Discussion Topic
Humorous contributions of Lady Capulet and the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet
Summary:
Lady Capulet and the Nurse provide humor in Romeo and Juliet through their contrasting personalities and interactions. Lady Capulet's formal and often clueless demeanor contrasts with the Nurse's earthy, talkative, and bawdy nature. The Nurse's long-winded stories and frank discussions about love and marriage add comic relief, while Lady Capulet's attempts to control her daughter often come off as unintentionally amusing.
In Romeo and Juliet, how does Lady Capulet provide comic relief in Act 1, Scene 1?
In the opening scene of the play, a fight breaks out between the Montague and Capulet servants which quickly escalates to a brawl as members of the warring families get involved, despite the citizens' best efforts to stop the fight. When Benvolio draws his sword to break up the melee, Tybalt arrives on the scene and threatens to kill him. During the brawl, Lord Capulet attempts to intervene and requests his long sword. Lady Capulet contributes comic relief to the scene by responding, "A crutch, a crutch!" (1.1.66).
Lady Capulet recognizes that her husband is much too old to participate in the fight, which is why she suggests that he grab his crutch. Her comment is equivalent to a verbal jab at her husband's frail, old body. Despite the suspenseful, tense atmosphere of the violent scene, Lady Capulet's comment adds a bit of comic relief as the audience humorously watches...
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the elderly Lord Capulet attempt to participate in the melee.