How significant in terms of plot and characters is Act 1 as an introduction to the play, Romeo and Juliet?
Act One plays a significant role as an introduction to the play, as the summary has been established within the whole act. It provides a backdrop for the rest of the play, as the characters and conflicts are reflected throughout it.
Act One Scene One opens with the servants Sampson and Gregory fighting. This provides the first insight to the conflict between the two families, the Capulets and the Montagues “the quarrel is between our masters, and us their men.” Sampson and Gregory can be seen as a microcosm of their lords and the audience are automatically provided with the knowledge of the history of conflict between the Capulets and the Montagues.
Tybalt’s threat to the Montagues is significant in the first scene of Act One, as he creates further tension, “...talk of peace? I hate the word.” The “fiery Tybalt’s” role in this scene shows the audience that Tybalt is a willing aggressor. His hot temper and his non-pacifist views are significant as the conflicting plot is similarly reflected later on in the play, where the death of Mercutio is the victim of Tybalt’s violent nature.
The anticipation to meet Romeo and Juliet builds up for the audience, as they have yet to meet the main characters of the play. The suspense increases especially when they are mentioned but are not yet shown to the audience, to form their own opinions, “So early walking did I see your son…but he was ware of me and stole into the covert of the wood.” The lovesick youth Romeo is first introduced to the audience as a confused, depressed teenager, with an obsession with a girl he admired from a distance, Rosaline. His unrequited love for her causes him to be depressed, and he seems to suffer from solitariness, insomnia, crying and sighing and prefers staying in the dark as he “locks fair daylight out”. Romeo feels that the emotion he feels is “love” and makes him happy, but at the same time it makes him sad as he only admires Rosaline from afar. He uses phrases to try and express his two conflicting ideas “Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health.” His use of oxymorons show his confusion and this is significant as later on in the play, a different but true love is shown for Juliet.