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All Site ContentRomeo and JulietAct 3Scene 5
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"hilding"
Metaphor
Act 3,
Scene 5
Lines 158-168a

An explanation of the “hilding” metaphor in Act 3, Scene 5 of myShakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

Juliet

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 a Thursday,
Or never after look me in the face.
Speak not, reply not, do not answer me.
My fingers itch. Wife, we scarce thought us blessed
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!

A hilding is a useless, broken down horse, which continues the horse metaphor Capulet started with the word "fettle" in line 153. This is the first instance of "hilding" being used as an insult to describe a useless woman.