallow-face! This quote is very powerful because it Capulet's outrage without hesitation, this quote means that Capulet is basically forcing Juliet to get to the church or else he will drag there on a sledge, he then calls her a vomity looking object, he then tells her to leave the room, but Juliet begs him to let her explain but Capulet thinks that if he does this he will be wasting his time. Throughout Act 3 Scene 5 Capulet calls Juliet a range of names, he calls her vomity looking object and a lardy face and a hilding, these arguments between Capulet and Juliet puts their relationship on the line, their relationship at this stage is very shaky but Capulet wants nothing to do with Juliet!!! Capulet's anger is highlighted by his words used which make the storyline much more exciting, he also uses phrases like, "You tallow-face!" This helps emphasis his anger to Juliet.

In Act 3 Scene 5 Capulet implies to Juliet that her life is going to be filled with tragedy if she does not do as she is told. It is suggested by the quote, "Speak not, reply not, do not answer me," that tragic events may be awaiting Juliet, because this may mean that there is no future with Juliet and Capulet as a family.

As you read on Capulet say's, "That God had lent us but this one child; But now I see this one is one to much, And that we have a curse in having her," these are very harsh words coming from Capulet the evidence is obvious that this is the end for Capulet and Juliet, and it seems as if Capulet is regretting having Juliet saying that she is one to many and that God should take her back. The specific harsh words that Capulet uses are very strong and meaningful they are, "Be hanged to you, you hussy, you disobedient wretch." These are just a few of the harsh words that Capulet uses and from this you can tell that Capulet is not at all impressed with his daughter.

Throughout Act 3 Scene Capulet tries his best to persuade Juliet to marry Paris but there is only so much Capulet can do before he gives up. Capulet says to Juliet that there is no other better man out in the world for her all in order to marry him, but Juliet still refuses, Capulet uses phrases like, "Still my care hath been to have her matched," this shows that Juliet has been Capulet's number one priority, he goes on to say, "A gentleman of noble parentage, of fair demesnes, youthful and nobly ligned." In this quote Capulet tries his best to make it look as if Paris and Juliet are a perfect match, in this quote Capulet is praising Paris to persuade his daughter. Capulet believes that he has done a good job finding his daughter a groom and thinks that there is no better man. In order to try persuading Juliet to marry Paris Capulet tries threatening Juliet saying that if she doesn't marry him, he will kick her out of his house, he still uses a range of vulgar words. Lady Capulet continues to support her husband by believing what he says is right even though she thinks that it is wrong, but she is scared to say anything because it would look disrespectful. Juliet is still very scared, she is very scared of the situation that she is in, but I think that if Juliet was not married to Romeo she would marry Paris just to please her father, but in her situation she will not do as her father wishes.

When Juliet says that she will marry Paris, Capulet is over joyed by the good news, and straight away starts to praise his daughter saying that she has made a wise decision. The arrangement of the wedding is mainly done by Capulet he feels that because he arranged it he should take part as much as possible to make it the best day of his daughter's life, Capulet is very proud of the arrangement of his daughters marriage, Capulet thinks that his daughter is very happy but unknown to him Juliet is very depressed. Throughout the play Capulet's personality has had a major transformation because in the beginning he was very close to his daughter and then hates her but towards the end he adores his daughter Juliet.

Towards the end of the play there is a very dramatic and tragic incident, Juliet commits suicide, Juliet lived the life of a normal of a Elizabethan woman, who kills herself due to living the life of her father. The way Juliet is found dead is very dramatic because the nurse finds her dead just lying there, she shouts and calls the mistress. The quote used is so saddening it is, "Why, lamb. Why, lady, fie! You slug a-bed! Why, love, I say! Madam! Sweetheart! Why, bride!" I think that this quote shows all the emotions of the characters because shows how shocked and disheartened Juliet's family were.

Throughout the play the bond between Capulet and Juliet grows so much and they learn a lot about each other through the process. Due to Juliet's death Capulet shows how much he loved his daughter, and how much he still does. It is almost shocking how much he loved her and never showed it. Lady Capulet's first initial reaction is, "my daughter my only one; wake up; look up, or I'll die with you!" this quote shows that Lady Capulet would do anything for her daughter even lose her life, I think Lady Capulet is just shocked how Juliet just laid there motionless and pale as if she were touched by a ghost. The quotes that Capulet uses are very touching they show that Capulet really has a heart of gold; he just has trouble showing his emotions, Capulet seems extremely shocked. Paris's reaction is definitely different from all the others, it is as if he doesn't love her he say's, "Have I thought long to see this morning's face, and doth it give such a sight like this?" This quote shows that Paris does not love her at all, and he seems disgusted by the sight that he is seeing of his wife.

To conclude this piece of writing it is obvious that Capulet loved his daughter very much even though he did not show it, I think he was waiting for the time to show her but that time was cut, I also don't think he realised how much he himself thought he loved his daughter. I think that Lady Capulet blames her husband for the death of Juliet saying that she was forced into the marriage, which would eventually lead to Capulet blaming himself.

From Act 3 Scene 5 we learn a lot about Juliet and Capulet's relationship, we witness all their hardships, and through Act 3 Scene 5 we follow them both through their highs and their lows. We learn that Capulet loves his daughter very much although he does not show his affection for his daughter from the beginning and as you read on towards the end of Scene 5 he realises how much he loves Juliet, he then shows the affection when he finds Juliet dead, this is very meaningful part of Romeo and Juliet because it is very sad and Capulet shows that there really is love for Juliet no matter what, and the phrase from a quote to prove this is; "Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak," this means that he will not be able to speak again after the death. Capulet goes on to say, "life, living, all is Death's," this is such a said quote said by Capulet it shows that he is extremely upset and that he thinks that since Juliet has died everything belongs to death he feels that there is no reason for living without Juliet, these quotes show the emotion is Capulet's words and that his heart is definitely made of gold, this is such a sad moment for Capulet and Lady Capulet!