In Romeo and Juliet, Paris asks Capulet for Juliet's hand in marriage. Comment upon Capulet's reply.

It is interesting that in Act I scene 2, in his
conversation with Paris, Lord Capulet shows himself to be a very compassionate father.
In response to Paris's urgent desire to marry as soon as possible, Capulet shows that he
loves his daughter greatly, saying that she is too young and asking Paris to wait for
two more years. When Paris protests that women are married much younger, note how
Capulet responds:

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And too soon marred are those so early
made.

Earth hath swallowed all my hopes but
she;

She is the hopeful lady of my
earth.

But woo her, gentle Paris, get her
heart;

My will to her consent is but a
part.

And she agreed, within her scope of
choice

Lies my consent and fair according
voice.

Capulet then clearly
points towards his love and affection of Juliet, saying that as she is his only child,
she represents all his "hopes." However, he does not want to merely parcel out Juliet to
Paris like a piece of property, and urges that Paris "woos" his daughter, and gains her
love. As long as Paris does this, he has Capulet's consent. Interestingly, this attitude
is actually very different to the kind of attitude Capulet displays in front of his
daughter later on in the play when she tries to protest against marrying Paris. Here,
however, we see a very cautious father, thinking of his daughter and risking putting off
the noble Paris to ensure his daughter is ready and also encouraging him to woo
her.