Skip to main content

Why does Paris think Romeo has come to the tomb?

Paris thinks Romeo has come to the Capulet's family crypt in order to vandalize it or to desecrate the dead bodies of the Capulets (namely, Juliet and Tybalt) that lay within. This is perhaps an odd or surprising sentiment for a reader to encounter, but we must contextualize it by recalling that Romeo and Juliet's love affair and marriage have been keep a secret from most of the major players in this narrative; Paris does...

Paris thinks Romeo has come to the Capulet's family crypt in order to vandalize it or to desecrate the dead bodies of the Capulets (namely, Juliet and Tybalt) that lay within. This is perhaps an odd or surprising sentiment for a reader to encounter, but we must contextualize it by recalling that Romeo and Juliet's love affair and marriage have been keep a secret from most of the major players in this narrative; Paris does not know that Juliet--the woman to which he is betrothed--has actually already been wed to another man. We can see this confusion in the small speech Paris makes when he spots Romeo approaching the tomb:



This is that banish'd haughty Montague,


That murder'd my love's cousin, with which grief,


It is supposed, the fair creature died;


And here is come to do some villainous shame


To the dead bodies: I will apprehend him.



Paris wants this "condemned villain" to suffer the vengeance that he deserves: that is to say, death. In his state of grief, that of "a desperate man," Romeo does not even attempt to correct Paris or justify his actions. Instead, they duel, and Paris is slain.

Popular posts from this blog

In chapter one of The Great Gatsby, what advice does Nick's father give him? How does this make him a good person to tell this story?

Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches... Nick says that his father advised him that, before "criticizing anyone," he "remember that all the people in this world haven't had the same advantages" as Nick.  As a result, Nick claims that he is "inclined to reserve all judgments," presenting himself to the reader as a fair and dispassionate arbiter of character, and thus, a reliable narrator.   The problem is that Nick immediately reveals himself as anything but reliable, as he then launches into a discussion of how pe...
Post a Comment
Read more

How and why does James Gatz become Jay Gatsby? Describe the young Gatsby/Gatz.

James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune,... James Gatz, a poor Midwestern boy of probable Jewish lineage, becomes Jay Gatsby, a presumed WASP and wealthy socialite, when he moves to New York City and acquires his fortune. It is wealth that has allowed Gatz to transform himself into Gatsby. However, those who know his background (e.g., Daisy and Tom Buchanan) never allow him to forget that he is nouveau riche -- that is, an upstart who has just recently made his fortune, whereas they arose from well-to-do families. Gatz became Gatsby through determination and discipline. At the end of the novel, the narr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Explain and discuss how the definitions of freedom change for the nation, for the freedmen and for southern whites after the Civil War.

After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to... After the Civil War, the definition of freedom changed in the nation, as slavery was ended with the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. The practice of slavery was disallowed, but definition of the freedom that would take its place was a subject of controversy, ongoing debate, and even violence in the decades to come.  For freedmen, freedom often meant reconciling with their families, who were broken up by slavery; choosing which church to belong to without being ordered to attend religious services (or not to attend) by their mast...
Post a Comment
Read more