Act 1 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

1305 Words3 Pages

Act 1 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The play is about two young people, Romeo and Juliet, who fall in love

in Verona. Their parents hatred filled feud eventually brings about

their deaths

Even before the play has begun, it seems as if the parents only made

the lovers to die with a pointless sad, life. When the prologue speaks

of ‘fatal loins’ Shakespeare sets a strong feeling of love and hate,

as well as a sad sort of irony. The prologue also speaks off the fury

of the parents in comparison to the love of Romeo and Juliet when it

speaks of their ‘parents rage’. The word rage is a very strong word

which Shakespeare uses to show extreme and uncontrollable anger or

hatred, which the playwright uses to get the message of their absolute

contempt of each other across to the audience. This contrasts with the

love predicted for Romeo in Juliet as ‘star crossed lovers’ they were

destined to fall in love, but also destined to die. It foreshadows the

love and hate later in the play.

Act 1 Scene 5 is very important in showing the strong contrast of love

and hate in the play. Romeo and Juliet fall in love at first sight at

a ball where Romeo is unwelcome as a member of the Montague family.

The audience sees Tybalt angry and violent as he threatens Romeo. This

hints at the events later in the play as either Tybalt’s furious hate

or Romeos purest love must end.

Before the real action starts Shakespeare sets the scene for a lively

part, by making Capulet merry and jovial when he says “She that makes

daintily, she I swear hath corns”. He is making this wisecrack to make

the party seem more laid back and friendly. He wants his party to go

well. This creates a light hearted and pleasant atmosphere for the

entire scene. On stage perhaps party-goers would be chattering

excitedly. In these scenes we also get to know a lot about lord

Capulet.

Open Document