Various characters are in this scene, they are mainly Montagues but there are a few Capulets there who snuck in by using masks so nobody could recognise them, these are Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio and a few others. Romeo in the beginning does not want to attend the ball; he is depressed because he is ‘out of her favour where I am in love.’ Her being Rosaline, but Mercutio changes his mind, he and Benvolio drag him to the ball, where he meets Juliet and falls in love. On the surface Mercutio appears to be a fair man who will no start a fight but will fight if he is challenged. He appears to have no worries but his speech in Act 1 Scene 4 shows that he is afraid of Queen Mab and that he is afraid about what his dreams mean. Benvolio is a peace loving man, he will fight if he has to, but avoids confrontation all the time, for example,
“Part, fools!
Put up your swords, you know not what you do…
I do but keep the peace. Put up thy sword,
Or manage to part these men with me.”
This shows that he will not fight and will try to negotiate peace all the time, though when there is no other choice he will fight. At the end of this scene they both leave just as they entered. Capulet appears to be a respected, in control man who likes to entertain his guests and involve everyone into the activities as this example shows,
“You are welcome, gentlemen. Come, musicians, play.
A hall, a hall, give room! And foot it, girls.”
At this point he is speaking in prose. If he requests something to be done people will carry it out, for example when Tybalt spots Romeo and requests to throw him out,
“He shall be endured.
What, goodman boy, I say he shall, go to!
Am I the master here, or you? go to!
You’ll not endure him? God shall mend my soul,”
Tybalt respects this and does not do anything, even though he does not like it, Tybalt is a violent, aggressive man, as shown in Act 1 Scene 1
“What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, As I hate hell and all Montagues, and thee.”
This shows that he will only settle arguments by fighting and he is quick to violence. At the end of this scene he is out to get Romeo, thus proving more so that he is violent and aggressive, but he will not stop there, in the scene he uses the phrase ‘Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall’ he uses the word ‘gall’ to show his need for revenge. Juliet is Capulets daughter, she is fourteen years old and he parents are stressing her about marriage, she has no love and wants no love, but it all changes the moment she sees Romeo, she also falls in love at first sight. When Juliet and Romeo speak for the first time they speak in a sonnet, this shows that they are feeling love; they are speaking their true feelings and desires. In the sonnet there is much religious imagery, this could be because they are comparing their love and each other to religion, because religion is a very important thing in the world they could be saying how important their love is to one another, also they use this imagery to describe ach other, ‘This holy shrine’, Romeo is complimenting Juliet when he says that. It also helps to put the message that they are meant to be together if they are sharing this poem.
In this Scene various themes are used and put into action, for example light,
“O she doth teach eh torches to burn bright!”
Here Romeo is comparing Juliet to a torch, meaning that she has a metaphoric halo that lights up the room, showing other torches how to light properly. There is also love throughout out the scene, for example the sonnet between Romeo and Juliet, this shows their love for one another, and their need for one another. There is anger in the scene; Tybalt expresses this,
“Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.”
He uses the word ‘choler’ to show how he is angry by the way Romeo is allowed to stay, and by how he has met Juliet even though they are from opposite families. This scene shows loyalty, Tybalt listens to Capulet and does not start a fight with Romeo. This scene also shows religion, with the religious imagery that Romeo and Juliet use in their sonnet.
In terms of dramatic power this scene sets it up for the rest of the play. This scene is where Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time; they fall in love, which sets off a chain reaction of dramatic events, such as the discovery of each other’s families, Tybalt murdering Mercutio and their untimely suicides. These are all very dramatic actions that help express meaning and emotions. Also there is power in the fact that Capulet allowed Romeo to stay at the ball, which shows that he is a decent man, and raises questions upon how trivial the family grudge is, if they really do hate each other, then why does he allow Romeo to stay?
So in conclusion this scene changes the whole story in terms of Plot, Character, Theme And Dramatic Power, it is very important to the rest of the play because it is the point where Romeo and Juliet meet, without it the play would not go on. I believe that there is no message here, the only purpose for this play is for Shakespeare to entertain people and make money, so without this scene the play may not have been what it is.
