Lord Capulet's Presentation Of Villains In 'Romeo And Juliet'

Essay Draft: Romeo and Juliet
In this essay I will be exploring two different characters in this play (Lord Capulet and Paris), and will be deciding whether Shakespeare was using certain techniques to portray these two characters as villains or heroes, depending on the devices used.
From the beginning of the play, the overall character portrayed by Shakespeare of Lord Capulet fluctuates greatly. In Act 1 Scene 1, the first thing which Capulet says is “What noise is this? Give me my sword, ho!” This opening to a new character, at the start of the play is an unexpected one, as the play already has tension before it has begun. The demanding, short sentences which Capulet uses shows him to have a sense of authority and power. The first thing
In Act 1 Scene 2, he asks Lord Capulet, “What say you to my suit?” From this question, it is a clear fact that Paris has consulted Capulet about Juliet before, if not more than once. From any basic inference, it is clear that Capulet has postponing the marital ceremony for a good many years, for an unknown reason. The way in which only the father of Juliet is being consulted and not Lady Capulet suggests that Lady Capulet has had little decision in the person that her daughter marries. This means that the audience has landed into an internal family problem. This portrays Paris to be a villainous character. The fact that Paris keeps on asking to marry Paris, suggests that he may be thinking of how is represented in the public since he has no
The passionate proclamation of his death seems almost a piteous cry. Shakespeare uses the word “O”, to show both pain and anguish, but shock. The proclamation mark also shows this. Here Paris could be stating his death to evoke pity from the audience and/or to show the sadness that he feels about his death. This quote also shows Paris to be a selfish and greedy person, up to his last breath. Paris would have been aware at this moment that Romeo and Juliet were in love; however his last wish is for Romeo to “open the tomb” of his lover and lay him (Paris) in it instead. This implies that Paris intends to succeed in his marital union with Juliet, but eternally, in her grave, and maliciously chose her true love to do the deed. Though Juliet’s betrothal kept Romeo from loving her, Paris wishes intends to keep them apart forever. This shows Paris to be a villainous character, as not only does he think of his selfish desires, but decided to ignore the intangible love between Romeo and Juliet to suit his selfish