A wedding, tomorrow! (4.2.22-31)

CAPULET        Send for the County, go tell him of this.

                        I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning.

JULIET                        I met the youthful lord at Lawrence’ cell,

                        And gave him what becomèd love I might,

                        Not stepping o’er the bounds of modesty.

CAPULET        Why, I am glad on’t, this is well, stand up.

                        This is as’t should be. Let me see the County;

                        Ay, marry, go, I say, and fetch him hither.

                        Now afore God, this reverend holy Friar,

                        All our whole city is much bound to him. (4.2.22-31)

And there it is, like a hand-grenade with the pin pulled out: I’ll have this knot knit up tomorrow morning. The timing has been fatally, casually altered. Does Juliet notice? (of course she notices). But she’s cool, continues to play the contrite, obedient daughter. Her words here echo what she said of Paris to her mother before the ball, where this all began: I’ll look to like, if looking liking move; but no more deep will I endart mine eye than your consent gives strength to make it fly. I’m a good girl, I do what I’m told – and I know what’s proper, and seemly, and modest. (We know what Juliet thinks simple modesty really is: true love acted. Paris is not modest. Paris is creepy and definitely stepped o’er the bounds of modesty with his smarm and unwelcome kissing.) But there’s a plan, she can stay calm, and adapt… Her father’s relieved, back to jolly Capulet – stand up, all’s right with the world again, my daughter’s being obedient and agreeing to this Fabulously Advantageous Marriage that I have been clever enough to arrange for her, and I’m not going to lose face. Yet another servingman directed to get Paris, so that he can hear the good news. Juliet’s steer – giving all the credit for her apparent change of heart to this reverend holy Friar – has worked, and indeed Capulet ironically expresses the Friar’s own hope, that all our whole city is much bound to him – except that the Friar hopes that this will be because the eventual revelation of Romeo and Juliet’s marriage will end the family feud. A wedding tomorrow, though. That could make things tricky.

 

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