In the opening part of the scene, we see two boys from the Capulet house, Sampson and Gregory, boasting about their sexual prowess. In addition to their jokes being grossly humoured, they are written in a witty way, which the audience at the time would have found particularly clever and entertaining. ‘Sampson: I mean, and we be in choler, we’ll draw.
Gregory: Any, while you live, draw your neck out of collar.’ This opening brings to the forefront the cockiness and arrogance of both houses, which gets them into trouble. The humour and wit is also there to entertain the audience right from the start.
The fight that ensues after the confrontation between the Montagues and Capulets would have been highly entertaining to the crowd as carrying swords, and sword fighting, was all the fashion at this time, ‘Put up your swords, you know not what you do’. A further point of amusement for the crowd is Lady Capulet’s irony directed at her husband.
‘Capulet: What noise is this? Give me my long sword ho! Lady Capulet: A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword!’ In addition to drawing in the crowd, this irony also informs the audience that it is the men of the house who want to fight and bicker, whereas the women are more prepared to leave it alone. It also highlights their tender age.
The fight that arises between the two houses in the beginning of the scene acts to inform the audience that there is absolutely no love lost between them. This is emphasised by the fact that the two heads of the houses try to fight, emphasising the riot was no mistake. ‘My sword, I say! old Montague is come, And flourishes his blade in spite of me!’ This feud indicates that the quarrel between the two houses will be a dominant feature and part of the tragedy may revolve around it.
One of the most important parts of the opening scene is Prince’s speech to both of the family. In this speech he gives away several important facts that not only inform the audience but also give hints away about what might happen in the tragedy. ‘Three civil brawls, bred of an airy word …. if ever you disturb our streets again your lives shall pay the forfeit of price.’ Understanding this speech is vital to comprehending the tragedy. It also stimulates dramatic expectation because now the audience expect another fight to emerge and they want to see whose life is forfeited.
Near the end of the scene, we discover that Romeo’s love life is in turmoil and that he is struggling to cope with his rebuff by Rosaline. This confusion is portrayed by his use of oxymorons.
‘O heavy lightness, serious vanity, misshapen chaos of well seeming forms’. However, this scene makes it deliberately clear that Romeo’s love life is going to become a key factor in the tragedy and as a result kindles dramatic expectation as the audience now wants to know who Romeo’s love is an how it interacts with the tragedy.
All of this entertainment, use of information and dramatic expectation combine to form an explosive opening. It sets the tone for the rest of the tragedy and gets the audience hooked for what is about to come.
