Skip to main content

In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, what does Lord Capulet mean when he says to Tybalt, "More light, more light" (1.5.84)?

During this conversation, Lord Capulet is actually chastising Tybalt for Tybalt's failure to obey him.  Tybalt has identified Romeo Montague, the son of Capulet's great enemy, in the crowd at their party, and he is enraged.  He wants to go after the young man and make him pay for what Tybalt sees as an insult to the Capulets' honor.  Lord Capulet yells at him, telling him that to make such a scene would ruin the...

During this conversation, Lord Capulet is actually chastising Tybalt for Tybalt's failure to obey him.  Tybalt has identified Romeo Montague, the son of Capulet's great enemy, in the crowd at their party, and he is enraged.  He wants to go after the young man and make him pay for what Tybalt sees as an insult to the Capulets' honor.  Lord Capulet yells at him, telling him that to make such a scene would ruin the party, endanger his guests, and compel them to leave.  Tybalt, however, feels that Romeo's presence is a sign of terrible disrespect to them.  Lord Capulet says to him, "You are a princox, go. / Be quiet, or—More light, more light!—For shame! / I’ll make you quiet" (1.5.85-87).  Thus, he calls Tybalt a punk, basically, and orders him to be quiet.  When he calls for more light, he is actually speaking to one of his servants; it helps to see that those four words are set off by dashes, and this is because they are sort of an interjection to someone else.  Then, he returns to Tybalt to tell him that he should be ashamed of himself.  Therefore, this one part of his line isn't actually addressed to Tybalt.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more