Student Question
In Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, how old are Juliet's parents, Capulet and Lady Capulet?
Quick answer:
Juliet's parents' exact ages are not specified in Romeo and Juliet. Lady Capulet mentions she was a mother at Juliet's age, making her roughly twenty-six. Capulet's age is inferred through his reminiscing in Act I, Scene V, suggesting he is likely between forty-eight and fifty-eight years old.
No specific mention is made of how old Juliet's parents are in Romeo and
Juliet. However, when Juliet and Lady Capulet are talking in Act I,
Scene III, Lady Capulet does say "By my count / I was your mother much upon
these years / That you are now a maid," meaning that Lady Capulet had already
given birth to Juliet at age thirteen, the age that Juliet currently is
(77-79). This would make Lady Capulet roughly twenty-six years old.
Figuring out Capulet's age is a little more difficult. It is clear that
he is considerably older than his wife, but as with Lady Capulet, there is no
specific mention of his exact age. The best scene to use in trying to
figure out his age is Act I, Scene V. As the family prepares for the
masquerade party, Capulet says "I have seen the day / That I have worn a visor
and could tell / A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear, / Such as would
please. 'Tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone," meaning that he is no longer of
the age to flirt with or court the young ladies at the party (25-28).
Shortly afterward, he tells his cousin that they should sit, stating
"[f]or you and I are past our dancing days" (36). Immediately following,
he asks his cousin how long it has been since they wore masks at a party, and
his cousin replies that it has been "thirty years" (39). This shocks
Capulet, and they argue about it. Capulet claims they both wore masks at
Lucentio's wedding, which was twenty-five years before, but his cousin replies
that Lucentio's son is already thirty years old (41, 45). In other words,
it has been at least thirty years. If the normal age for wearing
masks/courting is late teens through late twenties, as is the case with Romeo
and Paris, then this would make Capulet between about forty-eight and
fifty-eight.
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