I believe this scene was very dramatic and crucial to the beginning of the play because it would show the audience how much the families hate each other and it would also set the scene for the rest of the play. The scene is very exciting because while the fighting would be commencing the audience would be getting very excited and thrilled at the fight. They would also start to cheer for the person they wish to win the fight, just like when people cheer for their favourite team at a football match or other sporting events. I also believe Shakespeare made the play start with a fight scene so that it would quickly get the audiences attention so they do not leave with boredom.
Suddenly during the fighting, bells and trumpets sound the Prices of Verona’s arrival and he ends the fighting and riot. The Prince orders everyone to put down their weapons before he makes his decree. He then tells the Capulet and Montague household that if they disturb the peace and tranquility of Verona they will be executed. “If you ever disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace”.
In the book the atmosphere totally changes when Lady Montague asks where her son Romeo is. “O where is Romeo? Saw you him today?” Benvolio replies that he has seen him but adds that Romeo wants to be left alone. No one seems to know what is the matter with Romeo. Benvolio and Romeo’s parents go to search for Romeo. When they find him Benvolio confronts Romeo and asks why he is upset and as he does Lady and Lord Montague depart from the scene.
Benvolio begins to question Romeo, as he is a very close friend to Romeo and his family. Belvolio asks why he is so sad and Romeo explains that he is unhappy because he is in love and he feels completely, confused and befuddled. Benvolio endeavors to find out the name of the girl Romeo has fallen in love with, but he fails and Romeo explains that she is not in love with him. Benvolio explains that Romeo should forget about this girl and look at other girls, but Romeo says that, that is impossible to do so. “O teach me how I should forget to think”.
In the play there are three main themes “Love”, “Conflict” and “Hate”. The street fight by the Montague and Capulet households backs up the theme of conflict and an example of the conflict of love is when Benvolio confronts Romeo about his love life. The theme of hate is between the Montagues and the Capulets. During this scene the characters emotions would be very nervous but this would be good for the performance of the play because if they were not nervous and over confidant, they could make crucial mistakes that could affect the play.
The second scene I will write about is Act 1 Scene 5. The start to this scene is very busy, with servant’s clearings tables, moving furniture and musicians turning up ready for the masked party at the Capulet house.
Capulet greets his guests to the party and the music and dancing commences. This is when Romeo sees Juliet, the daughter of the Capulet, for the first time. The beauty of Juliet instantly stuns Romeo. Tybalt, a Capulet servant, recognizes Romeo as a Montague and rapidly reports him to Capulet. But Capulet order Tybalt to do nothing. I know Capulet orders Tybalt to do nothing about Romeo because it quotes, “Content thee gentle coz, let him alone.” Tybalt then becomes very angry and annoyed because Capulet orders him to do nothing. A quote to back this up is, “It fits when such a villain is a guest. I’ll not endure him. Capulet quickly replies, “He shall be endured.”
Romeo then approaches Juliet and speaks to her for the first time. Just as they begin to kiss, the Nurse to Juliet interrupts Juliet with a message that Juliet mother wishes to speak to her. Romeo asks the Nurse who Juliet is and to his disbelief he learns that Juliet is a Capulet. Juliet sends the Nurse to discover Romeo’s name and she is also dismayed when she learns Romeo is a Montague. By this time it is very late in the evening and the guests begin to leave the party.
This part of the scene would be very dramatic because this is when Romeo and Juliet first meet each other. The atmosphere of the scene would be very tense and anxious and the audience would be very quiet and still compared to the other dramatic scene in Act 1 Scene 1 where the servants were fighting and the audience would be shouting loudly.
In the film this scene was very much like what I thought it would be like, compared to Act 1 Scene 1 in the film. In this scene there was music and dancing just like what Shakespeare talked about in the play.
In this Scene there are two themes, “Love” and “Hate”. The love is between Romeo and Juliet and an example of hate is Tybalt’s hate for Romeo.
By James Fretwell 11N