Act 1 Scene 5 begins with a small, almost comical, section of dialogue between the servants. It is used by Shakespeare as a way of setting the scene and introducing the audience to the ball, but more importantly it acts as release of tension after Mercutio’s troubled speech earlier and before the passionate scene that lies ahead.
This passion begins with Romeo’s soliloquy. He spots Juliet across the room and without knowing anything about her or who she is or even what her face looks like (masked ball), he describes her. “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright! It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night.” Alliteration is used twice in the first line to highlight the intense feelings he feels for her, there is also the suggestion of her great power being able to “teach the torches,” not just light them. Throughout, repeated images of love are projected into the audiences mind, “a rich jewel”, “a snowy dove” and “true beauty” are all used as descriptions of his love. As well as the language used, the structure helps create a picture of beauty for the audience. Rhyming couplets, it could be suggested, are used to show how Romeo feels the two will be perfect together even before they have met.
As the audience are taking in the vivid description of Juliet, Shakespeare uses Tybalt to juxtapose love and hate. Upon the observation of Romeo the tone switches from ‘rich’ love to the ‘bitterest’ hatred. Tybalt first expresses his hate by interrupting Romeo’s sonnet. This break in structure surprises the audience as Romeo was in full flow of voicing his love, and doing so with rhyme for more effect. Tybalt then immediately expresses his feelings about a Montague at the party; “to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” Not only does this shock the audience, it also creates a certain dislike for Tybalt even though not much is known about his character. This is further shown by the comparison of religion used by Romeo first, “make blessed my rude hand” and then by Tybalt “I hold it not a sin.” Capulet wishes no feuds at his party and acts as a peacemaker; so tells Tybalt to ‘endure him’. Tybalt’s hatred is so deep and zealous that he still wishes to continue and defy his father. He states “I’ll not endure him”. This underlying hate runs so deep, Tybalt is prepared to disregard his father at his father’s party. Tybalt’s loathing is also illustrated by his use of language. In one three line speech there are four indications of how angry Tybalt is. ‘Foe’ and ‘villain’ are both powerful nouns which would have a great effect upon the audience showing his feelings about Montagues. ‘Spite’ and ‘scorn’ are also used which demonstrate the heart felt emotion of Tybalt, that of pure hatred. Although he is later calmed by Old Capulet the audience still sees his unjustified hate for anything Montague, sadly this causes both his and Mercutio’s death.
To help show the audience the impact of the scene Romeo and Juliet’s love is exemplified in the form of a sonnet. A traditional sonnet written in Shakespearian times would nearly always be based on love and this is no different. The equal quatrains at the beginning of the sonnet present an equal love; as Romeo speaks, Juliet replies; which is unusual in the patriarchal society in which they lived. It also reflects the twin narcissism of their relationship; each is as self absorbed as the other which almost inevitably leads to the death of them both. The sonnet gradually develops, growing ever more elaborate with words such as “pilgrim” and “unworthiest” turning to “devotion” and “holy palmers”. There is as well an additional sense of dramatic irony in the scene, as the audience knows Romeo and Juliet’s love cannot be because of the unfortunate rivalries that they were born into. The rhyming couplet: “Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake. Then move not, while my prayers’ effect I take.” Again this shows their bind together and just how well they are suited for each other. Words like ‘sin’, ‘prayer’, and ‘saint’ introduce religious language which overemphasizes the importance of the relationship presenting it as almost godly. Religion was probably the single most important thing in people’s lives and a comparison suggests the how great the magnitude of Romeo and Juliet’s love is. The joy of the meeting is also accentuated by the location of the meeting. The party backdrop provides a sense of merriness for both the audience and characters which helps allow the audience to become involved in the moment.
As the scene draws to an end Juliet is questioning the Nurse over the identity of her love: “Go, ask his name. - If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding-bed.” This shows the audience just how quickly they have fallen in love but more importantly for the story, foreshadows the end for them just as the prologue does before we know anything about either Romeo or Juliet.
Act 1 Scene 5 of Romeo and Juliet contains the first meeting of two lovers in the one of the most renowned tragedies ever written. Yet the brilliance of it is through its simplicity. The complex, instinctive and passionate love of Romeo and Juliet is a stark contrast to the cold hate displayed by Tybalt in its many different forms. Coming together they form a powerful base for an even more powerful conclusion. Without it the play would never mean so much to people and be as popular as it was in the 16th Century and still is today in the 21st century to a completely different, but still emoted audience.
