Discussion Topic
Parental Perspectives on Paris as a Husband for Juliet
Summary:
In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet's parents view Paris as an ideal husband for her. They believe he is a suitable match due to his social status, wealth, and good reputation. Their approval of Paris contrasts with their disapproval of Romeo, whom they see as a member of the rival Montague family.
In Romeo and Juliet, why does Lady Capulet think Paris is a good husband for Juliet?
In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Lady Capulet thinks that Paris will make a good husband for Juliet for many reasons. First, a marriage to him would elevate her status and, by their connection, the status of the entire Capulet household. The Capulets are members of the aristocracy in Verona and therefore travel in what would be considered the “best circles.” Likewise, Paris, who is described as “the Prince’s kinsman,” is a member—however distantly—of the royal family. If Juliet marries him, the Capulets will achieve a connection to the prince and the royal family.
Importantly, much of what Lady Capulet and her husband say early on would indicate that despite how much they want this alliance through marriage, they want to make sure that Paris will make Juliet happy. Indeed, Paris appears to be a young man of wisdom and compassion. We can tell by his remarks to...
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Capulet when he comments that it is a pity that the house of Montague and the house of Capulet have been “at odds so long.”
He recognizes how foolish and sad it is to maintain an enmity for as long as the two families have, which would suggest a degree of compassion on Paris’s part. Capulet, who is somewhat concerned that Juliet is too young to marry, asks Paris to “woo her” and addresses him as “gentle Paris.” This would suggest that Capulet and Lady Capulet view Paris as someone with understanding and an emotive heart, not just some careless, wealthy, and well-connected person to help elevate the family. This view of Paris and his positive attributes are further reasons why they want the marriage to proceed. That Lady Capulet further describes him as the “valiant Paris” is another positive characteristic. Moreover, it seems like from her comments to Juliet that Paris is also handsome. All of these factors persuade Lady Capulet that he will make a good husband for her daughter.
Because he is from the upper crust of Veronese society (as his title indicates), courageous, young, noble, and a gentleman who will supposedly make Juliet a happy bride and share his wealth with her, Lady Capulet believes that Paris is the ideal husband for her daughter. She refers to his bravery in Act 1, scene 3 when she first speaks about Juliet considering him as a suitor:
Thus then in brief:
The valiant Paris seeks you for his love.
She repeats these good tidings in Act 3, scene 5 and says:
Marry, my child, early next Thursday morn,
The gallant, young and noble gentleman,
The County Paris, at Saint Peter's Church,
Shall happily make thee there a joyful bride.
In the first instance, Juliet agrees to her mother's request to give Paris a look over but states that she will not do more than what her mother wishes her to. Juliet's response means that she will not necessarily take any particular interest in Paris but will do just enough to satisfy her mother's request. She is not, therefore, prepared to consider marriage yet.
In the latter situation, Juliet bluntly refuses even to consider her mother's appeal. Oblivious to her mother, she has already married Romeo at this juncture. Juliet later gets into a heated argument with her father who shocks his wife by vowing to throw his daughter out into the street and disown her if she does not follow his command.
Juliet, as a ruse, tells the nurse to inform her mother that she is going to Friar Laurence to "make confession and be absolved." She is, in fact, planning to seek the friar's counsel about the terrible dilemma she now finds herself in.
The friar's eagerness to help by advising the distraught young girl to drink a sleeping potion leads to a series of unfortunate events that culminate in the tragic deaths of our two hapless young protagonists.
Because he is the equivalent to 'a regular guy' but, even better, with money or status. In the play 'Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, the playwright constantly sets the County Paris alongside Romeo for us to compare the two. Yes, Paris is so conventional and polite that he even looks like a book! Yet his courtesy and old-fashioned approach also make him seem staid and frumpy--like an old man compared to the young, headstrong and dashing Romeo. However, he is well-connected and the two families stand together in the history of the city, so Lady Capulet thinks he is an appropriate suitor to a daughter from her family. Even Romeo thinks there is nothing wrong with the County Paris as a man, but obviously not for his own sweetheart Juliet!