George Boyle
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is confronted with the news of her impending marriage to Paris. She is appalled and rejects the match, proclaiming her love for Romeo. When her father learns of her defiance, he becomes enraged and threatens to disown her. Juliet seeks help from Friar Lawrence, who offers her a plan: agree to the marriage, but drink a poison the night before that will induce a death-like slumber. Upon awakening, Romeo will rescue her from the tomb. Juliet accepts the plan, drinks the poison, and falls into a deep sleep, setting in motion a chain of events that leads to the tragic conclusion of the play.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Juliet's response to her mother's announcement that she must marry Paris | "I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear / It shall be Romeo—whom you know I hate— / Rather than Paris" |
| Her response to her father's threat to disown her if she refuses to obey him | She asks her nurse how she might escape her predicament |
| Her response to the Nurse's advice to go through with the marriage to Paris | Juliet is disgusted by her nurse's disloyalty, but pretends to agree |
| Her response to Paris' pressure to confess her love for him | She threatens suicide if Friar Lawrence cannot save her from marrying Paris |
| Her response to the prospect of awaking in her family's burial vault | Terror |
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What You'll Learn
Juliet's refusal to marry Paris
In Shakespeare's tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet', Juliet refuses to marry Paris, a decision that carries severe consequences. This refusal is a pivotal moment in the play, highlighting the societal pressures and expectations that shape the characters' actions.
Initially, Lord Capulet, Juliet's father, appears considerate and protective of his daughter. In Act 1, Scene 2, he tells Paris that he should seek to win Juliet's love, indicating his respect for her feelings and autonomy. Lord Capulet even suggests that Juliet may be too young to marry, demonstrating his caring and loving nature as a father.
However, when Juliet rejects the marriage proposal from Paris, Lord Capulet's demeanour undergoes a significant shift. In Act 3, Scene 5, Juliet's refusal to marry Paris elicits an explosive reaction from her father. He becomes enraged and threatens to disown her, marking a stark contrast to his earlier character. Lord Capulet's response reflects the societal pressures and expectations of his role as a patriarch. He views Juliet as property, prioritising family honour and social standing over his daughter's happiness.
The consequences of Juliet's refusal are profound. Lord Capulet's threat to disown her highlights the power dynamics within the family and the limited agency held by Juliet. Her refusal sets in motion a series of events that ultimately lead to the tragic conclusion of the play.
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Her father's rage and threats
In Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet, Juliet's father, Capulet, becomes enraged when she refuses to marry Paris. He vows to put her out on the streets if she does not obey him. This is a significant moment in the play as it showcases Juliet's defiance towards her father and her loyalty towards Romeo, despite his banishment.
Capulet's rage and threats stem from his desire to control his daughter's future and ensure a socially advantageous marriage. He sees Paris as a desirable husband for Juliet and cannot understand her refusal. In his eyes, Juliet's disobedience is a sign of ingratitude and a threat to his authority as a patriarch.
Juliet's refusal to marry Paris is an act of defiance against her father's wishes and the societal expectations of the time. By saying "I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear / It shall be Romeo—whom you know I hate— / Rather than Paris," she openly challenges her father's authority and expresses her unwavering love for Romeo.
Capulet's threat to disown Juliet is a powerful tool to control her behaviour. By saying, "An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend. [...] An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets, / For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee," he makes it clear that obedience is the condition for her continued place in the family and society.
Juliet is faced with an impossible choice between her love for Romeo and her loyalty to her family. She seeks help from Friar Lawrence, who provides her with a potion that will make her appear dead, allowing her to escape the marriage to Paris. This decision showcases Juliet's resourcefulness and determination to control her own destiny, even if it means going against her father's wishes and facing his wrath.
Capulet's rage and threats highlight the power dynamics within the family and the limited agency of women in Shakespearean society. Juliet's defiance, therefore, becomes a powerful statement of self-determination and love, setting the stage for the tragic outcome of the play.
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Juliet's secret plan with Friar Lawrence
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is faced with the prospect of an unwanted marriage to Paris, a suitor she does not love. She seeks the help of Friar Lawrence, threatening to kill herself if he cannot save her from the impending wedding.
