Even from just the prologue you can see the hatred the two families have for each other. The words 'mutiny', 'fatal', 'star cross'd', 'misadventur'd and 'overthrows' all signify the tragedy, pain and conflict that the play will unfold.

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Romeo and Juliet

The first fourteen lines of Shakespeare’s play gives a background of what the play is about and helps you understand it. Someone who is not a character in Romeo and Juliet reads it, so is a neutral person just letting you know what is happening.

      The third line is ‘ From ancient grudge break to new mutiny ‘. This makes us aware that there is conflict from the start and that is ongoing. It is referring to the two families who have been involved in conflict for many years but we never learn who or why the conflict started.

       ‘ A pair of star cross’d lovers take their life ‘, shows that the play will have a tragic ending so you know from the beginning. In the 1600’s people believed heavily that the stars influenced your life and determined your fate. Shakespeare has used this here to reveal the fate he has planned for the forbidden lovers.

         I think that in the Elizabethan period when Shakespeare wrote this play, the prologue would have also been used to quiet the audience ready for the play to begin.

         Even from just the prologue you can see the hatred the two families have for each other. The words ‘mutiny’, ‘fatal’, ‘star cross’d’, ‘misadventur’d and ‘overthrows’ all signify the tragedy, pain and conflict that the play will unfold.

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        In the opening scene of the play we have two servants from the Capulet household, Gregory and Sampson walking through Verona. Their conversation is not about love but about dominating aggressive men as Sampson says ‘therefore women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague’s men from wall, and thrust his maids to the wall.’ This is a crude comment but shows that these men don’t think of love but of violence.

        Even though they are not main characters in the play, when they ...

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