Background

Issue: Arrogance

In Shakespeares play under the title Romeo and Juliet, our group pays attention to the
main issue that is really related to the characteristics or identity of the Capulets family. The main
issue is the arrogance of the Capulets family, especially in the Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet, and
Sampson characteristics. According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, arrogance means an
insulting way of thinking or behaving that comes from believing that you are better, smarter, or
more important than other people. (Webster). A major theme in Romeo and Juliet is the tension
between social and family identity (represented by ones name), and ones inner identity.
(Phillips). The issue then becomes the basic shape of this theme, especially in the Capulets
family; their arrogance is their inner identity which can represent the identity of their surname.
Actually, their inner identity, their arrogance, is an interesting issue to be observed
according to our group. It is because this issue which is related to their dominant characteristics
can lead to the main problem of the play Romeo and Juliet. The arrogance of Sampson that is
showed to Abram and another Montague servant has opened the problem of the families,
Capulet, and Montague, in the drama script of Romeo and Juliet. Then continue to the arrogance
of Lord Capulet, Juliets father that leads to the hostility with the Montagues family. Also, Lord
Capulets arrogance can bring the desperation of Juliet who is not able to marry someone she
really loves; besides it shows how protective he is to his daughter. He also wants her to marry a
nobleman, according to him, Paris. It shows in Lord Capulet expresses his desire to match Juliet
to the suitor as the most suitable for his daughtersand the familysfuture (Henderson). In
addition, the Lady Capulets obedient characteristic can also bring her to support her husbands
arrogance. Because of her obedient, without any comment, she just follows her husbands order
that it can also lead to Juliets desperation. Also, her vengeance of Tybalts death character can
show her arrogance of having Tybalt of a strong and intelligent man in her family. From that
view that is involved in the play, it shows how the arrogance characteristics of Capulets family
can cause and develop the problem in this drama script.

CHARACTER
Shakespeare is renowned as the English playwright and poet whose body of works is
considered the greatest in the history of English literature. One of his well-known literary works
is Romeo and Juliet drama. The second period ending around 1601; marks the establishment of
Shakespeare and includes the tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. In the tragedy Romeo and Juliet,
characters become the main concern of our group because the characters have a big role in this
Shakespeareans drama. Characters are signs, mere words, or a paradigm of traits described by
words. Most importantly, characters themselves can be sign in a number of ways: they can be
instances of exemplary behavior, they can symbols or in other way representatives of feelings,
attitudes, problems, and the like. In addition, characters are important part of the emotional
structure of literary text, films, etc (Jens Eder). The characters in the play can generally be
divided into two categories; major and minor characters, depending on how important they are
for the plot (Mildorf). As the story goes, the characters itself can influence the whole story of this
drama. The way they act and their characteristics bring us the variety of senses toward the drama.
In this paper, we try to develop the character of Capulets family which consists of Lord Capulet,
Lady Capulet, and Sampson then connects their character with the arrogance issue.
METHOD
In doing an analysis, a method is the most important thing to showing the way we
analyze an object. We need a method to help in identifying the focus of our discussion which is
about the characterization of Capulets family especially Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet, and
Sampson. According to William Kenney, there are three methods for analyzing the character; The
Discursive Method, The Dramatic Method, and The Contextual Method (Kenney). However, we
don't use all of the methods because we more interested in using The Discursive Method. It is a
method that the writer can directly describe the nature of the characters by his or her own
dialogue. This method is mechanically simple and frugal, but it doesn't allow the reader's
imagination. The advantages of using this method that we can analyze more detail from the
words of the characters itself and more natural as depicted by each character.

