Capulet's Wedding Date Change: Why The Sudden Shift?

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet makes a sudden change to Juliet's wedding date, moving it up by a day from Thursday to Wednesday. This decision is made after Juliet appears to have a change of heart about the marriage, begging her father's pardon and telling him that she will marry Paris. Capulet is so pleased by this that he decides to bring the wedding forward, creating a pressure-cooker effect in the play. This change of plans has significant implications for Friar Laurence's scheme, as Juliet must now take the sleeping draught a day earlier, leaving even less room for error.

Lord Capulet changes the wedding date to the next day

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet makes a sudden change to the wedding date, moving it up by a day. This decision is made after Juliet enters, apologises to her father, and tells him that she will marry Paris. Capulet is so pleased by this that he decides to bring forward the wedding to the next day, Wednesday.

Capulet, full of enthusiasm, begins to make the necessary arrangements, giving orders to servants and asking for twenty cooks to be hired. However, this change of plans causes some confusion, as invitations have already been sent out for the original date of Thursday, and there is not enough time to send new ones. As Lady Capulet points out, there will also not be enough time to prepare a feast for the wedding.

Despite these concerns, Capulet is determined to go ahead with the new date, saying, "We shall be much unfurnished for this time, / But come what may, tomorrow do you wed" (Act 4, Scene 2). He is so happy with Juliet's apparent change of heart that he wants to strike while the iron is hot, as suggested by the line in the First Quarto: "I say tomorrow while she's in the mood."

This unexpected twist in the play creates a sense of urgency and adds to the pressure on Juliet and Friar Laurence to execute their plan before the wedding. It also highlights Capulet's tendency to change his mind and his determination to have his way, regardless of the practical challenges or the potential impact on others.

He does this because he's happy about Juliet's change of heart

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet is making arrangements for the wedding feast when Juliet enters and begs her father's pardon, telling him that she will marry Paris. This makes Capulet extremely happy, and he decides to move the wedding up to the very next day, Wednesday.

Capulet is used to getting his way, and since he has decided that there will be a wedding, he proceeds to give orders to his servants, including hiring twenty cooks. He seems to be in a good mood, and one of the servants makes a joke, saying, "You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try [i.e., test them by seeing] if they can lick their fingers." The servant is just trying to be playful, but it could also be taken as a commentary on Capulet's behaviour. Capulet is so focused on putting on a grand wedding reception for Juliet that he doesn't seem to consider her true feelings on the matter.

When Juliet enters, she puts on a happy face and kneels before her father, telling him what he wants to hear: "Pardon, I beseech you! / Henceforward I am ever ruled by you." Juliet's apparent change of heart makes Capulet so happy that he decides to move the wedding up by a day. He says, "Send for the County; go tell him of this: / I'll have this knot knit up to-morrow morning." This sudden change of plans is alarming, as it gives Friar Laurence less time to get Romeo back to Verona.

Juliet, however, maintains her composure and continues to mislead her father, saying that she met Paris at Friar Laurence's cell and gave him what was befitting of their engagement. Capulet is taken in by her lies and praises Friar Laurence. He is so pleased with Juliet's obedience that he resumes giving orders, saying, "Let me see the county; / Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither." Capulet's happiness and relief that his "wayward girl is so reclaim'd" lead him to bring the wedding forward, showing his eagerness to have Juliet married off as soon as possible.

This causes chaos, as the feast isn't ready

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Capulet is making energetic preparations for his daughter Juliet's wedding to Count Paris. The previous day, Juliet had refused to marry Paris, causing her father to fly into a rage and vow to disown her. However, when Juliet returns and pretends to have learned obedience, Capulet is so delighted that he moves the wedding up to the next day, causing chaos as the feast isn't ready.

Capulet, full of enthusiasm for the wedding, gives orders to his servants, demanding they hire "twenty cunning cooks" and inviting a large number of guests. He is so caught up in the excitement that he fails to notice that there are no servants present to carry out his orders, and he has to deliver his message to Paris himself.

