Deborah Chan
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet moves his daughter Juliet's wedding to Paris from Thursday to Wednesday. This sudden change of plans occurs in Act 4 Scene 2, after Juliet returns from Friar Lawrence and pretends to have accepted her father's wish for her to marry Paris. Capulet is so pleased with Juliet's apparent obedience that he decides to bring the wedding forward by a day, creating a series of unfortunate consequences that ultimately lead to the tragic ending of the play.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Day moved from | Thursday |
| Day moved to | Wednesday |
| Reason for change | Capulet is happy about Juliet's obedience and wants to strike while the iron's hot |
| Lady Capulet's opinion | There isn't enough time to prepare provisions for the wedding |
| Impact on Friar Laurence's plan | Reduces time to get Romeo back to Verona from 60 to 36 hours |
| Impact on Juliet | She has to take the sleeping potion a day earlier, on Tuesday instead of Wednesday |
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What You'll Learn
The impact on Juliet's plan
In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet moves the wedding up by a day from Thursday to Wednesday. This decision has a significant impact on Juliet's plan and the overall outcome of the play.
Juliet's plan is to pretend to obey her father and agree to marry Paris, while secretly taking a potion provided by Friar Lawrence that will make her appear dead, allowing her to avoid the marriage. When Capulet decides to move the wedding up by a day, it throws Juliet's plan into disarray as it reduces the time Friar Lawrence has to bring Romeo back to Verona and reunite the lovers. This sudden change of plans could have potentially doomed their love and hastened the tragic conclusion of the play.
Juliet, however, maintains her composure and continues to deceive her father, even as she realizes the significance of his decision. She accepts her father's new plan and demonstrates her understanding by requesting her Nurse's help in preparing for the wedding the next day. This acceptance could be interpreted as Juliet's recognition of the limited time she has left to carry out her plan or as a way to buy herself some time and maintain her position within the family.
Lady Capulet's reaction to the change of plans is also noteworthy. She expresses concern about their ability to adequately prepare for the wedding on such short notice, highlighting the practical challenges of moving the wedding up by a day. This could be seen as a mother's attempt to provide her daughter with more time or as a practical consideration to ensure a successful wedding celebration.
Capulet's decision to move the wedding to Wednesday intensifies the pressure on Juliet and accelerates the timeline of events. It forces Juliet to adapt her plan and highlights the power dynamics within the family, as she must navigate between her father's demands and her own desires. Ultimately, the impact of this decision contributes to the tragic outcome of the play, emphasizing the urgency and doomed nature of Romeo and Juliet's love.
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Capulet's motivation
In Act 3, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet initially sets the date of Juliet's wedding to Paris for Thursday, deeming Wednesday to be too soon. However, in Act 4, Scene 2, Capulet moves the wedding up to Wednesday, creating confusion and haste in the play. While Capulet does not explicitly state his motivation for this sudden change, several factors and interpretations can be considered.
Firstly, Capulet's decision may be driven by his desire to exert control and ensure obedience. In the play, Capulet is portrayed as a domineering figure who expects Juliet to comply with his wishes. When Juliet returns from Friar Lawrence and pretends to have accepted her impending marriage to Paris, Capulet is delighted. He may view her apparent obedience as an opportunity to accelerate the wedding plans, believing that striking while the iron is hot will prevent any potential resistance or change of heart from Juliet. This interpretation aligns with Capulet's controlling nature and his determination to have his way.
Secondly, it is suggested that Capulet's motivation could be rooted in practicality and the desire to put on a grand spectacle. In the same scene, Capulet is energetically directing preparations for the wedding feast, hiring cooks, and making arrangements. Lady Capulet expresses concerns about the short timeframe, noting that they will be "short on their provision." However, Capulet seems determined to host a lavish celebration, even if it means moving the wedding forward. This interpretation highlights the practical considerations of wedding planning and the desire to ensure a memorable event.
Another interpretation considers the psychological impact on Juliet. By moving the wedding forward, Lady Capulet may be attempting to buy her daughter some time and alleviate the pressure she is under. While this interpretation does not reflect Lady Capulet's initial reaction to the news, it suggests that she may be trying to give Juliet a sense of control or provide a temporary reprieve from the impending marriage.
It is worth noting that the sudden change of plans creates dramatic tension and contributes to the tragic outcome of the play. By hastening the wedding, Capulet inadvertently accelerates Juliet's plan to fake her death and escape the forced marriage. This interpretation highlights the unintended consequences of Capulet's decision and how it contributes to the tragic fate of the star-crossed lovers.
While the exact motivation behind Capulet's decision to move the wedding to Wednesday remains open to interpretation, it is clear that it plays a pivotal role in driving the plot forward and intensifying the conflict within the play.
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Lady Capulet's reaction
In Act 3 Scene 4, Lord Capulet initially sets the date of Juliet's wedding to Paris for Thursday, deeming Wednesday to be too soon. However, in Act 4 Scene 2, he suddenly moves the wedding up to Wednesday, creating a sense of urgency and causing confusion among those around him, including Lady Capulet.