ANALYSIS
The Capulet is one of the outstanding family in that place that consists of Lord Capulet,
Lady Capulet, their only daughter, Juliet and their cousin, Tybalt. Other members who live in the
house are the two Servants, Sampson and Gregory, the Nurse who takes care of Juliet of all her
entire time, and Peter (the Nurses servant).
As we have explained in the background, there are three characters whose characteristics
support the issue. Based on the plot of the script, the first character who shows the arrogance is
Sampson. Furthermore, the arrogance character of Lord Capulet itself that leads to the main
conflict of the story and finally how the Lady Capulet supports the Lord Capulet arrogance.
The arrogance itself can be found in the diction from the dialogue. The language or
diction on drama is express through dialogue which is the playwrights principle means of
expressions (Tsiga).
SAMPSON
Sampson is one of Capulets servant. In the script, he has opened the problem of both
families Capulet and Montague by showing that he is easily to get mad when seeing Montagues
servant. It can be seen in act 1 scene 1 line 34 My naked weapon is out .Quarrel, I will back
thee. This act also influence Gregory, but Gregory is smarter than Sampson because he is still
thinking about the risk How, turn thy back and run? (1.1.36). Furthermore, Sampson shows
his arrogance to Abram another Montague servant in act 1 scene 1 line 43 that Sampson
conceited to challenge Abram Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is disgrace
to them I they bear it and But, is you do, Sir, I am for you! I serve as good a man as
you.(1:1:55), this leads both families become quarrel to each other. The words bite my thumb
mean that Sampson gives his finger to Abram and indirectly he wants to challenge Abram to
fight and shows his arrogance toward his enemy. From that evidence, it can be seen that the
arrogance is not only happened in particular situation but also including in the Capulets family
because the main arrogance come from their inner self and then created their personal identity.

LORD CAPULET
Lord Capulet is an arrogance character who always wants to show his superiority even to
the member of his family. This condition is shown in Lord Capulets dialogue in act 1 scene 1
line 79, My sword, I say! Old Montague is come and flourishes his blade in spite of me! this
dialogue shows his hostility to The Montague even the quarrel between these two families is not
clearly described by Shakespeare. Moreover, in act 1 scene 5 line 86 when Romeo comes up to
the Capulets party uninvited and Tybalt wants to throw him out, but Capulet yells to him: He
shall be endured I say he shall Am I the master here or you? by this dialogue, the word
master here is used to show the superiority of the Lord Capulet toward Tybalt, this makes
concern that Tybalt should not and couldnt make any decision without Lords agreement, and
also he wants to show that he is the one who has the power of what he handle, even in front of
his family member, Tybalt.
We can also see how contrariness he is to her daughter, Juliet when he forces her to
Marry with County Paris because he thinks that marrying Juliet with Parris will make her happy.
It can be seen by the dialogue Sir Paris, I will make a desperate tender of my childs love. I
think she will be ruled in all respect by me (3.4.13), this also shows how protective he is to
Juliet because of his big love.
There are many contradicts characteristic of Lord Capulet. He is a stubborn person in
what he has decided but he is also a dynamic character who always changes his mind. He is
responsible for everything that has been going on but he is closed-mindedness person who is
very protective. For all the characteristics of Lord Capulet we mention above, we know that Lord
Capulet always wants to show his superiority in everything he does, he always intimidates the
other characters that in final leads to the climax of the story.
LADY CAPULET
In this drama, Lady Capulets character supports the arrogance of Lord Capulet and leads
on Juliets desperation. Here are the characteristics;
Lady Capulet is an obedient wife; she is just agreed with what Lord Capulet said without saying
any comment.
-

Ay, Sir, but she will none; she gives you thanks. (3.5.144)

She is also described as an ineffectual mother; she didnt care what Juliets wanted.
4

Talk not to me, for Ill not speak a word. Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee.
[exits] (3.5.214)

Lastly, she is vengeance person; she wants to vengeance on Tybalts death.

