Capulet's Wedding Date Change: A Fateful Decision

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet moves up Juliet's wedding to Paris by a day, from Thursday to Wednesday. This is because he is overjoyed by Juliet's apology and willingness to marry Paris. Initially, he had reservations about her marrying at such a young age, but after Tybalt's death, he believes the marriage will help her recover from her grief. However, this sudden change of plans causes confusion and pressure on the characters, especially Juliet, who now has less time to execute her plan with Friar Lawrence.

Lord Capulet's inconsistent behaviour

> My child is yet a stranger in the world.

> She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.

> Let two more summers wither in their pride

> Ere we may think her ripe to be a bride."

However, Lord Capulet's attitude undergoes a sudden change following the death of Tybalt and Juliet's grief. He believes that marrying her off to Paris will help her recover from her sorrow. This is a sharp contrast to his initial reservations, indicating an inconsistency in his judgement.

In Act 3, Scene 5, Lord Capulet decides that Juliet will marry Paris later that week. This decision is met with resistance from Juliet, who refuses to marry Paris, leading to a heated argument. Despite the disagreement, Lord Capulet remains steadfast in his decision.

The most notable example of Lord Capulet's inconsistent behaviour occurs in Act 4, Scene 2. After Juliet apologises for her previous behaviour and expresses willingness to marry Paris, Lord Capulet is overjoyed and decides to move the wedding up to the very next day. This decision is hasty and impractical, as it leaves little time for preparations and causes confusion among the guests who had already received invitations for the original date.

Lord Capulet's behaviour can be interpreted as impulsive and driven by his emotions. He appears to be reacting to the situation at hand without considering the potential consequences or logistical challenges. This is supported by Lady Capulet's reaction, who expresses concern about the short time frame and the lack of provisions for the wedding feast.

Furthermore, Lord Capulet's inconsistent behaviour can also be attributed to his desire to exert control over Juliet and ensure her obedience. When Juliet initially refuses to marry Paris, he becomes angry and threatens to disown her. However, when she apologises and agrees to the marriage, he is overjoyed and rewards her with immediate gratification by moving up the wedding date. This suggests that Lord Capulet is motivated by his desire to maintain power and control within the family dynamic.

In conclusion, Lord Capulet's inconsistent behaviour regarding the wedding date can be attributed to a combination of factors, including his emotional reactions, impulsivity, and desire to control Juliet's life decisions. His actions have significant consequences for Juliet, who is forced to take drastic measures to avoid the unwanted marriage.

The impact on Juliet's plan with Friar Lawrence

In Act 4, Scene 2 of Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet moves Juliet's wedding to Paris up to the next day because he is overjoyed by Juliet's apology and willingness to marry Paris. Initially, he had reservations about her marrying at such a young age, but after Tybalt's death and Juliet's grief, he believes the marriage will help her recover.

Juliet's plan with Friar Lawrence is significantly impacted by this change. The original plan was for Juliet to take the potion the night before the wedding, which would induce a death-like sleep. She would awaken 42 hours later, after being placed in the family tomb, and Romeo would be there to rescue her. However, with the wedding moved up by a day, the messenger has far less time to deliver the news to Romeo. In fact, the messenger is unable to deliver the message at all, as he is boarded up in a house hit by the plague.

As a result, Romeo never receives word of Juliet's plan and instead learns from Benvolio that she is dead. Devastated, Romeo buys poison and rushes to the tomb, where he kills himself upon seeing Juliet's lifeless body. When Juliet awakens and finds Romeo dead, she takes his dagger and kills herself. Thus, the change in the wedding date has a devastating impact on Juliet's plan, ultimately leading to the tragic deaths of both Romeo and Juliet.

Lord Capulet's motivations

Another interpretation is that Lord Capulet is afraid that Juliet will change her mind again, so he wants to strike while the iron is hot. This is supported by the line, "I say tomorrow while she's in the mood," which is found in the First Quarto but not in the other "good" Quartos. By moving the wedding date up, Lord Capulet also exerts his control over the situation and demonstrates his authority as the patriarch of the family. He is used to having his way, and once he has decided that there will be a wedding, he proceeds to make all the necessary arrangements, regardless of the potential consequences or logistical challenges.

Furthermore, Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding date can be seen as a way to exert pressure on Juliet and ensure her obedience. He is pleased when Juliet apologizes for her earlier behaviour and agrees to marry Paris, and he wants to take advantage of her apparent change of heart. By moving the wedding to the next day, he leaves Juliet with no time to reconsider or attempt to contact Romeo herself.

In conclusion, Lord Capulet's motivations for moving up the wedding date are multifaceted and can be interpreted in various ways. He wants to help Juliet move on from her grief, ensure her compliance, and exert his authority as the head of the family. However, his decision also creates a sense of urgency and pressure, which ultimately contributes to the tragic outcome of the play.

The effect on the wedding preparations

The preparations are thrown into further disarray by the fact that there is not enough time to prepare a feast for the wedding, as Lady Capulet points out. This puts pressure on the family to rush around and ensure that "all things shall be well". Lord Capulet himself acknowledges the impact of the change, noting that they will be unfurnished for the new date.

The change in plans also affects Friar Lawrence's scheme to help Romeo and Juliet escape. The Friar's plan had relied on a specific timetable, with Juliet taking the potion on Wednesday night and waking up 42 hours later on Friday afternoon or evening, when Romeo would be there to meet her. However, with the wedding moved forward a day, Juliet must take the potion on Tuesday evening, and she will wake up a full 24 hours before Romeo is due to arrive. This creates a risk that she will wake up before she is rescued, and the Friar does not seem concerned about this change, nor does Juliet.

Overall, the decision to move up the wedding date creates a sense of chaos and pressure in the play, with the Capulet family and Friar Lawrence rushing to adjust their plans and ensure that everything goes according to the new schedule.

The impact on the wider plot

Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding date has a significant impact on the plot of Romeo and Juliet. Firstly, it intensifies the pressure on Juliet, forcing her to take the friar's potion that very night, with no time to reconsider or devise an alternative plan. This decision also affects the friar's plan, as the timeline is now accelerated. There is no room for error or delay, and the friar's message to Romeo, informing him of the plan, becomes even more critical. The change in the wedding date also adds to the urgency and tension in the play, as the characters' actions become more rushed and desperate.

Furthermore, Lord Capulet's decision highlights the power dynamics within Juliet's family. His insistence on moving the wedding to the next day overrides Lady Capulet's practical concerns about the lack of time for preparations. This moment demonstrates Lord Capulet's authority and his determination to ensure the wedding takes place as soon as possible. It also underscores the sense of Juliet's lack of agency and the pressure she feels to obey her father's wishes, even if they go against her own desires.

The decision to move up the wedding date also has implications for the broader narrative arc of the play. It contributes to the sense of escalating tension and the increasing pace of the plot. The accelerated timeline heightens the sense of urgency and inevitability that leads to the tragic climax of the play. Additionally, it underscores the theme of hasty decisions and their consequences, as characters are forced to act without always considering the potential fallout.

Finally, Lord Capulet's decision to rush the wedding can be seen as a pivotal moment that further drives the play towards its tragic conclusion. By moving up the wedding date, he unknowingly pushes Juliet closer to her desperate plan of faking her death. This decision also reduces the chances of Romeo receiving accurate information about the plan, increasing the likelihood of miscommunication and misunderstanding. In conclusion, Lord Capulet's decision to move up the wedding date has far-reaching consequences, affecting not only the immediate actions of the characters but also the overall pace, tension, and tragic outcome of the play.

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