Lady Capulet's initial reaction to her husband's abrupt decision is one of surprise and concern. She points out the practical challenges of moving the wedding forward, emphasizing the short time frame and the potential lack of provisions and preparations. Her response suggests that she is thinking pragmatically about the logistics of organizing a wedding at such short notice. Lady Capulet's focus on practicalities may indicate that she is trying to buy her daughter some time, subtly pushing back against her husband's hasty decision.
As the scene unfolds, Lady Capulet seems to struggle to keep up with the new plan. When Juliet asks the Nurse to help her prepare her ornaments for the wedding, Lady Capulet interjects, "No, not till Thursday; there is time enough" (4.2.36). This suggests that she is still processing the sudden change of plans and may be trying to hold on to the original timeline, perhaps sensing the urgency and potential risks associated with rushing the wedding.
While Lady Capulet's primary reaction is focused on the practical implications of moving the wedding, it is worth considering the broader context of her daughter's situation. In the preceding scenes, Juliet has been struggling with the forced marriage to Paris and the threat of being disowned by her father. It is possible that Lady Capulet, as a mother, senses the underlying tension and emotional turmoil her daughter is experiencing, even if she is not fully aware of Juliet's secret marriage to Romeo.
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The impact on the guests
In Act 3, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet initially agrees with Paris that the wedding will take place on Thursday. However, in Act 4, Scene 2, Capulet decides to move the wedding to Wednesday, the very next day. This sudden change in plans creates a sense of urgency and heightens the dramatic tension in the play.
The impact of this decision on the guests is significant. With the wedding moved forward by a day, the guests invited to the wedding are likely to face challenges in adjusting their schedules at short notice. They may have prior commitments or obligations that clash with the new wedding date, making it difficult for them to attend. This could result in a lower turnout or, at the very least, cause inconvenience and disruption to their plans.
Additionally, the guests' overall experience and enjoyment of the wedding may be affected. Capulet's hasty decision could lead to a rushed and disorganized event. As Lady Capulet points out, they might be "short on their provision," suggesting that the wedding preparations may not be adequately completed in time. This could result in a less extravagant or well-prepared celebration than originally intended. The guests might notice the last-minute changes, impacting their perception of the wedding.
Furthermore, the change in the wedding date could affect the guests' interactions with each other and the couple. With less time to prepare, the guests might feel rushed and stressed, potentially impacting their mood and behaviour during the festivities. The sudden change could also lead to confusion among the guests, especially if they were not made aware of the new date promptly. This could create a sense of disorganization and leave some guests feeling left out or uninformed.
Lastly, the guests' perception of the wedding as a whole may be influenced by the change in plans. Capulet's decision to move the wedding forward by a day could be seen as impulsive or inconsiderate, especially if guests are unable to attend due to the short notice. This may cause some guests to question Capulet's judgement or feel that the wedding has been hastily arranged. On the other hand, some guests might empathize with the family's desire to expedite the wedding, especially considering the recent loss of their kinsman, Tybalt.
Overall, while the guests may understand the reasons behind the change in the wedding date, the last-minute adjustment is likely to impact their attendance, experience, and perception of the event. The sudden shift in plans reflects the urgency and tension within the play, setting the stage for the tragic outcome that follows.
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The impact on Friar Lawrence's plan
In Act IV of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet moves Juliet's wedding to Paris up by a day, from Thursday to Wednesday. This is because he is pleased that Juliet has finally consented to the marriage and does not want to waste any time in case she changes her mind.
The impact of this change on Friar Lawrence's plan is a matter of interpretation. Some argue that it would not have affected the plan, as the potion would still induce a death-like sleep that same night (Tuesday), and she would still awaken forty-two hours later. This would be the case regardless of whether the wedding was held on Wednesday or Thursday. The Friar's plan was for Juliet, believed dead, to be placed in the family vault, where Romeo would join her and they would escape together before her awakening.
However, others argue that the change does upset the Friar's arrangements. Firstly, there is now less time to inform the Friar of the faked death. Secondly, the time to send a letter to Romeo about the new plan is reduced by 24 hours, which could have significant consequences. This interpretation suggests that Capulet's decision to move the wedding forward dooms the lovers' fate.
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Frequently asked questions
Capulet is so pleased with Juliet's obedience that he decides to bring the wedding forward. He says, "I say tomorrow while she's in the mood", suggesting that he wants to strike while the iron's hot.
The wedding was originally planned for Thursday.
Juliet has to take the sleeping potion on Tuesday night instead of Wednesday night. She wakes up late Thursday night or early Friday morning.
By moving the wedding to Wednesday, Capulet hastens Juliet's plan. It also means that Friar Lawrence has to rely on a letter to inform Romeo of Juliet's fake death.
