Beispiel: Scene Analysis (Shakespeare)

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for advice and her answering that it is best for her to marry the County Paris. After the nurse also left the scenery Juliet considers committing suicide not having to marry Paris. In the following, I will analyze the father-daughter relationship of Juliet and Capulet to prove my hypothesis that Capulet sees his daughter as his property who has to obey and keep up the family's social status, neglecting her feelings. Capulet is taking the role of the supreme leader of the family who decides in a kingly manner about their family's business. The choice of words after Capulet enters the scenery might prove this point, when he used the word "decree" (V.55). Regarding to the plan of marrying Juliet to Paris. This resembles that even with family matters Capulet rules his family in a coercive way being on top of the family's hierarchy, expecting family members to obey him. The consecutive questions "How! will she none? doth she not give us thanks? is she not proud? doth she not count her blest, Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought so worthy a gentleman to be her bridegroom?" (V. 63-66) support that statement, by displaying Capulets disbelieve and surprisement, following his daughter's disapproval of their "decree", for the reason that he's not used to his daughter disapproving of his plans. Also, Capulet does not have an emotional bond with his daughter, not taking her feelings into account when deciding over her life. Speaking of Juliet, he uses the third person "How! will she none?" (V. 63), which shows the emotional distance between them. This is also proved when Capulet disrespectfully mocks Juliet in verses 39-41, validating him not taking her feelings seriously. And further telling her to "Graze where you will, [...]", with the intention of referring to her as cattle which is his property, rather than someone whose opinion and feelings matter. This gets clear when Capulet literally tells her that she is his: "And you be mine, [...]" (V.147). When listing all the good traits Paris has, making him a desirable bridegroom for Juliet, Capulet first mentions his nobility, indicating the personal importance of the feature for Capulet. Implementing that his choice for her bridegroom should keep up with the social status of the Capulet family. To conclude, the scene serves as a great example, for today's audience, of how the mostly male patriarchy ruled not only society but all aspects of life, especially in the family. Further showing the progress of female emancipation between Elizabethan times and today. Personally, I do like the scene, having similar balances of power in favor of men in other parts of the world and therefore still being up to date.