How does Act One of the play set the stage for the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?
Jessica Hartley 10 AW
How does Act One of the play set the stage for the Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet?
Romeo and Juliet is set in Verona in Northern Italy. Romeo and Juliet are the children of two very different and important families. Juliet a Capulet and Romeo a Montague are brought together at a party that Lord Capulet is holding. In the beginning there is a major grudge between the two families Montague and Capulet. Evidence of this feud and recent fighting is shown in the prologue ’…from ancient grudge break to new mutiny… where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.’ This shows that also innocent civilians have died for supporting these two families. At the beginning Romeo is immature boy who thinks he is in love with this girl called Rosaline, this is where ‘sick- amour’ comes from he is sick of love. His cousin says ‘..Shuts his windows…locks the fair daylight out’ they say this because he doesn’t open up his life to other girls and would rather stay with one girl than have more girlfriends. His cousin and best friends encourage him to look at other women who are perhaps more suited ‘examine other beauties.’ Juliet’s father is of high power and arranges his daughter to marry the most eligible man in Verona, Paris the Prince’s cousin. Paris would be the perfect husband for Juliet, he is handsome, rich, caring and obviously likes Juliet an awful lot. But although he is nice he is also quite demanding and is out for what he can get. ‘Younger than she are happy mothers made.’ But Lord Capulet assures him that she is not ready to marry yet but will in the near future ‘My child is yet a stranger in the world.’ Paris shows his persistence by replying ‘two summers she may turn to be a bride.’
