William Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet “Romeo and Juliet” is a famous love story. It involves two families, the Capulets and the Montagues, who fued with each other. Romeo is a Montague and Juliet is a Capulet. Romeo and Juliet both fall in love, which leads to tragedy and their deaths. Shakespeare uses a prologue to summarize the play, and hint there will be a tragedy. The Elizabethan audience loved tragedy in plays and would be pleased when they heard about the “star cross’d lovers.” Act one starts with the Capulets and the Montagues having a brawl. The prince says this is not going to happen any more, if it does the Capulets and Montagues will pay with their lives. While this is happening Romeo is love sick about Rosaline. Benvolio tries to cheer Romeo up, he tells him they shall go to the Capulets party in disguise. Meanwhile Juliet’s parents want her to marry Paris. Shakespeare is setting up our expectations. We expect love and conflict to be present at the party. Act one scene five is a climax to the first act, and provides a dramatic link to the rest of the play, leads to marriage and the balcony scene. Lord Capulet welcomes his guests to his party, which is when Romeo sees Juliet and is instantly captivated by her. Tybalt unfortunately recognizes Romeo at the party. In act three, Tybalt starts a fight with Romeo but he does not fight, Mercutio gets involved and ends up dead. Romeo is angry and he kills Tybalt and the prince banishes Romeo from Verona. Act one scene five is the catalyst for these tragic events. There are two important themes in act one scene five. The most significant theme is love. Elizabethans believed in love at first sight. In this scene Romeo is in love with Juliet, Romeo says “Did my heart love till know? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.” Juliet also feels strongly about Romeo. Juliet says “My only love sprung from my only hate.