
In William Shakespeare's tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet', Lord Capulet moves up his daughter Juliet's wedding to Paris from Thursday to Wednesday. This is revealed in Act 4, Scene 2, where Capulet, delighted by Juliet's obedience, decides to move the wedding up by a day. Paris explains to Friar Lawrence that Lord Capulet is rushing the wedding to help Juliet overcome her grief over her cousin Tybalt's death. He believes that a partner will prevent Juliet from being overwhelmed by her sorrow. However, this sudden change in the wedding date creates immediate conflict for Juliet, as she must quickly rely on Friar Lawrence's plan to escape the unwanted marriage.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for moving up the wedding | To help Juliet overcome her grief over Tybalt's death |
| To distract others from the sadness of Tybalt's death | |
| To stop Juliet from crying and help her move on from the loss | |
| To prevent Juliet from being overwhelmed by her sorrow | |
| To force the issue after Juliet disobeyed him | |
| To give Juliet something back in her control | |
| Day of the week the wedding was moved to | Wednesday |
| Day of the week the wedding was moved from | Thursday |
| Day of the week the play starts on | Sunday |
| Day of the week Juliet and Romeo separate | Tuesday |
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What You'll Learn

Lord Capulet moves the wedding from Thursday to Wednesday
In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet moves the wedding of his daughter Juliet and Paris from Thursday to Wednesday. This decision is made after Juliet returns from Friar Lawrence, pretending to have learned obedience, which delights Capulet. He energetically directs the preparations for the wedding, moving it up to the next day and informing Paris of the new date.
Capulet's decision to move the wedding up by a day creates immediate conflict for Juliet, as she must now rely on Friar Laurence's plan to escape the unwanted marriage. The urgency of the situation is heightened, as Juliet realises she may not have enough time to implement the Friar's scheme. This is evident in Act 4, Scene 1, where Capulet expresses his intention to marry Juliet to Paris without delay.
Paris, the groom-to-be, provides insight into Lord Capulet's motivation for rushing the wedding. He explains to Friar Lawrence that Capulet believes marrying Paris will help Juliet overcome her grief over her cousin Tybalt's death. In Paris' words, "her father counts it dangerous / That she do give her sorrow so much sway, / And in his wisdom hastes our marriage / To stop the inundation of her tears—". Paris also mentions that they have not had a chance to discuss romance, but Capulet is eager to proceed with the wedding.
The change in the wedding date also affects the timeline of events in the play. According to one interpretation, the play starts on Sunday morning and ends early Friday morning. With Capulet moving the wedding to Wednesday, he inadvertently hastens Juliet's plan, further emphasising the tragic outcome that could have been avoided.
It is worth noting that some readers find this passage confusing, questioning Capulet's true mood and intentions. While he expresses delight and excitement, it is unclear if he is genuinely happy or simply exerting his authority as a father. Similarly, Lady Capulet's role is open to interpretation, as it is uncertain if she is being practical or trying to give her daughter some breathing room within the constraints of the situation.
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He does this to help Juliet overcome her grief over Tybalt's death
In Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Lord Capulet moves up his daughter Juliet's wedding to Paris from Thursday to Wednesday. This decision is made in Act 4, Scene 2, after Juliet returns from meeting with Friar Lawrence, to whom she has threatened suicide if she is forced to marry Paris. The Friar gives her a potion that will induce a death-like trance, allowing her to avoid the marriage.
Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding is explained by Paris, who says that Lord Capulet wants to help Juliet overcome her grief over her cousin Tybalt's death. Paris tells Friar Lawrence:
> "Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous / That she do give her sorrow so much sway, / And in his wisdom hastes our marriage / To stop the inundation of her tears—"
Paris's explanation reveals Lord Capulet's belief that marrying his daughter off quickly will help her move on from her grief. He thinks that a partner will prevent Juliet from being overwhelmed by her sorrow and stop her from crying. This interpretation is supported by Capulet's energetic direction of the wedding preparations and his delight in moving up the date.
However, it is important to note that Juliet is tricking her father by pretending to have learned obedience and agreeing to the marriage. The rushed wedding creates immediate conflict for Juliet, as she must quickly rely on Friar Laurence's plan to escape the unwanted marriage. The pressure of the imminent wedding heightens when Juliet realizes she may not have enough time to implement the Friar's scheme.
Ultimately, Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding contributes to the tragic outcome of the play, as it hastens Juliet's plan to fake her death and leads to the tragic misunderstanding that results in Romeo and Juliet's deaths.
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The change in date creates immediate conflict for Juliet
In Shakespeare's tragedy "Romeo and Juliet", Lord Capulet's decision to move up Juliet's wedding to Paris creates immediate conflict for Juliet, leaving her with no choice but to hastily put Friar Laurence's plan into action to escape the forced marriage. The change in date heightens the pressure on Juliet, who realises that she may not have sufficient time to execute the Friar's scheme and avoid the unwanted union. This urgency is reflected in Act 4, Scene 1, where Capulet expresses his eagerness to marry Juliet to Paris without delay.
Juliet is faced with the daunting task of deceiving her own father, a complex and challenging situation for any young woman, especially given the societal expectations and norms of the time. She must pretend to have accepted her father's wishes and feign obedience, all while secretly plotting to avoid the marriage altogether. This internal conflict is a direct result of the rushed timeline imposed by Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding.
