Expert: Tue Sorensen - 11/4/2009

Question
In act 3 scene 5 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, what do we learn about the relationship between Lady Capulet and Juliet form this line:
Lady Capulet: Talk not to me, for I'll not speak a word. / Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, thankyou

Answer
Hello,

Thanks for your question. In this line Juliet's mother is so angry about Juliet not wanting to marry Paris that she is indicating that she wants nothing more to do with Juliet, i.e. she is disowning her, or threatening to. And she doesn't want to hear what Juliet has to say. This reaction demonstrates that Juliet's mother expects her daughter to obey her parents, and if Juliet doesn't do as her parent want, they will abandon her. This shows that the world of the play is a society in which children are supposed to be obedient and dutiful and do what the parents think are best for them. Children are supposed to trust in the superior wisdom of their elders. It is a society where young people are not supposed to make their own decisions about their lives, or who they want to be with.

Hope this helped,
- Tue Sorensen