Consider the historical cultural influences of the play and how they are illustrated in act 1 scene 5 (act 2 scene 2).

Matt Butler

Going to the theatre was extremely popular in Elizabethan times but it was also extraordinarily different from going to a play today. It was like a cross between going to a football match and going to a pantomime. Because of this the atmosphere was also amazing. Also the audience would laugh and jeer at the actors whilst they were acting. The lack of scenery meant that the actors used words to set the scene and so therefore the audiences were very imaginative.

The play Romeo and Juliet is supposed to have been set in the 15th century. Italy was divided up into a number of independent states. The most important states were Venice, Florence, Milan, Naples and the Papal States (owned by the pope.) Each state had its own ruler. Verona is shown to have its own ‘Prince,’ though it is a part of a larger state of Venice. A feud between the families in the play tells us a lot about the constant battles and the importance of the ruling families of these Italian states.

Escalus, the Price of Verona, may seem to be an unimportant character in the play but he is the catalyst to the events that occur. The Prince is a symbolic figure of authority, representing order and peace. His speech is dignified and authoritative as compared to servants undignified quarrelling. He truly cares for the citizens of Verona. When the peace and order of Verona had been disrupted, he became very angry and even willing to use capital punishment to defend order. ‘If ever you disturb our streets again, your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace.’ He is merciful and just. In the fight between Mercutio, Tybalt and Romeo, Mercutio was slain by Tybalt and he was killed by Romeo. After the fight, the Prince arrived at the scene. Despite Lady Capulets demand that Romeo should be captured and put to death immediately, he wanted to hear Benvolio’s account of the incident before making his judgement. He banished Romeo instead of being put to death. The Price of Verona is truly the man of justice.

County Paris is apart of a rich family in Verona who Lady Capulet wants Juliet to marry so they have a powerful ally in Verona. He doesn’t do much in this act but in the next act Romeo kills him. I think Romeo kills him because Paris thinks he killed Juliet and so Romeo kills County Paris in self defence.

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Romeo isn’t anything like the other Montague’s. They are all arrogant, cocky and when they see any Capulets they try to start to fight them. On the other hand, Romeo is the opposite. The Montague is a romantic young man and follows the tradition of courtly love. Romeo approached Juliet and introduces himself first. He hold hands with her (even though it was considered rude then), and kisses her on the hand and lips. He is extremely polite and always remarks on how beautiful Juliet looks.

The next morning when Romeo is talking to Friar Lawrence about his new love Juliet, he is consumed with melancholy, and wishes that she is at his side. What makes him even sadder is that Romeo knows Juliet is a Capulet and that they should not fall in love with each other. Romeo is so determined to see Juliet again that he breaks into the Capulets house to see her again. When Romeo has to look up at Juliet on her balcony to speak to her, this shows that she is ‘worthier’ and has more authority in the play over him. The besotted Montague says ‘Juliet is the sun’ confirming that Romeo thinks she is worthier than he is. This is Romeo following the tradition of courtly love and that love at first sight is real.

Women didn’t have any say in the matter of getting married in the Elizabethan times and they were often forced into an arranged marriage with a wealthy man. Like many other women, Juliet didn’t want be forced to marry but she didn’t hate Paris. She didn’t want to marry him because she was deeply in love and married to Romeo.

Act 1 scene 5 is an extremely important scene because Romeo goes to the masked ball and meets Juliet for the first time. Although it is strange that one of the Capulet servants didn’t know who Juliet was! Tybalt is incensed that Romeo crashed the party, which later ends in Romeo killing him. The star crossed lovers fall in love even though they are from opposing families, which makes the play go in a downward spiral.

To add tension to the scene, Romeo is falling in love with Juliet. When he sees her he is exceedingly romantic ‘Oh she doth teach the torches to burn bright.’ The young Montague compares his love to heavenly things.’ It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night.’ Tybalt the ‘saucy boy’ hears Romeo’s voice and gets incredibly irate. His uncle ignores the enraged Capulet and Tybalt storms off vowing to get revenge.

The ‘gatecrasher’ approaches Juliet and he speaks to her in romantic iambic pentameter sentences which are often poetic and when Romeo’s being serious. ‘If I profane with my unworthiest hand, my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand.’ He also uses rhyming couplets at important parts of the play or at the end of a scene. Romeo compares her to a ‘holy shrine.’ I think he says this because he thinks she is an angel or goddess. Romeo then kisses Juliet. I think that Romeo and Juliet wouldn’t kiss when they first met because they don’t really know each other (they do kiss to speed up the play though) but they do follow the tradition of courtly love. It is obvious that Romeo loves Juliet when his eyes first gazed upon her. ‘Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear’ he says to a Capulet servant. When he starts talking to Juliet he describes all the other women as being extremely ugly. ‘So show a pure snowy dove trooping with crows.’ He then plucks up his courage and asks for a kiss. ‘My lips two blushing pilgrims’ ready stand.’ I think he uses the word ‘pilgrim’ because the word ‘Romeo’ is the Italian for ‘a pilgrim to Rome.’ Throughout the scene she refers to him as a pilgrim maybe because of his names Italian meaning or because she is following up Romeos imagery. The ‘pilgrim’ gets his kiss. ‘Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.’ It is sinful to hold hands but by them kissing the sin they committed was removed.

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this play. Who would have thought that such a happy starting would finish in such a tragedy? I thought Baz Lurhmann’s film ending of Romeo and Juliet was much better that Shakespeare’s ending because Romeo killed himself knowing that Juliet was still alive. This made the play more dramatic and an even more tragic ending to the play.

Whilst doing this piece of coursework, I have learnt about the tradition courtly love which I think we still use today, how Italy was divided up into states and about Shakespearean theatre. But the best of all, I have read this fantastic play by the greatest play writer of all times!

By Matt Butler