“From ancient grudge break new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” Shakespeare is saying that the fighting has gone so far that the civillians of verona are involved, their innocent blood is shed due to the hatred of the two families.
“A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life”
“The fearful passage of deathmarked love, and the continuance of their parents’ rage,” These two line make referance to Romeo and Juliet’s love. Their love has to overcome their parents hate.
During Act 1 Scene 1 more themes are introduced as Benvolio and Romeo speak to each other and we get to know the characters a little more. Shakespear uses oxymoronic ohrases to highlight Romeo’s confused feelings. From lines 167 to 172 Romeo’s speech is full os juxtaposing words, for example;
“o heavy lightness, serious vanity,” These oxymorons make Romeo’s confusion stand out so it is clear to the audience what is going on.
In every version of “Romeo and Juliet” Romeo is seen as a peaceful, loving, sensitive character. This is shown in the way people speak of him. In the play it is difficult to sense a change of tone in a character’s voice unless the audience are witnessing a performance. A good example of showing that Romeo has a peaceful nature would be after the first fight in the play. Benvolio is with Lord and Lady Montague, Romeo’s parents, and he is explaining how the fight broke out. His words are punchy, quick and seem violent, alliteration is used to give off this atmosphere. Once Benvolio has finished Romeo’s mother speaks. It is almost as though she did not hear a word Benvolio said, as if she was in her own world worrying about her son.
“O where is Romeo? Saw you him today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray.” Her words are gentle and her tone is soothing. In Baz Luhrmann’s film version of “Romeo and Juliet” the backing musing changes from a fast piece to a soft, calm, gentle one much like the tone of voice used. When Benvolio answers Lady Motague he seems a completely different person. He uses poetic and metaphorical speech, this gives a subconsious inpression that Romeo is a wonderful, peace loving person.
Act 1 Scene 1 begins withtwo servents of the Capulet household, they are Sampson and Gregory. The two men are discussing work. Shakespeare adds comedy to the conversation by using ‘puns’. By doing so the topics of discussion quickly change and soon they are talking about the feuding between the Capulet and the Montague households. Even though the two men are talking about violence they are still joking and playing with words. This shows that they do not take the fighting seriously as it has become a part of their everyday lives. Of course, when Tybalt, a figure of violence and hatered appears the other characters become fearful and fail to find the situation humorous.
In the servents’ conversation Shakespeare makes referances to rape and murder. Again, this shows it is a common feature of everyday life.
“Tis all one, I will show myself a tyrant: when I have fought with the men I will be civil with the maids; I will cut off their heads’
‘The heads of the maids?’
‘Ay, the heads of the maids, or their maidenheads, take it in what sense thou wilt” Here Sampson is telling Gregory that the fighting is not just between their masters it involves the whole of the Capulet household, including them. He says that he will kill all the Montague men and cut off the heads of their women. He then plays with the words and says that he will rape them.
Tybalt and Benvolio show one of the main themes of the play, Love and Hate. Tyblat, a feared hateful Capulet, the cousin of Juliet is violent and enjoys a fight. Whereas Benvolio, a relatively peacful member of the Montague family, is totally opposite. Benvolio sees the stupidity in fighting and knows it is wrong. He makes attempts to keep the peace in lines 55-46 and 58-62.
“Part, fools! Put up your swords, you know not what you do.”
“Turn thee Benvolio, look upon thy death.’
‘I do but keep the peace.Put up thy sword or manage it to part these men with me.’
‘What all drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee.” In the first quotation Benvolio is trying to stop the servants fighting. In the second Tybalt is challanging Benvolio, he orders him to fight, using imperitive language giving a direct threat. The imperitive verbs he uses are turn and look. Benvolio then pleads with Tybalt, he asks him to help stop the foolish servants. It is then that Tybalt admits to his hatred of peace. He shows total prejudice through sayin that he hates all Montagues and Benvolio as much as hell. He is judging Benvolio by his name. Tybalt tries desperatly to provoke Benvolio into fighting him, he criticises him for being around the servants.
The two Lords are just as bad as each other. As soon as Old Capulet sees the fighting he demands his sword is given to him. To which his wife replies “A crutch, a crutch! Why call you for a sword?” she is telling him he is too old to be fighting and that he should be asking for a walking stick instead of his sword. Neither of the wives will let their husbans fight, they too see the stupidity and how far it has gone.
The prince enters with his train, a large crowd of attendants wich shows that his is a powerful man. Prince Escales is the ruler of all Verona and would probably have been feared yet loved by his people, however it takes him a long time to get their attention. The prince makes a long speech about what has happened to Verona because of the fighting. He calls his subjects “enemies to peace” meaning that they aren’t fighting each other but peace. The prince will not lay the blame on either Capulet or Montague, he is aware that the fighting is caused by both families.
In his speech Prince Escales uses animalistic metaphors as does Tybalt in the first few pages of the play found on line 56.
“What art thou drawn among these hartless hinds?” not only is this phrase a metaphor it is also a pun. Tybalt is punning on the words heart and hinds, a hart being a male deer and a hind being a young female deer. By doing this Tybalt insults Benvolio and is moking him for apparently fighting with servants. The other animalistic metaphor used is found in the prince’s speech as he tries to grab the attention of his subjects.
“What ho, you men, you beasts!” The prince is saying that they are no better than animals, that they are acting like animals with all this constant fighting. He blames both families but the speech is not only aimed at the quarreling. He also speaks of how the feuding is tearing apart their city.
When Romeo enters the scene, after the fight he is sad and can only think of a mystery woman who he believes to be in love with. Benvolio asks why Romeo is sad, his answers are clumsy and confusing.
“What sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?’
‘Not having that which having makes them short.” His answer shows he is confused about his own feelings. What he is trying to say is that he is sad because Roseline, the mystery woman, doesn’t returnt his affection. His love for Roseline is of course not real, however he is infatuated with her, he believes that his is in love with her.
When Romeo sees that another fight has happened he is not surprised. His next few lines are full of oxymorons and juxtaposition which highlight the point being made, that the fightings is pointless, but also his feelings of confusion. From lines 166-171 he makes a short speech, to begin with it is about the feuding but it gradualy moves back to his so called love for Roseline. One of the first oxymorons used is “loving hate” when Romeo says the fighting has a lot to do with hate but more to do with love, possibly a love of fighting. Through this single quotation we understand why Romeo is confused. He is sad because his ‘love’ is unrequited. Love is all about happiness and joy but Romeo feels none of this, so naturaly he knows it isn’t right. However Romeos pain shows that with the joys nd pleasures of love come pain and sadness. We see that pleasure and pain are linked with love and hate.