THE HOUSE OF CAPULET

Character Profiles

Juliet

Daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet

As the young daughter of Capulet and Lady Capulet, Juliet quickly finds herself maaturing as she falls in love with the only son of her family’s enemy. Juliet is a head-strong and at times obstinate girl who cannot be easily swayed and will defiantly stick to her own view, no matter who opposes her decisions. Her intransigent manner can at times cause conflict and disagreements.

Juliet does not fit into the typical stereotype of a young Japanese woman, in the Edo period as women tended to ‘be seen and not heard’, were expected to abide by the male head of the household and comply with arranged marriages. In contrast, Juliet is defiant at times and refuses to marry a man whom she does not love. She places great faith in her love Romeo, displaying great courage by trusting him wholeheartedly.

Lord Capulet

Father of Juliet, Head of Capulet household

Capulet, the daimyo of the Capulet estate and the head of the Capulet household is a sworn enemy of the Montague family and a seemingly typical patriarch. He demands respect from those within his household, however, is prone to being quickly engulfed in rage when his expectations are not met. He blatantly disregards Juliet’s opinion and emotions, ordering her to marry Paris, whom he believes will be an appropriate suitor. He strictly abides by traditional Japanese values, and believes that those below him should be obedient, and becomes extremely volatile when he is disobeyed.

Lady Capulet

Mother of Juliet, Wife to Lord Capulet

Lady Capulet is often a reticent character, whom seldom shares her individual opinion, and is often found to blindly follow her husband’s word. She is an ineffectual mother and lacks a personal relationship with her daughter Juliet.

Her character fulfills the role of a woman as dictated by Japanese society during the Edo period, i.e. to simply suffice as as loyal house maid to their husband and to complete the household chores.

Tybalt

Juliet's cousin, Capulet samurai

A samurai belonging to the Capulet family, Tybalt is hot-tempered and his behaviour can quickly escalate, becoming violent when seemingly threatened. His upbringing as a samurai has established a strong sense of honour but he is prone to acting impulsively, often launching conflict in the play. His contempt towards the Montague household, especially towards Romeo, evokes conflict when the opposing sides encounter each other.

Nurse

Juliet's personal maid

Juliet’s maid is a character who is sharp tongued and quick-witted. She is retained as a motherly figure is for the most part, a confidant for Juliet, assisting the establishment of Juliet’s relationship and marriage to Romeo. However, she ultimately turns on Juliet when her own position is threatened, attempting to persuade Juliet to obey her parents’ wishes.

Character Profiles