Question

How does Lord Capulet change from act 1 to act 3 of Romeo and Juliet?

Accepted Answer

Lord Capulet changes from a considerate, sensible father in act one to a brash, overbearing guardian in act three. Initially, Lord Capulet wants Juliet to make her own decision regarding her future husband and believes that she is too young to get married. In act 3, Lord Capulet's personality completely transforms as he forces Juliet to marry Paris and loses his temper when she refuses to obey him.

Answer

In act 1, Lord Capulet is depicted as a sympathetic, understanding father who wants what is best for his daughter and is willing to allow Juliet to exercise her independence. When Paris arrives and requests Juliet's hand in marriage, Lord Capulet reveals his considerate nature by telling Paris,

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her heart; My will to her consent is but a part. And, she agreed, within her scope of choice Lies my consent and fair according voice (1.2.16–19).

Lord Capulet's decision to allow Juliet to choose her future husband portrays him as a thoughtful, caring father who is primarily concerned about his daughter's well-being. Lord Capulet also demonstrates his calm, composed demeanor when he discovers that Romeo managed to infiltrate his ball. He restrains Tybalt from making a scene and speaks highly of his enemy by saying,

"Content thee, gentle coz. Let him [Romeo] alone. He bears him like a portly gentleman,And, to say truth, Verona brags of himTo be a virtuous and well-governed youth.I would not for the wealth of all the townHere in my house do him disparagement.(1.5.64–69).

Although Lord Capulet displays many positive character traits in act 1, he reveals his brash, inconsiderate personality in act 3. Following Tybalt's death, Lord Capulet dismisses Juliet's concerns by forcing her to marry Paris. Lord Capulet tells Paris,

Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender Of my child's love. I think she will be ruledIn all respects by me. Nay, more, I doubt it not (3.4.12–14).

In addition to displaying his domineering, impulsive personality, Lord Capulet also loses his composure by severely criticizing his daughter for not accepting Paris's marriage proposal. Lord Capulet proceeds to call his daughter a "disobedient wretch" and threatens to disown her if she does not marry Paris on Thursday. Overall, Lord Capulet changes from an understanding, rational father into a harsh, domineering guardian in act 3.

Answer

In act 1, Lord Capulet is characterized as both a loving father and a warm host. In scene 2, for example, he demonstrates his love and care for Juliet through his reluctance to accept Paris as a suitor:

My child is yet a stranger in the world.
She hath not seen the change of fourteen years.

Although he does accept Paris, note the care in his words. He wants Paris to woo his daughter so that she feels genuine love. He does not want her to feel as though she has been forced into a marriage.
In act 1, scene 4, we see Capulet as a warm, inviting host when he welcomes friends and family to his home for a masked ball. He is so keen for his guests to have a good time that he stops Tybalt from ejecting Romeo—even though he is Capulet's sworn enemy.
By act 3, Lord Capulet's characterization has changed dramatically. In scene 4, for example, not even Tybalt's death can stop the marriage of Paris and Juliet. In addition, in scene 5, Juliet's reluctance to marry causes him to show a much darker side to his character when he threatens to drag her to the church:

To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green sickness, carrion! Out, you baggage!
You tallow face!

The insults he uses toward Juliet also contrast with the words he used in act 1, scene 2. His desire to be obeyed appears to outweigh his love for her. We see that he is a strong-willed man who will not be disobeyed, not even by his own daughter.

Answer

At the beginning of the play, Lord Capulet expects that his daughter will do what he wants. He asks his wife to introduce the idea of marrying Paris to Juliet, who at first agrees to consider him: "I'll look to like, if looking liking move." Capulet throws the big ball and is extremely jolly because he thinks his plan is working out. But then Romeo enters, and Lord Capulet's plan is thrown into disarray—though he doesn't know it yet.
After falling in love with Romeo, Juliet refuses to marry Paris, telling her mother that "he shall not make me there a joyful bride!" Lord Capulet is stunned. He's a powerful man, a member of the nobility who is used to having his commands followed. His wife is obedient to him, so it never occurred to him that a woman could defy him, especially a member of his own family. He threatens Juliet's very life, saying he will no longer support her: "hang, beg, starve, die in the streets!" Perhaps he even strikes her—he certainly considers it, since he says, "my fingers itch."
Lord Capulet's experience of having a woman defy him changes him. His anger becomes so potent that the child he adored is now utterly repulsive to him, so much so that he wants to hit her and is willing to tell her to go starve. This anger may have been within him all along. However, neither the audience, his family, nor Capulet himself was aware of that until Act 3.

Answer

Early in the play (Act 1) Lord Capulet is illustrated as more of a doting father.  He is shown to be jolly, in a good mood, and quite happy with his daughter, Juliet.  This jollity is evidenced by Lord Capulet throwing a big banquet party.  
He is also a fairly calm individual and shows clear, rational, patient thought.  Paris asks Lord Capulet about marrying Juliet, and Lord Capulet takes it in stride.  He doesn't say yes, but he also doesn't say no.  He believes his daughter is too young to marry at the age of fourteen, so he suggests that Paris wait two more years. Other evidence of his calm demeanor occurs at the party.  Romeo shows up and there are some of Capulet's supporters that want Romeo thrown out.  Lord Capulet's response is something akin to "leave him be. He's not hurting anybody, he's well behaved, and many in the city love Romeo."  
Later in act three though, Lord Capulet shows that he has become (or is at times) quick to anger.  Juliet tells her father that she will not marry Paris, and Lord Capulet blows up at her.  He calls her "young baggage" and "disobedient wretch."  Lord Capulet thought he had found his daughter a good match and had all but assured Paris that Juliet would not have a problem with the deal.

Romeo and Juliet

How does Lord Capulet change from act 1 to act 3 of Romeo and Juliet?

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