Juliet is only thirteen and Paris wishes to marry her. This would leave the audience feeling shocked as thirteen was not an age to get married at the time and is still not today. The audience also receives information that all of Juliet’s siblings have died and have left Capulet with one daughter.
“Earth have swallowed all my [Capulets] hopes but she”
Romeo – Act I Scene II
The next time the audience hear about Juliet is in Act I Scene III, this is actually the first scene in which Juliet speaks, but she seems to only speak when she is spoken to. At the time the play was written, it was expected that daughter’s along with sons, were obedient to their parents, and it seems at this time in the play, that Juliet has fallen into this category.
In Act I Scene III, Juliet’s mother, Lady Capulet, asks Juliet how she feels about marriage, Juliet only replies by stating that marriage “is an honour that I [she] dream not off”. This implies to the audience that Juliet feels she is not ready to get married and also that she wants to get married for true love. This maybe the case, but I believe that Juliet would go through with marriage if her father told her to or she would possibly be cast out of both the family and home.
During Act I Scene V, at Capulet’s party the audience expect an array of things to happen to solve problems that are brought forward from the previous scenes. For Juliet she must judge and get to know Paris as he is her potential husband and it was Capulet who told Paris he must “woo her” and “get her heart”, as it is Juliet who must decide if she wants to marry Paris.
“An’ she agree, within her scope of choice lies my consent and fair according voice.”
Capulet – Act I Scene II
Romeo is going for the opposite reason to Juliet, to try and fall out of love with Rosaline and be distracted by the other eligible ladies that will be at Capulet’s ball.
“I’ll go along, no such sight to be shown, but to rejoice in splender on mine own.”
Romeo – Act I Scene II
Act I Scene V starts with servants moving objects around in a hurry and creating a busy atmosphere. This gives the audience the impression that there is a crucial element to the plot coming forward; Shakespeare has used performance language and short phrases to ensure that the audience get the sense of the atmosphere, and it also adds to the dramatic effect.
“Away with the joint-stools, remove the court cupboard”
Servant 1 – Act I Scene V
The atmosphere is heightened even further by Capulet’s joyful mood at the beginning. The atmosphere transforms from a busy mood to a celebratory one.
“Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns will walk about with you”
Capulet – Act I Scene V
Capulet’s mood enables the audience to see overall, how the characters are feeling. There is also the use of irony in Capulet’s opening speech where he foreshadows what happens between Romeo and Juliet.
“I have sent the day that I have worn a visor, and could tell a whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear”
Capulet – Act I Scene V
In the latter half of Capulet’s speech, Shakespeare again uses performance language to set the stage. More importantly he creates an expectation from the audience.
“And quench the fire; the room is grown too hot”
Capulet – Act I Scene V
When the play was written it was a cultural belief that either hot weather or heat causes tempers to flare and because of Capulet’s reference to the heat the audience would now expect for at least one person to become angry and want a fight.
The happy and teasing character of Capulet is then contrasted by the character of Romeo in his speech.
“And touching hers, make blessèd my rude hand.”
Romeo – Act I Scene V
Romeo’s language is full of love, with references to both true love and religion, which would allow the reader – especially with religion – to se this asides importance.
Also, Romeo uses a lot of antitheses to describe Juliet, using them as metaphorical contrasts of beauty with ugliness, peace with violence and light and dark.
“So shows a snowy white dove trooping with crows.”
Romeo – Act I Scene V
Shakespeare has used it to enhance the feelings that the audience feels toward Juliet.
However, this is all contrasted by the actions and words of Tybalt, who is full of anger and hatred for Romeo.
“To strike him dead I hold not a sin.”
Tybalt – Act I Scene V
This angry behaviour conforms to the expectation that has been created from what Capulet said earlier in the scene about the heat, and it is this that explains Tybalt’s fury. Also, the audience would realise that Tybalt feels the way he does towards Romeo due to them being from rival families.
There is a shock to the audience as Capulet finds out about Romeo’s presence. The audience expect Capulet to be enraged to find out that there is a Montague in his home but instead of this he shows restraint and self-control. Also, when Tybalt offends Romeo’s honour, by calling him a “villain”, it is Capulet who actually defends Romeo.
“Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well-governed youth”
Capulet – Act I Scene V
This behaviour might have been used, by Shakespeare, as a subliminal reference to the themes of peace ad violence.
Capulet then turns and displays his authority to Tybalt.
“Am I the master here or you?”
Capulet – Act I Scene V
Shakespeare has done this to allow the audience to see the resentment Capulet has for the disturbance and also it has been used to move the plot forward, as it brings Tybalt’s rage to an end and allows the scene to carry on.
The language in Tybalt’s last words actually foreground the means of Romeo’s death.
“I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.”
Tybalt – Act I Scene V
Shakespeare has added points throughout the play that help the audience gain ideas as to how it is going to end. This moves the actual play along and also keeps the audience interested.
The meeting of Romeo and Juliet is an important part of the plot of the play, as without it there would be no play at all.
