Analysis of Act Three, Scenes 4-5

Question 1

In Act 3, Scene 4, Paris says, “I would that Thursday were tomorrow.”
What does this tell you about his attitude to marrying Juliet?

Answer 1

This suggests that Paris is eager to marry Juliet. He wishes Thursday was sooner, because the wedding has been planned for that day.

Question 2

True or False? Lady Capulet thinks Juliet’s response to Tybalt’s death is reasonable.

Answer 2

False. Lady Capulet thinks that Juliet is too miserable, which she believes shows a “want of wit” (lack of intelligence)

Question 3

What does Capulet threaten to do if Juliet doesn’t marry Paris?

Answer 3

Capulet threatens to disown Juliet if she doesn’t marry Paris.

Question 4

At the beginning of Act 3, Scene 5. Juliet claims that the bird she hears is a “nightingale”, not a “lark”.
What does she say this?

Answer 4

Nightingales sing at night, whereas larks sing in the morning. Juliet is pretending that it is still night-time — she wishes she and Romeo still had the whole night ahead of them.

Question 5

What do Act 3, Scenes 4-5 reveal about Juliet’s relationship with her parents?
Explain your answer.

Answer 5

• Juliet’s father misjudges
  his influence over her.
  Capulet thinks that Juliet
  “will be ruled” by him, but
  Juliet refuses to obey him
  and marry Paris — this
  causes tension in their
  relationship.
• Juliet’s mother cannot tell
  when her daughter is
  being dishonest. She
  entirely misses Juliet’s
  double meanings, such as
  when Juliet says she
  would want to “temper”
  any poison her mother
  sent to Romeo — this
  suggests the two
  characters are not close.