Why does Lord Capulet want Juliet to marry Paris?

He thinks Paris is a good match and believes a wedding will end her sadness after Tybalt’s death. He does not know about her secret marriage to Romeo.

Is Lord Capulet a good father?

He is loving at first and says Juliet’s own wishes matter in choosing a husband. Later he loses his temper and orders her to obey, which makes things much worse.

Does Lord Capulet make peace with the Montagues?

Yes. After the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, he takes Lord Montague’s hand and the feud finally ends.

From Romeo and Juliet

Lord Capulet

Juliet’s proud father • Master of Capulet house

Juliet’s wealthy, commanding father, who expects everyone in his house to obey.

Who is Lord Capulet?

Lord Capulet is Juliet’s wealthy father, a proud man who loves throwing grand parties. He can be warm and welcoming, even stopping Tybalt from starting a fight at his feast, but he also has a hot temper and expects everyone to obey him. When he decides Juliet should marry Count Paris, he refuses to listen to her. In the end, he reaches out to make peace.

Lord Capulet is a character in Romeo and Juliet, the 1597 play by William Shakespeare, retold for ages 6–9 by Sean Lee.

What is Lord Capulet like?

Proud
Hot-tempered
Protective

Lord Capulet’s story

Lord Capulet is the head of the Capulet family and host of the great feast where Romeo and Juliet first meet. At the start he seems gentler than many in Verona. He tells Count Paris to wait before marrying Juliet, because she is still so young, and at the party he calms Tybalt, saying Romeo behaves like a well-mannered gentleman.

Later he changes. After Tybalt’s death he thinks a wedding will cheer his grieving daughter, and he promises her to Paris. When Juliet says she cannot marry, he becomes furious and threatens to turn her out of the house. He has no idea she is already married.

Before long he finds Juliet seemingly lifeless, and his wedding preparations turn to mourning. At the end, standing among the tragedy, he offers Lord Montague his hand, and the old enemies promise to honor Romeo and Juliet with golden statues.

“O brother Montague, give me thy hand.”

Lord Capulet, making peace in the final scene, Act 5. From the original 1597 play by William Shakespeare.

A moment to remember

Lord Capulet reaches his hand across to his old enemy, Lord Montague, and the two fathers finally agree to end their families’ long quarrel.

Juliet Capulet: daughter
Tybalt: wife’s nephew
The Nurse: longtime servant of his household

Talk about it

Lord Capulet didn’t listen when Juliet tried to explain her feelings. How can grown-ups and kids do a better job of listening to each other?

Questions about Lord Capulet

Why does Lord Capulet want Juliet to marry Paris?: He thinks Paris is a good match and believes a wedding will end her sadness after Tybalt’s death. He does not know about her secret marriage to Romeo.
Is Lord Capulet a good father?: He is loving at first and says Juliet’s own wishes matter in choosing a husband. Later he loses his temper and orders her to obey, which makes things much worse.
Does Lord Capulet make peace with the Montagues?: Yes. After the deaths of Romeo and Juliet, he takes Lord Montague’s hand and the feud finally ends.