Their first conversation of Romeo and Juliet is in the form of a sonnet, a fourteen lined poem. By doing this Shakespeare has automatically highlighted to the audience that this is an important part of the play.
Throughout the sonnet there is an extended comparison of Juliet to a shrine or saint, with words such as “profane”, “sin”, “devotation”, “prayer” and “palmers”. To an audience of the time, this would make this part of the play even more significant, with the fact that Romeo deifies Juliet.
“Thus from my lips, by thine, my sin is purged.”
Romeo – Act I Scene V
Along with the extended comparison of Juliet to a shrine or saint, it can also be seen, throughout the sonnet, that Juliet is completing the sentences of Romeo as well as the rhymes he brings forward – showing the true love which they share.
Juliet: Saints do not move, though grant for prayers’ sake.
Romeo: Then move not, while my prayer’s affect I take.
Act I Scene V
At the beginning of the sonnet there is the use of the oxymoron “gentle sin”. This denotes conflict between both Romeo and Juliet's love and their actions – them falling in love being “gentle”, and the “sin” being that Romeo and Juliet has fallen in love with someone from I rival family.
The antithesis of purity and sin is shown throughout Romeo and Juliet’s meeting. In a way Juliet represents purity as it is she who is constantly trying to deter Romeo’s advancements.
“Ay, pilgrim, lips that must use in prayer.”
Juliet – Act I Scene V
Shakespeare has possibly done this to express that this is more genuine than the love Romeo expresses for Rosaline, as he is continually attempting to get what he seeks. As well as this, Juliet finishes Romeo’s sentences and this is seen as a sign of true love.
The use of the oxymoron, “gentle sin”, at the beginning of the sonnet between Romeo and Juliet shows that although their love is real is still a “sin” due to their families, him a Montague and she a Capulet.
Shakespeare has referred to the term “pilgrim” quite a lot, as it is seen as an image of seeking purification and of going on a journey. While it is both Romeo and Juliet how are going on a journey into their life together, it seems that, from his language, it is only Romeo who is seeking purification.
“My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand”.
Romeo – Act I Scene V
This is due to him thinking he was in love with Rosaline, but then realising it is only Juliet who he is truly in love with and Shakespeare has gotten this message across by using the idea of a pilgrim seeking cleansing.
Juliet uses performance language in some of her lines.
“Palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss”
Juliet – Act I Scene V
Shakespeare has done this; possibly, to enhance both the visual and emotional affect on the audience as pilgrims would touch a holy statue’s hand and, not kiss it, so “palm to palm” is seen as a “palmers” kiss. This would also be stage directions to the actors on the stage.
When it comes down to it, Romeo and Juliet are two characters who are ultimately going against everything they have been brought up to know – falling in love with each other.
“O trespass sweetly urged!”
Romeo – Act I Scene V
They are going where they are forbidden and by doing this Shakespeare has intentionally made the audience feel dismayed as two members of a rival family are falling in love, although it is not yet known to the characters of Romeo and Juliet.
Romeo and Juliet do finally find out that they are from rivals at the end of the scene.
Romeo finds out that Juliet is a Capulet from the nurse.
“Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foes debt.”
Romeo – Act I Scene V
Romeo’s language used when he finds out his new love is a “loathed enemy” is quite deep and meaningful. To the audience it is creating expectations of a voluntary self-punishment, on Romeo’s behalf, to pay for his sins, in this instance falling in love with an enemy, which could ultimately lead to his own death.
As the character of Juliet is young, she is portrayed as using her shyness and naivety to find out who Romeo is.
“My only love sprung from my only hate.”
Juliet – Act I Scene V
Juliet’s response to finding out Romeo is a Montague is embedded with the themes of love. Also, by repeating “my only” before each of the themes shows just how conflicting they are.
By finding out that they are from rival families, tension is caused for Romeo and Juliet. It also leaves the audience with a highpoint and some uncertainty as to what will happen to Romeo and Juliet’s love. This then makes the audience ask themselves will Romeo and Juliet follow their parents and never speak to and hate each other or will they follow their hearts and be together at all costs – even their lives.
Shakespeare, I feel, has successfully made the scene dramatically effective as it leaves the audience thinking as to what is going to happen further into the play. Shakespeare has also used the dialogue of his characters manipulate them into thinking a certain way about certain characters. For example, Tybalt’s words are always full of anger and hatred and therefore the audience may feel a certain repulsion for this character.
Act I Scene V is crucial to the rest of the play as this is when Romeo and Juliet meet fall in love and find out who each other is. Without this scene none of this would happen and if Romeo and Juliet do not meet and come together the this has left the audience left unfulfilled. Also, there is really no play at all.
Personally, I think that Act I Scene V is dramatic, also, it is a real moment of tension when Romeo and Juliet find out they are from rival families and builds up the dramatic effect even further, allowing Shakespeare to move the play forward with ease. However, Act I Scene V does convey the message of love very well, with the uses of the sonnet, along with Romeo’s first speech.
