Juliet as a Disobedient Wretch in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

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Juliet as a Disobedient Wretch in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet The quote that Lord Capulet said to Juliet calling her a "disobedient wretch" is in Act III Scene 5. He enters the play delighted because he has good news that Juliet is going to marry Paris. Juliet refuses this and as soon as Juliet tells Lord Capulet this, he is furious. This is when he calls her a "disobedient wretch". The reason for this is because Lord Capulet has told Paris that Juliet will take his hand in marriage and if she doesn't then he will be going back on his word. In those days whatever the man of the house says goes. To hear that Juliet is refusing the 'command' makes him shocked and very angry, as he has searched and found a perfect match for Juliet and so he feels that she should be grateful. In those days you didn't marry for love but for security and your father would choose someone suitable. This is why he calls her a "disobedient wretch", because she had not obeyed her father. This doesn't mean that she is a disobedient person though, because she has been trying to obey her parents as much as possible, and happily goes along with her fathers advice in the first Act, about considering Paris to marry. We are made to feel sorry for Juliet as nothing is going right for her and she has no one to turn to. Although her father may have a point in saying that she has not obeyed him, who is to say that she has to. So this should not be taken as an insult because Juliet has done nothing wrong in her eyes. In Act III Scene 5 Lady Capulet tells Juliet that, "The county Paris at Saint Peter's Church Shall happily make thee there a joyful brid... ... middle of paper ... ...gh the word "disobedient" may be right it should be taken as a fact but not a criticism, because disobedience is not always bad depending on the command and how you and the other person or people feel about it. When "disobedient" and "wretch" are put together then it is meant as an insult as well not just a fact. So I believe that the phrase "disobedient wretch" is said in a context of an insult, which I think is quite harsh. Although disobedient maybe true from Capulets point of view, it doesn't mean it is a bad thing if he's in the wrong. I think Juliet should be felt sorry for as she has no one to turn to, her mother says, "Talk not to me for I'll not speak a word" and the nurse just leaves her on her own. As for Lord Capulet he is just being selfish and is trying to control Juliet to protect his reputation.

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