In Act 3 Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet are in her bedroom as daylight approaches. They pretend for a short minute that it really is still the night, but the Nurse arrives to tell Juliet her mother approaches. Romeo descends from the balcony to the ground and bids her goodbye. Lady Capulet tells Juliet she has news to cheer her up, namely the planned wedding with Paris. Juliet tells her that she would sooner marry Romeo rather than Paris. Capulet himself enters and becomes furious when Juliet refuses to marry Paris.
He calls Juliet “young baggage” and orders her to prepare to marry Paris the upcoming Thursday. Lady Capulet refuses to help Juliet, and even the Nurse tells her that Paris is a fine gentleman whom she should marry. Juliet kicks out her Nurse and prepares to visit Friar Laurence. As the Nurse leaves, Juliet calls her, “Ancient damnation!” Act 3 Scene 5 contrasts with other violent scenes that take place in public settings: this is an intimate, domestic setting… Violence is between and within both families… Violence affects both private as well as public lives.
Act 3 Scene 5 also differs from other scenes because it is domestic, verbal and emotional rather than physical. An interpretation of Capulet’s sudden decision to marry Juliet is because Tybalt’s death makes him realize that the Capulet family must live on. Another interpretation of this is that he wants to wipe of the sadness fallen on the family by a sudden day of joy. In this Scene Capulet is portrayed as an over protective bully. But in the context of Elizabethan England it could be seen that Capulet is acting with Juliet’s best interests in his heart. Paris is a good match and as Juliet is young and she isn’t mature enough to decide her future life partner.
So, in a way Capulet’s anger can be justified. However it doesn’t justify his rage and violence. He doesn’t listen and he overreacts. Shakespeare conveys a sense of Capulet’s violence by using emotive language “starve.” Capulet also threatens, insults and only refers to Juliet as a thing rather than a human being e. g.
“baggage”, “whining mammet.” An interpretation of Lady Capulet’s support to her husband is because she knows how he is going to react to Juliet’s decision. Shakespeare uses irony in Lady Capulet’s words “I would the fool were married to her grave.” because in the end they all die. This Scene is important as it connects directly with Juliet taking the sleeping drug.