Lady Capulet, on the other hand, is more realistic about the sudden change of plans. She points out that they will be "short in [their] provision" and that it is already "near night". However, Capulet is overconfident and assures her that he will "stir about" and that "all things shall be well". He promises to take care of everything himself and even sends his wife to help Juliet get ready, saying that he will "play the housewife for this once".

The sudden change of the wedding date causes a flurry of activity as the Capulet household scrambles to make the necessary arrangements in time. The cooks, servants, and other staff members are likely working frantically to prepare the feast, decorate the venue, and ensure that everything is ready for the wedding. There may be a sense of panic and chaos as the family tries to pull together a wedding feast in a short time.

The change in the wedding date also has significant implications for Friar Laurence's plan to save Juliet from the unwanted marriage. He had originally planned to have more than 60 hours to bring Romeo back to Verona and stop the wedding, but now his time has been cut short by 24 hours. The sudden change adds an element of urgency and increases the risk of something going wrong.

There's no time to tell guests or Friar Lawrence

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet makes a sudden change to Juliet's wedding date, moving it up by a day. This decision creates a sense of chaos and urgency in the play, but it is not clear why Capulet makes this change. One possible explanation is that he wants to strike while Juliet is in a compliant mood, fearing that she might change her mind again if they do not marry immediately.

Capulet's decision to move the wedding from Thursday to Wednesday causes a lot of confusion and practical problems. As one observer points out, there is no time to inform the guests or Friar Lawrence about the change, and barely enough time to notify the groom, Paris. This is especially puzzling since Capulet had previously said that Wednesday was too soon, as they needed more time for preparations.

Lady Capulet, for instance, is taken aback by her husband's sudden change of plans. She points out that they will be "short in [their] provision," as it is already "near night." Despite this, Capulet insists on moving the wedding up, creating a frantic rush to prepare for the ceremony.

The change in the wedding date also has a significant impact on Friar Lawrence's plan to reunite Romeo and Juliet. The original timetable, as set out by the Friar and Juliet, involved Juliet taking a sleeping potion on Wednesday night and waking up 42 hours later, on Friday afternoon or early evening. A message was to be sent to Romeo, informing him that he should arrive on Friday to rescue Juliet from her tomb.

However, with the wedding moved up to Wednesday, Juliet would have to take the potion on Tuesday evening and wake up 24 hours before Romeo was due to arrive. This change creates a dangerous situation, as Juliet herself recognises: "How if, when I am laid in the tomb, I wake before the time that Romeo comes to redeem me?".

In conclusion, Capulet's last-minute decision to change the wedding date creates a sense of heightened tension and urgency in the play. It also raises questions about his motivations and the practical implications of such a sudden change. With no time to inform guests or Friar Lawrence, the Capulets are left scrambling to prepare for the wedding, and the success of Friar Lawrence's plan to reunite the star-crossed lovers now hangs in the balance.

Juliet must take the potion that night

In Shakespeare's tragedy 'Romeo and Juliet', Juliet is forced by her father to marry Count Paris, a suitor with whom she is uninterested in pursuing a relationship. To avoid this unwanted marriage, Juliet, with the help of Friar Laurence, devises a plan to fake her own death. The Friar gives her a potion that will induce a death-like state, promising that she will wake up before her burial and be rescued by Romeo.

Juliet's internal conflict and fear are evident in Act 4, Scene 3, where she expresses her dread at the prospect of awakening in her family's burial vault. She contemplates the possibility of the potion failing to work or even being a poison administered by the Friar to maintain his honour. Despite her fears, she resolves to drink the potion that very night, facing her terror alone.

The urgency of Juliet taking the potion that night is heightened by the impending wedding, now only a day away. Her internal turmoil and the high stakes of her decision create a sense of suspense and emphasise the desperate nature of her situation. Juliet's isolation and determination to follow through with the plan, despite her fears, showcase her courage and willingness to take extreme measures to avoid the unwanted marriage.

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