Capulet

Play

Romeo and Juliet

Summary

Juliet's father, the head of the Capulet house, who begins the play seeming relatively measured — initially telling Paris that Juliet is still young and should be allowed to consent — but turns violent and threatening when she refuses to marry Paris after Tybalt's death. His sudden rage, threatening to turn Juliet out as a beggar if she will not obey, reveals the absolute patriarchal power that makes her secret marriage to Romeo her only avenue of escape. His grief at her apparent death is genuine but comes too late.

Notable Quotations

"Hang thee, young baggage! disobedient wretch! / I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday, / Or never after look me in the face." *(III.v)*

"Out, you green-sickness carrion! out, you baggage! / You tallow-face!" *(III.v)*

Cross-references

• Romeo and Juliet — the play
• Tragedies
• character_juliet — his daughter whom he threatens into the play's catastrophe
• character_lady_capulet — his wife
• character_nurse — the servant he employs