Romeo and Juliet : Analyzing language and imagery

Lady Capulet uses language and imagery, in Act I, Scene 3 of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, to express her beliefs and feelings about why her daughter Juliet should marry Count Paris. First, Lady Capulet talks about how handsome Paris is. She says, "And find delight writ there with beauty's pen" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 88) and "what obscured in this fair volume lies" (Act 1, Scene 3, Line 91). Lady Capulet uses the image of a book to convey her belief …

…in society. Marrying someone such as Count Paris, who is considered at the same high social level as the Capulet family, is one of the ways to keep the good name of the families of both the bride and the groom. In conclusion, Lady Capulet uses her words with great skill and creativity, comparing Count Paris in several ways to a handsome and unbound book, to convince Juliet to marry this eligible and good-looking nobleman.