LADY CAPULET
“Hold, take these keys, and fetch more spices, nurse.”
- Explanation: Lady Capulet gives the Nurse keys to fetch more spices for the wedding preparations, showing her control over the event.
- Analysis: This line showcases Lady Capulet’s authority in managing the household tasks. The use of imperative verbs (“take,” “fetch”) demonstrates her command.
- Language Device: Imperative language – The use of commands gives a sense of control and hierarchy, showing Lady Capulet’s role as the head of the household in this scene.
NURSE
“They call for dates and quinces in the pastry.”
- Explanation: The Nurse informs Lady Capulet about the specific ingredients (dates and quinces) needed for the pastry.
- Analysis: The Nurse’s knowledge of the necessary ingredients suggests she is experienced in household duties and is familiar with the wedding preparations.
- Language Device: Imagery – The mention of “dates” and “quinces” creates a visual of the pastries being prepared for the wedding, appealing to the senses and emphasizing the feast’s importance.
Enter old Capulet.
CAPULET
“Come, stir, stir, stir! The second cock hath crowed. The curfew bell hath rung. ’Tis three o’clock.—Look to the baked meats, good Angelica. Spare not for cost.”
- Explanation: Capulet is urging the workers to hurry, emphasizing the late hour (3 AM). He tells Angelica, a servant, not to worry about the cost of the wedding feast.
- Analysis: Capulet’s urgency and focus on the wedding preparations show his excitement and importance placed on the event. The time (“3 o’clock”) adds to the urgency, indicating how late they are working.
- Language Device: Repetition – The repeated use of “stir, stir, stir” emphasizes Capulet’s impatience and urgency to get everything ready.
- Language Device: Metaphor – “The second cock hath crowed” symbolizes the early morning time, a metaphor for the new day approaching.
NURSE
“Go, you cot-quean, go, Get you to bed. Faith, you’ll be sick tomorrow For this night’s watching.”
- Explanation: The Nurse teasingly calls Capulet a “cot-quean” (a man who takes too much interest in domestic affairs) and tells him to go to bed as he will be tired from staying up.
- Analysis: The Nurse’s playful tone shows her familiarity with Capulet. It highlights the contrast between Capulet’s energetic nature and the Nurse’s more humorous, casual approach.
- Language Device: Allusion – “Cot-quean” refers to a stereotype of a man who overly participates in household tasks, drawing attention to Capulet’s untraditional behavior in this context.
CAPULET
“No, not a whit. What, I have watched ere now All night for lesser cause, and ne’er been sick.”
- Explanation: Capulet laughs off the Nurse’s concern, saying he has stayed up all night for less important matters without getting sick.
- Analysis: Capulet’s confident and humorous reply shows his vitality and determination to see everything go smoothly, despite the late hour.
- Language Device: Hyperbole – “I have watched ere now all night for lesser cause” exaggerates Capulet’s stamina, making it clear that he feels capable of handling any task.
LADY CAPULET
“Ay, you have been a mouse-hunt in your time, But I will watch you from such watching now.”
- Explanation: Lady Capulet teases her husband by referring to his past behavior as a “mouse-hunt,” implying that he used to chase after women. She says she’ll keep an eye on him now.
- Analysis: The playful teasing suggests some jealousy and reveals a deeper, more complicated relationship between the couple. This comment is humorous, yet hints at tension.
- Language Device: Metaphor – “Mouse-hunt” is a metaphor comparing Capulet’s past to hunting for women, highlighting his flirtatiousness or infidelity in a lighthearted way.
Lady Capulet and Nurse exit.
- Explanation: Lady Capulet and the Nurse exit to continue with their duties, leaving Capulet alone.
- Analysis: Their departure marks a shift in the scene, highlighting Capulet’s isolation as he prepares for the big day.
- Language Device: Separation – The physical separation of Capulet from the women indicates the shift from playful banter to the more serious business of the wedding.
CAPULET
“A jealous hood, a jealous hood!”
- Explanation: Capulet mutters about his wife’s jealousy. He refers to her jealousy as a “hood,” symbolizing something that covers or limits him.
- Analysis: Capulet’s frustration with Lady Capulet’s jealousy reveals his dissatisfaction with her possessiveness. It also shows his awareness of her insecurities.
- Language Device: Repetition – The repeated phrase “a jealous hood” emphasizes Capulet’s frustration and highlights his focus on his wife’s jealousy.
Enter three or four Servingmen with spits and logs and baskets.
- Explanation: A group of servants enters, bringing tools and food supplies for the wedding feast. This signals that preparations are in full swing.
- Analysis: The arrival of the servants shows the ongoing effort to ensure everything is ready for the event, contributing to the imagery of a busy household.
- Language Device: Imagery – “Spits,” “logs,” and “baskets” create a vivid image of the wedding preparations, emphasizing the grand scale of the event.
Leave a Reply