This question is based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. … decides that Juliet should marry a young…

Analyze the question: The question asks who decides that Juliet should marry Paris, the young nobleman who has been asking for her hand.

Concept: In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet's marriage is a matter for her father to arrange, as was the custom in Shakespeare's time. Paris first approaches Lord Capulet to ask for Juliet's hand (Act 1, Scene 2). Capulet at first says Juliet is too young, since she is not yet 14, and asks Paris to wait two more summers. Later, after Tybalt's death (Act 3, Scene 4), Capulet changes his mind. He wants to cheer the grieving household and believes marriage will lift Juliet's sorrow. He fixes the wedding for Thursday (it was Monday night), and he does this without consulting her.

Checking each option:

• A. Friar Laurence: He secretly marries Romeo and Juliet. Later he gives Juliet the sleeping potion to escape the Paris marriage, so he is against it, not the one who decides it.
• B. Lord Capulet: He is the one who decides. When Juliet refuses, he becomes furious, threatens to disown her, and insists she obey (Act 3, Scene 5).
• C. Balthasar: He is Romeo's servant. He brings Romeo the false news of Juliet's death.
• D. Friar John: He is the friar who fails to deliver Friar Laurence's letter to Romeo because of the plague quarantine.

Answer: The correct option is B. Lord Capulet.

Tip: In Shakespeare's plays, remember that a father is the authority on a daughter's marriage. Also match each minor character to a single role: Balthasar means the news of death, Friar John means the undelivered letter, and Friar Laurence means the secret plans. This helps you eliminate wrong options quickly.