Romeo And Juliet Analysis Of Act I

Romeo And Juliet. Analysis Of Act I Scene V Essay, Research Paper

Analysis of Act I Scene V

Act I Scene V is a very relevant scene in the play. It contains Romeo and Juliet’s first meeting, which is of course an important event.

The scene begins merrily and busily, the servants are rushing around preparing things, and serving, as servants tend to do. Capulet greets all the guests warmly and in good humour. He makes a joke about how if a Woman won’t dance, she must have corns:

“She that makes dainty, she, I’ll swear, hath corns…” (Capulet, line 19-20)

Capulet joking with his guests shows he is in a good mood and intends this to be a good party.

Perhaps Capulet starts to feel his age around line 35. Whilst talking to a relative they discuss when they last wore masks, Capulet is told it was longer than he thought. In act I scene I, he asks for his sword to join in the brawl, but his wife tells him basically he is too old. Perhaps Capulet is now feeling somewhat sadder as he remembers better days. Maybe this makes him more willing to not cause trouble when Romeo’s presence is bought to light later.

Romeo went to the feast because Benvolio persuaded him to do so. He found out the Romeo was longing for Rosaline, and suggested they go to the feast so that Romeo could compare other women with Rosaline. Romeo agrees to go, but probably only because he knows Rosaline will be there, and he just wants to see her. This is similar to what Lady Capulet told Juliet to do at the feast; Juliet was asked to go to the feast, look at Paris, and see what a great Husband he would be. However, neither Rosaline or Paris feature in the scene. It is love at first sight for Romeo and Juliet and Shakespeare doesn’t confuse the matter by giving them the chance to make comparisons.

Romeo sees Juliet for the first time at the feast. He describes her as “a snowy dove trooping with crows.” He is saying here that she stands out from all the other women as a dove would stand out from crows. Earlier, in Act I Scene II, Benvolio says something similar to this comparison when he is trying to persuade Romeo to go to the party:

“…And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.” (Benvolio, line 87)

This is in fact exactly what happens. When Romeo says that Juliet is a “dove trooping with crows”, he is saying that every other woman in the room is a crow compared to Juliet, including Rosaline. So now, as Benvolio said, he thinks Rosaline (his “swan”) to be a “crow”.

Also he immediately distinguishes his feelings for Juliet from those he had for Rosaline: “Did my heart love till now.” (line 52). He is saying there that what he feels for Juliet is greater than he felt for Rosaline. It is like he didn’t love Rosaline at all compared to Juliet now.

Romeo Likens Juliet to a jewel in an Ethiop’s ear, and says that “she doth teach the torches to burn bright”. The first of those examples is a lot like the one saying how Juliet is like a dove and the other women are crows. An Ethiop being a black person, a jewel would probably stand out clearly against the dark background of the ear. In the same way, Juliet seems to stand out from the other black crows like a white dove would. What Romeo says about Juliet teaching the torches to burn bright suggests that she lights the room more than the torches do, and stands out more as well. It is like the torches, which provide the light and warmth, are humbled and forgotten by Juliet’s presence.

Immediately, conflict accompanies the love, when on line 54, Tybalt notices Romeo at the feast. He believes that Romeo has gate crashed to do some harm to his family, so he immediately asks for his rapier which shows he intends to fight Romeo there and then:

“Now by the stock and honour of my kin,

To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.”(Tybalt, Line 57-58)

He mentions the honour of his kin, and that it will not be a sin to kill Romeo. He considers it to be right and just to kill him because of the family feud. Tybalt is stopped by his Uncle, Capulet, but he still wants to fight Romeo.

Clearly Tybalt is quick to anger, and will fight to uphold his family’s “honour” and to continue the feud. Another example of Tybalt’s temper can be seen in act I scene I. When the servants of the opposing Families begin a fight, Benvolio tries to stop it. Then Tybalt enters and immediately joins in the fight, as well as attacking Benvolio:

“What! Drawn, and talk of peace.. I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee.” (Tybalt, Act I Scene I, Line 63-64)

It is clear to see that Tybalt has quite a temper. The mood immediately becomes one of anger and rage. The feud between the Capulets and Montagues is brought to light once again, after the brief time when Romeo is watching Juliet, when the feud seems to be irrelevant.

Capulet tries to calm Tybalt by complementing Romeo and saying it is alright that he is at the party. Tybalt does not respond so Capulet keeps turning up the heat until he gets very angry with Tybalt and forces him to leave Romeo alone. The atmosphere is calm once more but now it will always be tarnished by Tybalt’s outburst, it will always be in the back of your mind. I think maybe the prince’s warning is influencing Capulet here. I think it is also to do with his age and how perhaps he has grown weary of the feud a

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