ROMEO AND JULIET - HONOUR AT THE CAPULET BALL

Level 7-9

Shakespeare presents masculinity and family honour as well as masculine honour in a variety of forms through the conversation between Lord Capulet and Tybalt at the Capulet Ball. The use of character and rhyming couplets showcase the intense anger within Tybalt to protect his masculinity and his honour in comparison to the more calming and rational influence of Lord Capulet to demonstrate the difference between there level of masculinity and honour when faced with a potential threat.

Tybalt’s first speech is used to express his disgust and anger at the presence of Romeo at the Capulet party. Tybalt is overcome in rage and uses insulting names to try and degrade Romeo like “slave” and “villain”. Both nouns are particularly dehumanising as it suggests that Romeo is evil and possibly a monster in his eyes. The insults are used to mock and disrespect not only Romeo but the Montague family. These words also demonstrate Tybalt’s intense anger that develops in a split second at the simple sight of his family’s enemies. In an effort to protect his family honour, Tybalt is willing to do anything, even go against his own religion of Catholicism, prominent in Italy during Shakespearean time. Tybalt states to “strike him dead, I hold it not a sin” which implies that Tybalt doesn’t think that murdering Romeo is not a sin because he is doing it in the name of the Capulet family’s honour and values. This is a shocking statement for him to make especially during the era he’s from when religion was considered to be one of the most important aspects in life, in this play, family honours seem to be taken over that role. Shakespeare suggests through this rhyme that Tybalt believes himself to be heroic and courageous for wanting to undertake the role of murdering his so-called sworn enemy.

In the middle of the passage; when Lord Capulet and Tybalt have their conversation, they show two very different aspects of honour and overall respect. Tybalt seems to believe that the only way to defend his family honour is through violence and physical fighting whereas Capulet remains calm and authoritative to try and preserve the family honour and not engage when fighting is not appropriate. Capulet also seems to have a more rational mind and definitely doesn’t want to have any blame on him for a “mutiny” at his own house, he is more aware of the consequences compared to Tybalt who is blinded by rage and revenge. At first Capulet attempts to calm his nephew by acknowledging Romeo as a “portly gentleman” which seems to defend Romeo’s honour and supports his enemy’s kinsman in an effort to persuade Tybalt that a fight is not necessary. This recognition also just emphasises that without the feud between the Montagues and Capulets, Romeo and Juliet would have been perfect for each other and none of this violence or tragedy would take place. Capulet also attempts to keep Tybalt at bay by allowing him permission to kill Romeo as long as he respects the Lord’s authority, “therefore be patient (…) if thou respect”. This suggests that Capulet is just as eager for Romeo’s murder just not yet in his house in the middle of a ball. Capulet also attempts to persuade Tybalt to calm down by using his age and authority against him as a way of controlling Tybalt through his driving force, the honour of his family. This is a key point regarding traditional Elizabethan class system and the family hierarchy present in majority of families in England. Tybalt though seems to be too far gone completely blinded by his reckless heroism and Capulet’s patience runs short as Tybalt’s anger rises. Tybalt begins to argue in his defence “I’ll not endure him, he shall be endured” showcases Tybalt’s anger and rash behaviour that makes him forget the significant rules of his life. Capulet also begins to show his own aggressive side but uses it to demand respect for himself and his authority in contrast with Tybalt’s anger directed at Romeo. Capulet is more aware of the underlying consequences of another “mutiny” and doesn’t want to bring dishonour to the family name in the opposite way to Tybalt. 

Tybalt’s final speech in the passage is made up of two rhyming couplets where he speaks to the audience about his physical need for revenge. The intensity of his rage leads to him having a physical response that Romeo’s presence and so-called escape; “makes my flesh tremble”. Tybalt’s anger has blind sighted him in his mind but has also caused a physical reaction which only emphasises how deeply the family feud has moulded him as a person. The ongoing family feud has affected him incredibly that it has not only shaped his outlook on life but taken its toll on his outward appearance. In the next rhyming couplet, Shakespeare uses an interesting word to describe how Tybalt leaves the situation. The verb “withdraw” has the physical meaning and intention of leaving a situation in an attempt to create peace, but the verb also has the ambiguous meaning of a sword being withdrawn to start. This emphasises the idea that although Tybalt is leaving his rage and revenge against Romeo for the moment, he is drawing his sword ready for a long and violent battle against Romeo which ultimately will lead to his death. Tybalt reinforces the idea of ongoing battle with his next line “now seeming sweet convert to bitt’rest gall” it contrasts the idea of the sweetest and serenity of Romeo and Juliet’s love against Tybalt’s desperate seek for revenge and to play his part in protecting not only his own masculine honour but also the Capulet family’s honour. Tybalt’s own blindness is dimming the powerful love and opposing the two very different ideas of honour and love. Tybalt believes that by doing his duty and murdering Romeo, he is achieving the greatest honour. The rhyming couplet in Tybalt’s speech is overall an example of the dramatic irony used throughout the play. While Tybalt is promising to kill Romeo, Juliet and Romeo are meeting for the first time and falling in love. The pressure on the situation is increased but the characters have no idea of the underlying problems they have created but the audience is now aware of the intensifying tragedy of the play. 

Tybalt’s rude and rebellious ways show how his anger and aggression to defend his honour often overpowers all his other traits and values of religion and family hierarchy. Capulet shows a different level of aggression to defend his own honour and demand respect for his own authority. There opposing ideas on defending honour also goes to show the drastic affect the constant feuding and insults have had on the younger generation causing a more violent and rash kinsman. The Lord’s ideas of instilling honour as the most powerful value is becoming a demon to them all, causing mutiny, tragedy and death implied in this passage but also in the overall play.