“… the story of two
adolescents finding in
their sudden love for
each other a reason
to defy their families’
mutual hatred by
marrying secretly.”
- Written around 1594 or 1595
A timeless theme in
the tragic love story of
Romeo and Juliet:
The power of love
over hate.
The Capulets
The Montagues
Other Players
The prologue is an opening of a story that establishes
the setting and gives background details and/or
introduces characters of the story. Shakespeare used
the Prologue to quiet and settle his audience before the
play started. He also wanted to prepare everyone for the
events that were about to unfold.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR?
After the prologue, the scene shifts to the streets of Verona where
two of Capulet’s men (Sampson and Gregory) discuss the tension
between their lord and Lord Montague. During their discussion
they notice Abram and Balthasar, two of Montague’s men. After a
little prodding, Sampson gets Gregory to start an argument with
the Montagues. A fight breaks out between the men, causing all
of the people in the streets to begin fighting. Benvolio tries to stop
the fight, but is attacked by Tybalt. The Prince arrives with his men
and breaks up the fight. He announces that if anyone from either
house disturbs the peace once more, they will be put to death.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR?
After the fight, Benvolio is sent to find Romeo. Romeo has been
brooding all morning because the love of his life does not love
him anymore. He can’t imagine how he can ever find joy,
happiness, or love without Rosaline. Benvolio tries to cheer-up
Romeo. During their conversation, a Capulet servant walks by and
asks if they could read the note that he is carrying. The note is
actually a list of people that are invited to Capulet’s house for a
party. Benvolio, seeing Rosaline’s name on the list, persuades
Romeo to go to the party and compare Rosaline’s beauty with the
other women at the party. Basically, Benvolio is telling Romeo that
there is more than one woman in the world.
WHAT’S HAPPENED SO FAR?
The next scene begins at the House of Capulet. The Nurse has
raised Juliet since she was born, as was the custom for most
births of royalty or nobles. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Paris, a
young count and cousin of the Prince, wishes to marry Juliet.
Juliet is told that she will meet him at the party that night, and
she is asked if she can like him. She states that she will try if that
is what they want her to do.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
Romeo played by Leonard Whiting in the 1968 film version
ROMEO MONTAGUE
Romeo Montague is one of the title characters in Romeo and Juliet,
but he does not appear on stage right away. Instead, his parents
and his cousin and friend, Benvolio, spend time talking about him
before he arrives. What they say about Romeo does much to
prepare the audience and readers for what they will encounter.
Read this passage in which Benvolio describes an early-morning
encounter he has with Romeo:
BENVOLIO:
Towards her I made, but he was ware of me
And stole into the covert of the wood.
I, measuring his affections by my own,
Which then most sought where most might not be found,
Being one too many by my weary self,
Pursued my humor, not pursuing his,
And gladly shunned who gladly fled from me.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
In other words, Benvolio has seen Romeo, but Romeo ran away
from him. Benvolio reasons that Romeo, like himself, was in no
mood for company so he did not pursue Romeo any further.
Romeo's parents comment that this type of behavior is becoming
alarmingly routine for their son:
"Many a morning hath he there been seen," says Montague,
"with tears augmenting the fresh morning's dew."
He continues to explain how Romeo's demeanor is frequently
melancholic and how Romeo retreats from the cheerful sunlight
and locks himself in his dark room to brood. What is worse, neither
he, nor his wife, nor Benvolio know why Romeo is so sad.
ROMEO MONTAGUE
Romeo is already sad because Rosaline has rejected him. He
becomes even sadder when he sees that his family has again been
involved in a hateful and violent episode.
He retreats from Benvolio. Benvolio, however, is persistent. He
follows Romeo and asks more about the woman he says is the
source of his despair. Romeo tells him that his beloved has sworn
that she will never marry, and with this promise, sent Romeo into
misery.
Benvolio, however, has a solution to Romeo's problem. Read the
following excerpt from his exchange with Romeo:
BENVOLIO: Be ruled by me; forget to think of her.
ROMEO: O, teach me how I should forget to think!
BENVOLIO: By giving liberty unto thine eyes.
Examine other beauties.
MERCUTIO
Romeo's friends insist on trying to cheer him up. The next time we meet
Romeo, he receives an invitation to the party being thrown at the home
of Capulet. This, Benvolio insists, is a perfect opportunity for Romeo to
compare other women to his beloved Rosaline. Romeo reluctantly agrees,
though he remains firm in his belief that no one will make him forget
her.
Before the party, Romeo and friends are gathered together. Here, we first
meet Mercutio. Mercutio is determined to succeed where Benvolio has
failed. He will cheer up Romeo. One way he does so is to engage in
witty banter with his friend. For every depressing thing that Romeo says,
Mercutio counters with something upbeat and bawdy. Mercutio's coarse
sense of humor, his talent for delivering witty, if dirty, jokes, makes him
a logical foil for Romeo, who is nothing but somber.
MERCUTIO’S DREAM SPEECH
Mercutio gets so excited and aggravated in the second half of his
speech that Romeo must interrupt him.
"Peace, peace, Mercutio, peace," Romeo says to calm his friend,
then reminding him that he is only speaking of dreams.
Mercutio does calm down, but his outburst has an impact on both
the audience and on Romeo.
Mercutio’s dream speech makes Romeo think that going to the
party might be dangerous.
JULIET’S NURSE
Early in the play, Shakespeare establishes the Nurse as an
important figure in Juliet's life.
JULIET’S NURSE
The excerpt on the previous screen demonstrates one crucial
aspect of the Nurse's character-she is a close and trusted friend of
Juliet and her family.
The other important aspect of her personality can be seen in this
excerpt, which also comes from the play's first act. It comes at the
end of a prattling speech the Nurse makes.
JULIET’S NURSE
With these early glimpses of the Nurse, Shakespeare memorably
establishes her role in the play. She is Juliet's closest and most
trusted friend, but she is also a comedic character.
Her coarse sense of humor makes her role as Juliet's trusted
confidante and ally seem a little questionable. Readers are left to
wonder if the Nurse will take things as seriously as they must be
taken.
Romeo has no Nurse of his own, but he does have an adult whom he
considers a trusted advisor and friend-Friar Laurence. On the screens
that follow, explore Romeo's relationship with Friar Laurence and how
the Friar's character fits into the events of the play.
FRIAR LAURENCE
Friar Laurence's serious nature is evident in one of his most famous
lines. Although he agrees to marry Romeo and Juliet with the idea
that their marriage may do much to end the feud between their
families, he gives warning to Romeo:
"Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast."
This line suggests that the Friar is more patient than Romeo is and
understands the seriousness of the situation. It helps readers
understand why Romeo would come to him for counsel and comfort.
Exit Ticket
Complete the Romeo and Juliet ACT I Quiz in Sapphire