Act 1 scene 5
Summary
At the masquerade, servants bustle, complain, and
save a little marzipan for themselves.
Analysis & Themes
Servant's view of the party: work.
Romeo catches sight of Juliet. He doesn't know who Romeo's first sight of Juliet lis inked to
she is, but immediately forgets Rosaline. He says that Tybalt's noticing Romeo. Love can't
Juliet teaches the "torches to burn bright!"(1.5.41). At escape the society surrounding it.
the same time, Tybalt recognizes Romeo and prepares
to attack this party-crashing Montague.
Romeo and Juliet's meeting sets in
Capulet, furious that Tybalt would ruin the party,
motion Tybalt's part in their fate.
stops him. Once Capulet is gone, Tybalt secretly vows
revenge, and exits.
Romeo approaches Juliet. Their entire first
conversation is an intertwined fourteen line sonnet, in
which they develop a complicated religious metaphor
that Romeo guides into a first kiss, and which Juliet
guides toward a second. Juliet comments that Romeo
kisses "by the book" (1.5.107).
The prologue and this first meeting
between R and J are both in sonnet form.
The play links the prologue's theme of
fate with R and J's love from the first
instant through this stylistic echo.
The Nurse interrupts, calling Juliet to her mother.
Just as they fall in love, R and J discover
Romeo learns from the Nurse that Juliet's a Capulet. the main social forces—their families—
Moments later, Juliet says about Romeo, as the Nurse opposing them. Juliet simultaneously
goes to find out who he is, "If he be married, my grave foreshadows her fate: when Romeo gets
is like to be my wedding bed" (1.5.131-132). The
married, Juliet's grave does become her
Nurse reports Romeo's a Montague.
wedding bed.