-

We will have vengeance for it, fear thou not! (3.5.92)

From the words do as thou wilt means that Lord Capulet can do anything that he will
do, and Lady Capulet is just agreed with it, she didnt care what Juliets wanted, then it is
indirectly support the arrogance of Lord Capulet. As a wife, all she can do is just agreed with
what Lord Capulet said especially in a decision of arranging the marriage for Juliet. As a mother,
Lady Capulet should be responsible with what Juliets wanted. As a wife, Lady Capulet should
be criticized for the decision of her husband, giving a comment in what he said and trying to
make Lord Capulet understands with Juliets desire.
As we know that Lady Capulet is Juliets mother but she does not too close with Juliet
because Juliet is also taking care by the nurse. And when Juliet turns into thirteen years old, it is
the time for Lady Capulet to find a nobleman for her daughter. In this situation, Lady Capulet has
already arranged a marriage for Juliet with a nobleman named Paris. Juliet is very compliant
when her mother, Lady Capulet, is discussing Paris's proposal with Juliet. Lady Capulet is
pleased with the proposal by Paris and wants Juliet to consider it. Even though Juliet is not
interested in marrying Paris, or anyone else, she agrees to consider the idea because that is what
her mother, Lady Capulet, wants her to do. That indirectly gives an image that Lady Capulet is
not responsible for Juliets desire that she does not want to marry with Paris.
Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet seems want to show their arrogance toward Juliet. Lady
Capulet is being represented as an obedient wife; she is just agreed with the decision of her
husband to arrange a marriage for Paris and Juliet without saying any comment. Actually, if she
cares with Juliets feeling, she should argue that decision, trying to speak with Lord Capulet
about Juliets wanted because she has to consider that her daughter happiness, Juliet, is should be
the only thing she wants in her life.
Lastly, she is vengeance person; she wants to vengeance on Tybalts death. Tybalt is a
person that protects Capulets family but unfortunately, he is killed by Romeo. Later on, she
wants to vengeance on Tybalts death. Once more, this shows about Lady Capulets arrogance,
because once the Tybalt dies, it also means that the degree of her family is decreased.

CONCLUSION
Based on our groups analysis toward the three characters in the Capulets family
especially Lord Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Sampson, we can conclude that the issue which
emerges in the Capulets family is the arrogance issue. This main issue is based on our analysis
on the dialogue of each character. By using the discursive method, we can know that the diction
or the choice of words written in this drama script represents the superior attitude with other
characters, as you can see in the dialogue of Sampson and Lord Capulet. On the other hand, Lady
Capulet, as an obedient wife only can support Lord Capulets character; she is just agreed with
what he said without saying any comment. Although it is not clear enough about Lady Capulet
arrogance or superior character on her, but her attitude toward her husband can support her
husbands arrogance. Then from all evidences from their character bring the same sense of
arrogance which shows the identity of Capulets Family.

References
Ayu, Mirah Yuliari I Dewa. The Analysis of The Main Character in The Cather in The
RYE by J.D Salinger. Bali: Udayana University, 2010.
Henderson, Criss. Romeo and Juliet-Teacher Hand Book. Chicago: Chicago
Shakespeare Theater., 2013.
Jens Eder, Fotis Jannidis, Ralf Schneider. Characters in Fictional Worlds:
Understanding Imaginary Beings in Literature, Film, and Other Media. New
York: Walter de Gruyter, 2011.
Kenney, William. How to Analyze Fiction. New York: Monarch Press, 1966.
Maru, Elizabeth Zuska Oroh and Mister Gideon. "EGOISM IN ROMEO AND JULIET'S
TRUE LOVE IN WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE'S ROMEO AND JULIET." Jurnal Fakultas
Bahasa dan Seni - Kompetensi (2014): Vol 2 No 3.
Mildorf, Stefanie Lethbridge and Jarmila. Basics of English Studies : An Introductory
Course for Students of Literary Studies in English. Germany: English
Department, Freiburg University, 2008.
Phillips, Brian. Romeo and Juliet-William Shakespeare. New York: Spark Publishing,
2002.
Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet . Shakespeares original script . Romeo and
Juliet. England, n.d.
Tsiga, Ismaila A., Bhadmus, M.O. Literature, History and Identity in Northern Nigeria.
nigeria: Safari Books Ltd, 2015.
Webster, Merriam. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary. United States: Library
of Congress Cataloging, 2003.