The audience respond to these changes Essay Example for Free

The audience respond to these changes Essay Task: How does Shakespeare present the changes which occur in Capulet throughout the play and how do the audience respond to these changes? From analysing Romeo and Juliet as an audience I have seen Capulet in many different ways. I have seen him as the caring father, the ruler and the person in charge. In some scenes as an audience I have been quite sympathetic towards Capulet but then in other scenes I have felt that he has been rather harsh to members of his family and other characters in the play. From looking at Act 1 Scene 1 I saw that Capulet was a very irresponsible character. When he saw that there was a brawl between the Capulets and the Montagues, he wanted to get involved. His wife, Lady Capulet, told him that it was the wrong thing to do but he dismissed this. So from the first scene, it has already made us aware, that he has control over the family and that he does not like to be told what to do. This scene links with scene 5 because again Tybalt questions his authority and he becomes very angry with him and says some very rude, arrogant things, in his concealing conversation with him. The other side of Capulet, which we as audience see is his caring, considerate side. He shows us this in a variety of scenes. The first time that this side of his character is illustrated is in Act 1 scene 1. He is willing to lose a good, kind, considerate husband for her daughter because of her happiness. This portrays to us that he is willing to put his daughters feelings first, although it may mean losing an eligible husband for her daughter. This is also shown in a similar way in Act 1 scene 5 at his old accustomed feast. In this scene he acts very warm and hospitable towards his guests. In this scene he shows fairness towards Romeo, although Tybalt does not agree. He shows fairness towards Romeo because he does not want to cause a commotion at the feast that he has organised. The next time that we meet we are in act 3 scene 1 Capulet Shakespeare has deliberately not allowed Capulet to speak. As the audience this is very significant because normally Capulet takes charge in situations like this but, in this situation he has stepped back and let his wife say what she feels. At the beginning of act 3 scene 5 Capulet is very worried about his daughter he used beautiful imagery he says that hes daughters tears were like a river, her body was like a boat and her sighs were like the wind. This is then completely contrasted because he becomes very sarcastic, abusive and harsh, towards hi wife, daughter and lady Capulet. The reverse in his attitude came around when Juliet refused to get married to Paris. In Elizabethan times daughters were like possessions and daughters were supposed to do what there parents told them to. Capulet said some very harsh things including: Hang thee young baggage, disobedient wretch This shows to us that his attitude towards his family can change very easily depending on the situation. Then he begins to think about resorting to physical violence and exclaims My fingers itch this implies that he could of hit his daughter. When Juliet then agrees to the marriage (under false pretences) Capulet then admires his daughter and is put back into his element. He again is focused on in control, organising his daughters grand wedding. His mood is again totally reversed he says My heart is wondrous light, but the dramatic irony of this is that we know that Juliet is going to appear dead so that she doesnt have to go through with her arranged marriage. In the concluding scenes in the play Capulets behaviour and mood change from being joyous and delighted to being in despair and shock. When Capulet Is arranging the wedding he is full of delight and excitement. His girl has been reclaimed. Again he is control of the situation, her id making the decisions and is giving out the orders. Again he is showing his status towards his servants by using crude language and showing them there place. Capulets feelings then again changed to despair when he realised that his daughter was dead. Capulet used elaborate imagery he exclaims that Death lies on her like an untimely frost Upon the sweetest flower of all the field This illustrates that hes daughter was not supposed to die. Also he says Ties up my tongue and will not let me speak this portrays what he actually felt for his daughter. Finally Capulet shows generosity towards the Montagues he makes the first move to bring happiness out of all the evil that has took place. This illustrates to us as an audience that really capulet can be very considerate and emotionalyly when tradgic things happen. He tries to make amends with people that were enemies and at the end of the play we realise that he doesnt want to bear anymore grudges against other people. To conclude from analysing the scene I have come to the conclusion that Capulets mood and behaviour changed repeatedly through the play. He can be a kind, considerate, caring, emotionally character in some situations. But ion other situations when hes authority is questioned he can lose his temper and say things that are very harsh and un -thoughtful.