The Turning Point: Lord Capulet's Rage
As Act 3, Scene 5 of Romeo und Julia progresses, the tone shifts dramatically when Juliet refuses to marry Count Paris. Shakespeare uses various linguistic devices to portray Lord Capulet's growing anger and incomprehension.
Lord Capulet's confusion and frustration are evident in his repeated use of "how," which appears four times in quick succession. This repetition, combined with rhetorical questions, emphasizes his disbelief at Juliet's refusal.
Quote: "How? How? How? How? Chopped logic! What is this?"
The parallelism in Lord Capulet's statement, "Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds," reveals the breakdown in communication between father and daughter. This line also showcases Shakespeare's wordplay and the character's growing irritation.
Definition: Parallelism is the use of similar grammatical structures in two or more parts of a sentence to emphasize a connection between ideas.
As his anger escalates, Lord Capulet resorts to insults, calling Juliet "green sickness carrion" and "tallow-face." These harsh words contrast sharply with his earlier poetic descriptions, highlighting the volatile nature of their relationship.
Vocabulary: "Green sickness" refers to anemia, often associated with lovesickness in young women during Shakespeare's time.
Juliet's response to her father's outburst is telling. She begs for patience on her knees, indicating that such behavior from her father is not entirely unexpected and revealing her subordinate position in the family hierarchy.
This scene in Romeo und Julia powerfully illustrates the societal expectations and power dynamics at play in 16th-century families, particularly regarding arranged marriages and filial obedience.
