Capulet

Capulet refers to a prominent noble family in Verona featured in William Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet. The Capulets, led by Lord Capulet and his wife, Lady Capulet, are part of Verona’s aristocracy and are long-standing rivals of the House of Montague. The family’s estate and status play a central role in the social dynamics of the play, and their feud with the Montagues drives much of the plot and tragedy.

Key members include Juliet Capulet, the young daughter who becomes central to the play’s romance; Tybalt Capulet, Juliet’s hot-tempered cousin who inflames conflicts; and the parents, who navigate issues of authority, obedience, and marriage. Lady Capulet pushes for Juliet’s marriage to Paris as a socially advantageous match, while Lord Capulet’s expectations for obedience and propriety shape the couple’s choices and tensions within the household.

In the narrative, the Capulets advocate for Juliet’s marriage to Paris, a plan Juliet defies by secretly marrying Romeo Montague with the help of Friar Laurence. Following Tybalt’s confrontation with Romeo, Romeo kills Tybalt and is banished from Verona, intensifying the family crisis. The deaths of Romeo and Juliet ultimately contribute to the cessation of the feud, as the two families are forced to confront the cost of their enmity.

The Capulet family is often examined in literary discussions as a symbol of patriarchal authority, social status, and the destructive potential of family loyalty when pitted against individual desire and rival houses.