The accelerated timeline also impacts Juliet's relationship with Friar Laurence. She is forced to place her trust in him and his plan, despite having limited time to fully understand and process the potential risks and consequences. The pressure of the imminent wedding pushes Juliet to take the potion provided by the Friar on the same day, leaving her with little time to think through the intricacies of the scheme. This rushed decision-making process adds to the conflict and tension Juliet experiences.
Furthermore, Lord Capulet's motivation for moving up the wedding date creates an intricate layer of conflict for Juliet. According to Paris, Lord Capulet believes that marrying his daughter off quickly will help her overcome her grief for her cousin Tybalt, who was slain by Romeo, Juliet's beloved. This belief creates a complex emotional struggle for Juliet, as she must grapple with the knowledge that her father is using the marriage to manipulate and control her emotions, rather than considering her true happiness and well-being.
The change in date also intensifies the external conflict between Juliet and her father. By moving up the wedding, Lord Capulet inadvertently pushes Juliet further into defiance, as she becomes even more determined to escape the forced marriage and remain faithful to Romeo. This defiance heightens the tension and conflict between Juliet and her father, as she must navigate her loyalty to her beloved Romeo while facing the wrath and disappointment of her own family.
Ultimately, Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding date creates a series of immediate conflicts for Juliet. She experiences internal turmoil, external family tensions, and the daunting task of executing a risky plan with limited time. This chain of events showcases the tragic nature of the play and highlights the unfortunate circumstances that lead to the devastating conclusion.
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Capulet's mood when making the decision is questioned
In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet moves the wedding of his daughter Juliet and Paris up by a day, from Thursday to Wednesday. This decision is made after Juliet returns from Friar Lawrence, pretending to have learned obedience, and Capulet is delighted, saying things like "my heart is wondrous light".
Capulet's mood when making the decision has been interpreted in different ways. Some suggest that he is genuinely happy and excited for his daughter's wedding day. He energetically directs the preparations, and his dialogue expresses his delight: "Why, I am glad on 't. This is well. Stand up...Now, afore God, this reverend holy friar,/All our whole city is much bound to him." He also refers to his "wondrous light" heart.
However, others argue that Capulet may still be upset with Juliet for her previous disobedience and is now forcing the issue by moving up the date so she can't disobey again. This interpretation suggests that Capulet is primarily excited to reassert his authority and ensure obedience, rather than purely expressing joy for the wedding.
Additionally, it is worth considering the perspective of Lady Capulet. Some analysts interpret her actions as practical and focused on wedding planning logistics. Others suggest that she is trying to buy her daughter some time and give her a sense of control, not explicitly helping her avoid the marriage but providing psychological support.
The decision to move up the wedding creates immediate conflict for Juliet, as it heightens the pressure and leaves her with limited time to implement Friar Laurence's plan to escape the unwanted marriage. This decision ultimately contributes to the tragic outcome of the play.
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The move to Wednesday dooms their already doomed love
In Shakespeare's timeless tragedy "Romeo and Juliet," the fateful decision of Lord Capulet to move up his daughter's wedding to Paris from Thursday to Wednesday hastens the tragic conclusion and dooms the young lovers' clandestine romance. This abrupt change in plans propels the play's climax, as Juliet is forced to act quickly and rely on Friar Laurence's scheme to escape the unwanted marriage.
Initially, Capulet promises Paris that Juliet will marry him in three days, but he later decides to expedite the wedding, creating immediate conflict and urgency in the play. The reason behind Capulet's decision is multifaceted. On the one hand, he believes that marrying Paris will help Juliet overcome her grief over her cousin Tybalt's death, thinking that a partner will prevent her from being overwhelmed by sorrow. This is echoed by Paris, who tells Friar Laurence, "Now, sir, her father counts it dangerous / That she do give her sorrow so much sway, / And in his wisdom hastes our marriage / To stop the inundation of her tears—" (Shakespeare, 4.1.9-12).
However, there is also a suggestion that Capulet may be motivated by his own desire for control and authority. Having been disobeyed by Juliet earlier, moving up the wedding date could be seen as a way to force the issue and prevent any further defiance. This interpretation adds a layer of complexity to Capulet's character, as it questions his true intentions and whether his actions are truly in Juliet's best interests.
The impact of this decision is profound. The accelerated timeline means that Juliet has limited time to implement Friar Laurence's plan to fake her own death and avoid the marriage. The pressure of the imminent wedding heightens Juliet's fear and desperation, leading her to take the potion on the same day. This rushed turn of events contributes to the tragic outcome, as the lovers' fate is sealed in a frenzied sequence of events.
Ultimately, Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding day symbolizes the overarching tragedy of the play. It underscores the haste and impulsiveness that characterize the young lovers' romance and the hasty decisions made by those around them. In this sense, the move to Wednesday serves as a pivotal moment, hastening the lovers' demise and sealing their tragic destiny.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Lord Capulet moves up the wedding by one day.
Lord Capulet believes that marrying Paris will help Juliet overcome her grief over Tybalt's death. He thinks that a partner will prevent Juliet from being overwhelmed by her sorrow.
The wedding is moved from Thursday to Wednesday.
Moving up the wedding creates immediate conflict for Juliet as she must quickly rely on Friar Laurence's plan to escape the unwanted marriage. The pressure of the imminent wedding heightens when Juliet realizes that she may not have enough time to implement the Friar's scheme.

































