Romeo and Juliet
Act I Analysis
Scene I
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Has been designed to capture audience members' attention
Is a grand demonstration of social power and excitement with the
city of Verona
All background information from prologue has been incorporated;
sets the tone for the remainder of the play
Readers are introduced to the play's:
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Setting
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All layers of the social class within Verona's society
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Characterization of key players [including Benvolio, Romeo &
Tybalt]
Scene I...
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Civil brawl introduces the important theme of
masculine honor.
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Throughout the play, we will watch male characters
defend their honor, both verbally and physically
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Exists in every social layer of society
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In Verona, men must defend their honor when another
violates it...they do not have a choice
The Society of Verona
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Important to focus on the interactions between the
two families however..servants play a key role
within the play too
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Provide an outside perspective
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Used to comment on the actions of the higher social
class & society as a whole
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Their perspective can often change the way audience
members interpret the play
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Illustrate the higher social class's privileged status and
questionable actions
The Introduction of Romeo
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Are we supposed to be shocked that Romeo isn't
already in love with Juliet?
Who is Rosaline? What is her purpose throughout
the play?
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Is it to illustrate the different levels of love or Romeo's
passionate nature?
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She never appears onstage, but her presence is felt
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Later when Romeo marries Juliet, his friends still
think that he is still in love with Rosaline
Scene II Analysis
Big Picture Question...
What factor from scene 2 greatly
influences
Romeo and Juliet's downfall?
Parental Influence
Scene II
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The scene introduces Paris as Lord Capulet's pick for Juliet's
husband
Also sets the anticipation for Romeo and Juliet's meeting at Lord
Capulet's feast
**Establishes how Juliet is subject to parental influence
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Juliet is therefore, a highly controlled character
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As a young female, she has little say as to how she may
conduct her life
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Lord Capulet can force her to marry whoever he wants
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Important to watch parental constraint
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Is a key factor in Romeo and Juliet's actions
Scene II...
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Like women living during the Elizabethan Era,
Juliet will be passed from the control of one man
to another
What do you think about Lord Capulet's actions in
the beginning of scene 2? Does he come across as
a controlling father or one that is kind and openminded?
Scene II...
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Peter, the illiterate servant invites two Montagues
[Romeo and Benvolio] to the Capulet's feast
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Supposed to be a funny scene
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Illustrates social class and power in Verona
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A “chance happening” event
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When this scene ends, audience members are
anticipating the meeting of Romeo and Juliet at the
Capulet feast
Scene III
Introduction to Juliet
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**This scene continues to develop the issues
surrounding parental influence**
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Lady Capulet supports her husband's plans for
his daughter [the arrange marriage]
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The Nurse has served as Juliet's caregiver/
Motherly figure. She was the one who raised
her...literally
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Lady Capulet's illustrates that she has been an
ineffective mother.
Parental Influence
&
Juliet's Obedience
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“I'll look to like, if looking liking move;/But no
more deep will I endart mine eye/ Than your
consent gives me strength to make it fly”
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[End of scene 2]
**Audience members initially view Juliet as an obedient
daughter. Juliet's character perfectly represents women
living during the Elizabethan Era**
The Nurse
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Both her husband and daughter, Susan, have died
The Nurse provides an outside perspective onto
Lady Capulet's character/personality
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Think about Lady Capulet? Do you like her?
Her character/dialogue are supposed to be funny
Scene IV
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Scene begins with Romeo still acting melancholy:
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Wonders how they [Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio] will get into the play
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He states that he will not dance at the feat
The Purpose of Romeo & “Mercutio's” Dreams:
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Combination of drama and comedy [like the beginning of the play]
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Romeo's dream reveals to him that going to the feast is a bad idea...
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***Dramatic Irony & foreshadowing of what is to come later
The scene ends w/ Romeo expressing his concern. He feels as if the
night's activities will set into motion a doomed & unforgiving fate
Scene V
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Scene begins with Capulet servants, working to
make sure that the feast runs smoothly
Capulet later makes his rounds to make sure that
his guest are dancing/having a good time
Tybalt then sees Romeo at the feat
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Capulet tells Tybalt to leave him alone
Romeo & Juliet's 1st Encounter
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Romeo's mood immediately changes
Juliet's obedience towards her parents slowly diminishes
too.
