Romeo and Juliet Group

Question:


lid
Student
High School - 9th Grade

At the end of Act IV, how might Paris's, Capulet's, Lady Capulet's, and the Friar's responses to Juliet's death indicate a lack of sincerity?

How does this interpretation make sense in relation to what is already known about the characters?

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Posted by lid on Saturday April 4, 2009 at 6:40 PM and tagged with act iv, capulet, characters, friar, juliet's death, lady capulet, paris.

Answers:

  1. dneshan
    dneshan Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Lord Capulet's insincerity is revealed as he speaks to Paris when he states,

    Death is my son-in-law, Death is my heir; 
    My daughter he hath wedded. I will die 
    And leave him all. Life, living, all is Death's.  (5.4.40-42)

    He then states, "Uncomfortable time, why cam'st thou now /
    To murder, murder our solemnity?" (lines 63-64).  Here he is basically saying that this is a bad time for him to have to deal with his daughter's death. 

    Lord Capulet seems more concerned about the fact that he will not have an heir and that the timing is wrong than he actually is about the death of his daughter.  Similarly, Lady Capulet says that death has taken Juliet from her and has punished Lady Capulet.  Again, she is more concerned about her own well being than Juliet's death when she says,

    But one, poor one, one poor and loving child, 
    But one thing to rejoice and solace in, 
    And cruel Death hath catch'd it from my sight!(4.5.49-51)

    Paris too, is more worried about himself when he states,

    Beguil'd divorced, wronged, spited, slain! 
    Most detestable Death, by thee beguil'd, 
    By cruel cruel thee quite overthrown!(4.5 58-60) 

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo-and-juliet-text/act-iv-scene-v
    http://www.enotes.com/romeo-and-juliet/character-analysis

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    Posted by dneshan on Thursday June 11, 2009 at 5:55 PM