Read the following extract from Romeo and Juliet. Then answer the question that follows.
Lady Capulet
Ay, sir, but she will none, she gives you thanks.
I would the fool were married to her grave.
Capulet
Soft, take me with you, take me with you, wife.
How, will she none? Doth she not give us thanks?
Is she not proud? Doth she not count her blest,
Unworthy as she is, that we have wrought
So worthy a gentleman to be her bride?
Juliet
Not proud you have, but thankful that you have.
Proud can I never be of what I hate,
But thankful even for hate that is meant love.
Capulet
How, how, how, how—chopped logic? What is this?
'Proud', and 'I thank you', and 'I thank you not',
And yet 'not proud'? Mistress minion, you,
Thank me no thankings, nor proud me no prouds,
But fettle your fine joints 'gainst Thursday next
To go with Paris to Saint Peter's Church,
Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither.
Out, you green-sickness carrion! Out, you baggage,
You tallow-face!
Lady Capulet
Fie, fie, what, are you mad?
Juliet [kneeling]
Good father, I beseech you on my knees,
Hear me with patience but to speak a word.
Capulet
Hang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch!
I tell thee what: get thee to church o' Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face.
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me.
[Juliet rises]
My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blest
That God had lent us but this only child,
But now I see this one is one too much,
And that we have a curse in having her.
Out on her, hilding!
Nurse
God in heaven bless her!
You are to blame, my lord, to rate her so.
Capulet
And why, my lady Wisdom? Hold your tongue,
Good Prudence. Smatter with your gossips, go!
Nurse
I speak no treason.
Capulet
O, God-i'-good-e'en!
Nurse
May not one speak?
Capulet
Peace, you mumbling fool,
Utter your gravity o'er a gossip's bowl,
For here we need it not.
Lady Capulet
You are too hot.
Capulet
God's bread, it makes me mad. Day, night; work, play;
Alone, in company, still my care hath been
To have her matched; and having now provided
A gentleman of noble parentage,
Of fair demesnes, youthful, and nobly lined,
Stuffed, as they say, with honourable parts,
Proportioned as one's thought would wish a man—
And then to have a wretched puling fool,
A whining maumet, in her fortune's tender,
To answer 'I'll not wed, I cannot love;
I am too young, I pray you pardon me'!
But an you will not wed, I'll pardon you!
Graze where you will, you shall not house with me.
Look to't, think on't. I do not use to jest.
Thursday is near. Lay hand on heart. Advise.
An you be mine, I'll give you to my friend.
An you be not, hang, beg, starve, die in the streets,
For, by my soul, I'll ne'er acknowledge thee,
Nor what is mine shall never do thee good.
Trust to't. Bethink you. I'll not be forsworn.
Look at how the characters speak and behave here. How do you think an audience might respond to this part of the play? Refer closely to details from the extract to support your answer.
[15 marks]
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