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Her attitude towards love changes too
There are religious undertones during their first dialogue
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[Juliet=Religious saint]
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Romeo= Pilgrim who wishes to erase his sin]
Scene concludes with each character figuring out that
one another is from opposing house
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Both characters foreshadow their doomed fate
Examples of Foreshadowing
Scene V
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Juliet: “My grave is like to be my wedding bed”
[pg. 61]
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Romeo: “Is she a Capulet?” O dear account! My
life is my foe's debt” [pg. 59]
Tybalt: “I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall,
Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt'rest gall”[pg. 57]
Act II
Scene I
Chorus
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Sonnet describes the love between Romeo and
Juliet
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Reinforces themes that have already appeared
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Builds suspense & questions if the two lovers can
overcome their social labels
Addresses the continuous hatred between the 2
families & the problems surrounding parental
influence
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They will have trouble spending time with one another
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Their true love, however, gives them the courage to
fight the obstacles that lay ahead
Scene I
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Romeo feels that he cannot go home. He must
find Juliet
Benvolio & Mercutio eventually stop looking for
him and assume that he does not want to be found.
They exit and go home
Mercutio mocks Romeo's feelings for Rosaline
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Romeo's friends still think that he's in love with Rosaline...they do
not know about Juliet
In response to Mercutio's teasing, Romeo says: “He jest at scars that
never felt a wound”
Scene II
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The famous Balcony scene, one of the most
famous scenes in theater
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“But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east,
and Juliet is the sun”-Romeo
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Strong contrasts between what is light and what is dark
Juliet appears first, then Romeo unveils his appearance
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Love led Romeo to Juliet [chance happening event!!]
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Romeo will be put to death if he is found, but he claims Juliet's love
would make him immune to his enemies
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The power of language:
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Juliet's speech, questioning identity
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[see journal entry #4]
Scene II...
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Juliet does not want to Romeo to think that she
has been easily won [pg. 75, lines 100]
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Even though she is in love with Romeo, she is still
cautious about his appearance in the orchard
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The Nurse calls for Juliet and she must leave.
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She manages to return to the window one last time
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They plan to meet the next morning at 9
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Romeo exits wanting to tell the Friar of what
happened between him and Juliet
Scene III
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Introduction to Friar Lawrence
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Pay attention to what the Friar is talking about in his
first monologue!
Romeo enters, then tells the Friar about his love
for Juliet
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At first, the Friar thinks that Romeo spent all night w/
Rosaline
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What does Romeo want the Friar to do? [pg. 87]
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What does the Friar think that the marriage will cure?
[pg. 89]
Scene IV
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Just before 9am, Benvolio and Mercutio question
what happened to Romeo the previous night
They also find out that Tybalt has sent him
Romeo a letter
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Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel
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Mercutio says that Romeo is not man enough to defeat
Tybalt
Upon Romeo's return, Mercutio immediately
makes fun of him, for he knows that Romeo has
been weakened by love
Scene IV...
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Again, readers see an illustration of sensual
love/brotherly love between these 3 characters
The nurse's arrival...
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She serves as a messenger between Romeo & Juliet
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She first questions his intentions with Juliet
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Finally, Romeo tells the Nurse that Juliet should
attend confession that afternoon.
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Friar Laurence has agreed to marry them
Scene V
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Juliet is anxious for the Nurse's return
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After her return, the Nurse pretends to be too tired
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Eventually, however, she tells Juliet about the
plans surrounding her marriage with Romeo
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During this scene, Shakespeare emphasizes youth and
romantic love
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Romeo and Juliet are equally excited for what is to
come.
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They believe that love is the most powerful force
Scene VI
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Romeo and Friar Lawrence wait for Juliet to
arrive
Romeo does not care about what negative
outcomes could come from their marriage
The Friar's advice to Romeo [ to “love
moderately”] strongly foreshadows the characters'
tragic fate
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“These violent delights have violent ends” [pg. 109]
Discussion Question
What do you think about the Friar's
advice to Romeo in scene 6? Do you
think he follows through with his
advice, or is he just as passionate as the
two young lovers? At this point, do you
think that he is responsible for their
death?