Romeo And Juliet Analysis Essay Example

a tragedy and not a comedy. In this specific play by Shakespeare, a single character dressed in black is used to read the sonnet. The prologue informs us that there are "Two households, both alike in dignity" who have an "ancient grudge" that could "break to new mutiny". This summarizes the deep hatred between the two families. With this knowledge about the animosity between the families, we discover the presence of "star-crossed lovers who take their lives" caught in the middle of this feud.

The spectators are already curious about the plot development and reasons behind the characters' suicides. Furthermore, there are tragic events that lead to questions about what unfortunate mishaps might happen. The prologue refers to "the fearful passage," "their death-marked love," and "their parents rage." These unresolved queries provoke viewers to see the entire play in search of answers. This intrigue mirrors the sense of expectation that emerges when a movie is produced or a novel or drama is penned down today.

The first scene in any narrative is often filled with action, designed to have a powerful impact on the reader or viewer. This is vital for grabbing their attention and sustaining their interest throughout the story. From my viewpoint, 'Romeo and Juliet' does an extraordinary job at this. The play begins not only with intense action but also skillfully imparts crucial details while sparking ongoing questions, especially regarding the continuing conflict between the Capulet and Montague families. It kicks off with a conversation between two servants of the Capulet family, Gregory and Sampson.

In Elizabethan times, the servants' way of talking involved word play and alliteration. An example of this is when they

say "we'll not carry coals/ for then we'd be colliers. / I mean, and we be in choler... / draw your neck out of collar". This type of communication is known as punning and was quite popular at that time. Additionally, the servants also made sexual jokes. For instance, Sampson crudely suggests that " 'T is true, and therefore women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall". He implies that because women are physically weaker, it is easier to exploit them sexually.

In addition to mentioning the concept of taking their 'maidenheads', a term that was commonly used in that era to refer to virginity, the text includes sexual innuendos, which were commonly used for comedic purposes, as comedy is highly appealing to audiences. Following this, Abraham and another servant from the Montague family appear on the scene, and Sampson and Gregory intentionally provoke chaos by attempting to elicit a reaction from their rival family members. They accomplish this by biting their thumb at them, an action that was considered a disrespectful and insulting gesture during that time.

A dispute arises between Abraham, the servant, and Tybalt. Benvolio joins Abraham and the servant on the Montague side, while Tybalt confronts Sampson and Gregory on the Capulet side. The disagreement escalates into a fight, which Benvolio tries to intervene in. However, Tybalt, known for his aggression, worsens the situation by challenging Benvolio to a fight, saying "Benvolio; look upon thy death." Consequently, a fight breaks out between Tybalt and Benvolio.

Prince Esculas interrupts the unstoppable brawl in the middle of the street, stating that if the disturbance occurs again, the lives of those involved

will be forfeit. This creates suspense as previous events suggest that this outcome is likely. In Shakespeare's time, courtly love was a popular tradition. Men idolized women as Goddesses, but their love was often unreciprocated.

However, despite men sending love letters in the form of sonnets to win a woman's love, it often failed, leaving them feeling melancholic. Romeo experienced this when he fell in love with a girl named Rosaline. Montague and Benvolio observed a change in Romeo's behavior as a result, with Montague explaining how Romeo "shuts up his windows" and "locks fair daylight out." This indicates Romeo's attempt to isolate himself and his melancholy state.

When Romeo enters the scene, the audience can observe his state of mind through his conversation with Benvolio. His responses to Benvolio's remarks are brief and subdued, conveying his sadness and his perception that time drags on when one is unhappy. Consequently, we feel sympathetic towards Romeo and anticipate a positive change in his fortunes. In scene 2, we encounter Paris, a man seeking Juliet's hand in marriage and attempting to persuade Capulet to give his consent. However, Capulet believes that Juliet is too young to be married, noting that she has not yet reached the age of fourteen.

The potential union of Paris and Juliet elicits excitement from the audience, but it becomes a hindrance to the budding relationship between Romeo and Juliet. The scene then shifts to Romeo and his challenges with courtly love. Benvolio, aware of Romeo's predicament, attempts to be a supportive friend by offering guidance. He metaphorically advises Romeo that "one fire burns out another's burning", meaning he should pursue someone else and let go

of Rosaline.

In this scene, 'Clown' from the Capulet family asks Romeo and Benvolio to read a party invitation for him, as he is struggling to do so himself. Romeo notices that Rosalie's name is on the list and the two friends decide to go to the masqued ball in order to give Romeo an opportunity to meet Rosaline, fulfilling his dream. They plan to attend in disguise, taking advantage of the fact that it is a masqued ball in order to sneak in unnoticed. Benvolio considers this idea. In scene 3, the Nurse is introduced.

In the Elizabethan period, a nurse functioned as a caregiver for children. However, usually these nurses were employed by affluent upper class households and became vital parts of their homes. The role of these nurses involved looking after and nurturing the kids, including breastfeeding them when they were babies. As an example, Juliet was brought up by a nurse who formed a profound relationship with her. This particular nurse is recognized for her vibrant character and recurrent use of sexual humor and insinuation. She frequently recounts mortifying anecdotes from her own adolescence to Juliet.

Personally, I recall the nurse as a captivating character in the play and was highly acclaimed by the audience, evident from the applause she received at the conclusion. Notably, she exhibited her sexual humor when she uttered, "dost thou fall upon thy face? Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit, wilt thou not, Jule?". This jest entails a crude reference to falling onto her back for sexual activity, which would typically embarrass most fourteen-year-olds when spoken by an adult. However, the spectators found it amusing and

enjoyable.

