Passage Analysis Assessment Practice

Capulet to Juliet:

“Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,

But fettle your fine joints ‘gainst Thursday next

To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church,

Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.

Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage!

You tallow face!”

(3.5.157-162)

By giving Juliet no choice in her marriage, Capulet reveals that women are inferior to men. For instance, Capulet threatens Juliet that if she does not accept the fact that she is going to “go with Paris”, then he will “drag [her]…thither.” Drag connotes force and violence. Therefore, by using words associated with violence and force, Capulet reveals his forceful attitudes towards Juliet and how she does not have any say in this marriage. In addition, Capulet suggests that women are inferior to men when he objectifies Juliet. For instance, he calls Juliet a “baggage”, which in our world today, is an object. At the same time, in Shakespeare’s days, “baggage” denotes a good for nothing woman. Thus, Capulet highlights the fact that women are objectified by using the term: “baggage” to describe Juliet. Furthermore, Capulet disrespects Juliet by calling her a “green-sickness carrion”. Carrion refers to dead and decaying flesh of animals while green-sickness denotes a form of anemia thought to affect girls in puberty, making them pale. By using foul and disrespectful words towards Juliet, Capulet expresses and emphasizes his superiority to Juliet, which undermines the fact that women are superior to men. Therefore, Capulet’s disrespect to Juliet underlines and acts as a standard to society back during the Elizabethan period; it states the point that women were weaker and should obey men.

 

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