Friar Lawrence devises a secret plan to help Juliet avoid marrying Paris. The plan involves Juliet agreeing to the marriage, but drinking a poison the night before the wedding that will induce a death-like trance, making her appear dead. The Friar assures Juliet that Romeo will return and rescue her once she awakes in the family tomb.
Juliet accepts the plan and pretends to obey her father's wishes, even feigning obedience to her father, who is so delighted that he moves the wedding up to the next day. Juliet sends her Nurse away for the night and drinks the poison, falling into a deep slumber.
The Capulets, unaware of Juliet's secret plan with Friar Lawrence, work through the night to prepare for the wedding. When Paris arrives with musicians, Lord Capulet orders the Nurse to wake Juliet, only to discover her in a death-like state. Thinking Juliet is dead, Juliet's parents and Paris mourn her loss, while she lies unconscious, awaiting Romeo's return.
This secret plan with Friar Lawrence allows Juliet to escape the forced marriage and reunite with her true love, Romeo. It showcases Juliet's determination, maturity, and willingness to take extreme measures to defy her family and societal expectations.
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Juliet's fear of waking in the tomb
In Shakespeare's tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, Juliet faces a terrifying dilemma when her parents arrange a marriage between her and Count Paris, while she is secretly married to Romeo, of the rival House of Montague. When she refuses, her father becomes enraged and threatens to disown her. In desperation, she turns to Friar Lawrence, threatening to kill herself if he cannot offer a solution.
The Friar presents a plan: Juliet is to agree to the marriage, but the night before, she is to drink a poison that will induce a death-like trance, during which her breathing and pulse will be so weak as to be almost undetectable. After being laid to rest in the family tomb, the Friar will send word to Romeo, who will return to Verona and rescue Juliet from her living death.
Juliet accepts the plan, but not before experiencing a series of doubts. She fears that the poison may not work, or that she might wake up too early and suffocate. Most importantly, she is terrified at the prospect of waking up in the family vault, surrounded by the remains of her ancestors. This fear is so great that it is described as one of the "terrors" she faces in Act 4, Scene 3.
Despite her fears, Juliet drinks the poison and falls into a deep slumber, appearing to all the world as if she were dead. The Capulets, believing her to be truly deceased, prepare for her funeral and burial, while the Friar sends a messenger to Romeo with news of Juliet's fate.
The fear of waking up in the tomb is a powerful symbol of Juliet's internal struggle and the extreme measures she is willing to take to avoid a forced marriage. It also adds to the tragic nature of the play, as Juliet's worst fears come true when she does indeed wake up in the tomb, but too late, as Romeo, believing her to be truly dead, has already taken his own life.
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The nurse's disloyalty
In Romeo and Juliet, the Nurse's disloyalty is a significant factor in Juliet's decision-making and her development as a character. After Romeo's banishment, the Nurse recommends that Juliet forget about him and marry Paris, the more desirable option in her eyes. Juliet is outraged at this suggestion, recognising the Nurse's advice as disloyal. She decides to seek help from Friar Lawrence instead, threatening to kill herself if he cannot offer a solution to the impending marriage. This marks a turning point in Juliet's character arc, as she begins to assert her independence and make her own choices, stepping away from the influence of her childhood nurse.
Juliet's outrage at the Nurse's disloyalty is understandable, as the Nurse has been a trusted confidante throughout the play. However, by choosing to seek help from Friar Lawrence instead, Juliet demonstrates her maturity and willingness to make difficult decisions independently. She recognises that the Nurse's advice is not in her best interest and takes matters into her own hands. This decision-making process showcases Juliet's growth and her transition from girlhood to womanhood.
Furthermore, the Nurse's disloyalty highlights the power dynamics and societal expectations of the time. As a young woman, Juliet is expected to obey her parents and follow their wishes, including marrying Paris. By defying her parents and seeking an alternative solution with Friar Lawrence, Juliet challenges these societal norms and asserts her agency. This act of defiance is a significant step in her character development, as she moves away from childhood dependence towards a more independent and autonomous state.
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Frequently asked questions
Juliet says she will kill herself if she is forced to marry Paris.
Juliet's father says he will disown her if she refuses to marry Paris.
Juliet's mother tells Juliet about her father's plan for her to marry Paris, explaining that he wishes to make her happy.
Juliet says she will not share a wedding bed with Paris, declaring that she will not marry him.
