How does Shakespeare make the prologue and act 1 exciting, dramatic and memorable for the audience? How does he prepare us for the tragedy to come?

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How does Shakespeare make the prologue and act 1 exciting, dramatic and memorable for the audience? How does he prepare us for the tragedy to come?

“Romeo and Juliet” is a tragedy that tells the story of two lovers and their tragic death, “a pair of star cross’d lover’s take there life” due to the hatred that exists between their families, “from ancient grudge breaks new mutiny”. The themes are love and hatred with fate overshadowing the entire play.

Tragedy originated in ancient Greece, more specifically in Athens where it formed an important part of Athenian culture with the word tragedy itself coming from the Greek word meaning “goat-song”. Of the thousands of plays wrote during the 5th century only 31 have survived of which 3 are complete texts, they are Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides. Tragedy is written adhering to certain rules. The featured characters are from aristocratic backgrounds and the play must end with the tragic death of the heroes. This is displayed in the play by Romeo and Juliet who are both from wealthy families and the ultimatum of the play is their deaths.

 Shakespeare wrote “Romeo and Juliet” in 1595/6; plagiarising an earlier poem entitled “the tragicle history of Romeos and Juliet” by Arthur Brooke in 1562 although Brooke himself copied earlier novelettes from Italy named “la Juileta”. The most obvious differences between the play and poem is that the chronology spans five days in order to make it more engaging for the audience compared to the poem which takes place over nine months and Shakespeare’s inclusion of the characters Mercutio and the Nurse. These are both important characters, with the Nurse acting as a link between Romeo and Juliet, whilst Mercutio guides Romeo and leads him to the party where the lovers first meet.  His fierce temperament match’s Tybalt but also contrasts with Benvolio’s temperament balancing the effect on Romeo.  Mercutio is killed in the third act to highlight the violence between the families.

A theme throughout the play is courtly love; a European tradition dating back to the Middle Ages which was a set of rules detailing how the aristocracy should behave as lovers. The man should fall in love with a woman of higher class and she in turn must reject him as displayed in the play by Romeo and his unrequited love for Rosaline, who is not shown in the play. The man will then become depressed and forlorn as Romeo is when confronted by Benvolio in Act 1. After this he, Romeo, enters a stage where he displays his endearment with daring acts of love which this time does not involve Rosaline but Juliet who Romeo impresses by climbing to her balcony. Most marriages, at this time, were also arranged but due to her young age, Juliet’s parents are cautious when Count Paris professes his wish to marry Juliet, but several acts later try to force her into marriage.

            The play opens with a prologue which in typical Shakespearean style is a sonnet. This is significant because a sonnet is a love poem and love is one of the main themes throughout the play. The prologue introduces the play and its setting, “in fair Verona where we lay our scene”, very well so that the audience are full aware of the two families feud “from ancient grudge break to new mutiny”. The time span of the play is only five days so the prologue is necessary to provide background before the first act opens. It is also important as theatre goers in Shakespearean time were unruly and would not hesitate to shout, boo and even throw things at the performers if the play did not interest them and that is why Shakespeare has made it engaging to draw their attention in from the start. Baz Lurhmann the director of the 1996 film ‘Romeo and Juliet’ has the prologue read twice. Firstly in the style of a news report to show the seriousness of the situation while the second reading is done by Friar Lawrence to the backdrop of high octane scenes of Verona and rising dramatic music. The pace of the second reading is to create anticipation and excitement for the audience and to hook them just like the original intention of the prologue in Shakespearean theatre.                    

The play open’s with Samson and Gregory of the Capulet house confronting the Montague’s in the street. Before they actually confront the Montague’s they boast at what they will do to them which in the line “I will show myself a tyrant, I will cut off their heads” proves to be violent. Shakespeare included this to shock the audience and make them aware of the deep-rooted hate between the families. Sampson and Gregory show the anathema between the two families again with the line “the quarrel is between our masters and us their men” showing the audience that this loyalty could play an important role in the play. Sampson follows this line with one that would shock the audience even more than the previous by saying “Ay, the heads of the maids or their maidenheads”. The coarseness of these puns which suggests he will be-head or rape them is a stark contrast to the love of Romeo and Juliet. After this show of boasting they actually meet Abram and Balthasar and the confrontation begins. At this point neither Benvolio nor Tybalt are present. Sampson bites his thumb at the Montague’s (this was a provocative insult in Shakespearean times) he then cowardly denies it when they challenge him “no sir, I do not bite my thumb at you”. As Benvolio enters swords are drawn and the fighting begins. He protests at the violence saying “part, fools!

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Put up your swords-you know not what you do”. From this first line he shows the audience his pacifist nature and shows that his pacifist nature may help others later on. This is immediately contrasted with the entrance of fiery Tybalt who upon Benvolio’s attempt’s stop the fighting says “what drawn, and talk of peace! I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montague’s and thee. Have at thee coward”. This clearly exhibits Tybalt unmasked aggression and eagerness to fight Benvolio showing the audience his malevolence.

             This like most of the dialogue and actions in scene ...

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