I think servants help set the scene to show the importance of the party, rushing to make everything perfect. The party is very important to Capulet “old accustomed feast” (Act 1, 2) he’s invited family and friends such as Roasline/Tybalt/Mercuito/Paris. The sentence structure is short, their frantic, worried, repeatedly asking questions.
In lines 16-41;55-93, Capulet is very happy because the party’s going well so far, the party has been well-prepared and Capulet is very pleased with the turn out. Whilst greeting the guests he uses the term ‘Welcome’ three times. Realising Romeo is there, Tybalt tries to cause an unnecessary fight between him and Romeo. Tybalt’s initial reaction is to fight Romeo, “This, by his voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, (sword) boy.” Capulet gets angry with Tybalt and says insults referring to his age and asks a rhetorical question “am I the master here, or you?” Capulet also tries to reason with Tybalt by saying “Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone.” Though Tybalt doesn’t listen, and is annoyed and swears revenge on Romeo. In this scene, Capulet also gives Juliet an ultimatum about Paris.
In lines 42-54, this is where Romeo first sees Juliet. Romeo forgets about Rosaline; “I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”
Is this true love? Juliet stands out to Romeo; he expresses this by saying metaphors and similes such as “doth teach the torches to burn bright” (metaphor) or “As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear.” (Simile) or “…. A snowy dove trooping with crows.” Light vs. Dark imagery to emphasise her impact on Romeo. As a dove is a ‘snowy,’ beautiful dove, he’s saying she is like a dove in a room of black (crows), saying how she stands out the most, seems precious to Romeo and no-one compares to her. In this scene, Shakespeare uses poetic language and soliloquy’s to show real emotions. When he first sees Juliet, he refers to it being true love and he’s so happy with Juliet assuming the loves returned as it wasn’t with Rosaline.
In lines 94-111, the first fourteen lines are set out as a sonnet suggests that they complement each other, they kiss twice and flirt, extended metaphor of kissing/praying. Religious language is also used “Profane”, “Holy shrine”, “Pilgrim”, “Devotion” suggests innocence and purity, we infer they are good people and reflect importance of religion in the 16th century. Romeo and Juliet respond to what the other one is saying, they engage in wordplay/puns and pick up on the words they speak e.g. “Saints”, “Pilgrims”, “Sin”, “Lips” these show that the attraction is not just physical.
Every event in the whole play is love vs. hate. “If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed.” (Juliet) grave refers to death and it also shows that she is in fact interested in him! It’s dramatic irony in a way because Romeo and Juliet do marry but die shortly after. “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foes debt.” (Romeo) “My only love sprung from my only hate.” (Juliet) contrast between love and hate, it links to the main theme of the play. Their saying they’re both are in love though as they’re meant to be rivals they know it’ll never be approved or allowed by their family’s. Even though they are in love the conflict of their family’s hate destroys any chance of them being happy together, which leads to them killing themselves.
Overall this proves that Act1, 5 is very important because this is where they meet and immediately fall in love. The scene relates to the play as a whole because if Romeo didn’t go to the party they wouldn’t fall in love and the relationship of love and hate wouldn’t have started. Love/hate goes on through the play down to the fact of the hate between the two families and the love between Romeo and Juliet. I think their love is true but doomed from the fact that the families destroy it and end up loosing two children over a silly feud. Incidents such as “If I profane with my unworthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this: My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand to smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.” (Romeo) are I think dramatic in the scene because this is when they first kiss.