Soon after, Juliet learns of Paris's intention to marry her, and to the nurses delight, she responds, "It is an honor that I do not dream of." This revelation creates excitement for the audience as it presents the possibility of a marriage between Juliet and Paris. However, it also raises doubts about the likelihood of Romeo and Juliet's union. As they make their way to the Capulet masquerade ball, Romeo foreshadows future events by stating, "for my mind misgives some consequence, yet hanging in the stars." This echoes the sentiment expressed in the prologue, suggesting that Romeo fears a tragic event. The audience anticipates this ironic outcome, considering it as a possibility.

The purpose of this passage is to create tension, particularly when the character mentions an "untimely death." This, along with the prologue, suggests that a young death will occur. Scene 5 takes place at the Capulet household, which is hosting a 'masqued ball.' In Elizabethan times, a 'masqued ball' was a fashionable party where guests wore masks to disguise themselves. It was similar to a modern fancy dress party, and this is why the Montagues were able to attend without arousing suspicion from the Capulets. Parties are always popular events, and Shakespeare chose to make this scene significant in the play to entertain the audience.

From what we have seen, Romeo is a dramatic and isolated character who has gained our sympathy. As one of the main characters, we all hope for a change in his circumstances. Shakespeare presents him as a melancholic lover to highlight the artificiality of his love for Rosaline in contrast to his genuine feelings for Juliet. We observe the

two contrasting forms of love and acknowledge that his love for Juliet is authentic, uplifting, and more sincere.

However, by initially presenting him in love with someone else, it generates romantic suspense for the spectators. When Romeo first lays eyes on Juliet, it is characterized as 'love at first sight', which truly highlights his feelings for her. From the audience's perspective, Romeo seems surprised by how remarkable Juliet is, as indicated by his exclamation, "O she doth teach torches to burn bright". The usage of 'O' at the beginning of his speech is solely to amplify his emotion. Overall, the speech employs light imagery to portray how Juliet's beauty stands out immensely to Romeo.

He then states that she is like a beautiful jewel in a dark ear, emphasizing her beauty, value, and rarity using a metaphor. This serves as an example of imagery associated with wealth. Throughout this part of the scene, he primarily uses imagery and metaphors to express his love for Juliet. He further describes her as a snowy dove amongst a group of crows, employing bird and color imagery to highlight her uniqueness and ability to stand out from others.

The text emphasizes the concept of courtly love, where men idolize and revere women as goddesses. Romeo exemplifies this by employing "holy imagery" when he states, "...touching hers, make blessed my rude hand." Overall, Romeo's speech conveys intense, genuine passion and romantic interest. This particular scene is one of the most loving moments in the story. However, the sentiment is abruptly disrupted by Tybalt's fiery temperament, as he notices a Montague in their midst. Tybalt expresses his anger by demeaning Romeo as a "slave,"

suggesting that he is inferior to Tybalt.

As Capulet enters the scene, Tybalt threatens to "strike him dead". However, Capulet remembers what the Prince said, that further fighting would result in losing their lives. He does not want any violence at the party and forcefully stops Tybalt from acting wrongly. The animosity is then interrupted by the love between Romeo and Juliet when they meet and converse for the first time. Their conversation follows the structure of a sonnet, which was popular in the Elizabethan and Medieval eras. It is highly poetic, passionate, and rich in religious imagery.

The text showcases intense language that is both memorable and utilizes rhyming couplets at the end of every other line, enhancing its appeal and making it distinctive. Juliet displays a strong responsiveness towards Romeo's requests and seemingly desires to be kissed by him, which was uncommon in the courtly love tradition. Romeo playfully refers to Juliet as a 'Pilgrim', symbolizing his deep admiration for her like a deity, thus commencing a series of religious symbolism. Furthermore, Juliet reciprocates with her own religious metaphors such as "And palm to palm is holy palmers kiss", which also incorporates alliteration through the repetition of words containing 'palm'.

The speech follows a consistent pattern of Romeo flirting with Juliet and Juliet flirting back, which maintains the flow of their conversation. At certain points, they even share a kiss. However, their interaction abruptly ends when the Nurse interrupts and they discover each other's true identities. The Nurse then summons Juliet to her mother, and in her absence, reveals to Romeo that Juliet's mother is the lady of the house. This realization leads Romeo to understand

that they are in the Capulet house.

Benvolio signals Romeo to leave, saying "The sport is at the best." This implies that he knows the peak of the event is over and their true identities have been revealed. As a result, the Montagues must quickly depart, abruptly ending Romeo and Juliet's time together. Consequently, only the Nurse and Juliet remain. The Nurse discloses that Romeo is a Montague, which devastates Juliet. She mournfully declares, "My grave is likely to be my wedding bed" and "My only love emerged from my only hatred."

Throughout this scene, Shakespeare juxtaposes love and hate. The initial display of love occurs when Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, experiencing the phenomenon of 'love at first sight.' However, this moment is disrupted by Tybalt, who notices Romeo and desires to engage in a violent act. Thankfully, Capulet intervenes and prevents an altercation. As a result, Romeo and Juliet are able to share their first speech in the form of a love sonnet. Unfortunately, when they discover each other's identities, the animosity between their feuding families takes precedence, leaving the audience questioning whether their love is potent enough to conquer the hate.

In summarizing the opening act of the play, Shakespeare deliberately leaves many plot points unresolved. These unresolved elements create suspense and curiosity among the audience. They eagerly continue watching to find answers to their questions: Will Tybalt carry out his threat against Romeo? Will Romeo and Juliet meet their tragic fate, and if so, how? Is Juliet going to marry Paris? And will there be further confrontations? To obtain answers to these burning questions, the audience must continue watching the play. Shakespeare's

objective for the opening act is accomplished as he successfully creates this sense of anticipation and engagement.