In this paragraph I intend to explain why this is an imperative scene in the play. It is vital because it’s the scene where Romeo an Juliet first meet each other and fall in love as soon as they set their eyes on each other. The love that begins in this scene is what the whole play is about. Also, its important because after decades of feud with the Montague’s, the Capulet’s are having a ball and the last thing they want is a Montague coming to the ball, which is why Tybalt gets extremely fuming. Romeo being at the ball causes tragedies because the feud gets worse and it is because of this that Tybalt later tries to fight Romeo but ends up fighting and killing Mercutio and then being killed himself by Romeo
Lord Capulet is the head of the Capulet household; he is a very valued person with very high status. Lord Capulet is exceedingly excited about the ball “ Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes unplagued with corns will have a bout with you”. Lord Capulet is beginning the ball by bringing all the characters on the stage and sets the mood of good humour. In addition to this Lord Capulet orders music and dancing so the scene would look very lively on stage, “You are welcome, gentlemen! Come, musicians, play”. Lord Capulet wants the music played and he tells the girls to start dancing, moreover Shakespeare uses exclamation marks, which shows us that he is very excited about this ball.
When Tybalt sees Romeo he immediately complains to Lord Capulet. Lord Capulet warns Tybalt and tells him that he doesn’t want this ball getting ruined, “He shall be endur`d what Goodman boy! I say he shall. Go to!” Lord Capulet replies very calmly to Tybalt “young Romeo is it?” Lord Capulet’s reply to Tybalt seems as if he is not concerned about Romeo being at the ball and he sounds careless. This ball is extremely significant to Lord Capulet “I will not for the wealth of all the town here in my house do him disparagement”. This shows us clearly that Lord Capulet doesn’t want a public humiliation in front of all his guests.
Tybalt is Juliet’s favourite cousin; he gets frustrated easily and has a short temper. Tybalt is furious when he hears Romeos voice and he wants to fight Romeo. “This, by the voice, should be a Montague. Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave come hither, cover`d with an antic face”. Tybalt wants to kill Romeo and tells his men to get him his sword we already know that this ball means a lot to Lord Capulet and this is thrilling for the audience because we wonder whether Tybalt will attack Romeo and as Tybalt orders his men to get him his sword this creates additional tension. Moreover, Tybalt says that Romeo is here to mock and ridicule them at their party. “To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?” We know that Romeo is here to take his mind of Rosaline and to find another girl, so for Tybalt to think that Romeo is here to mock them creates more nervousness and excitement. When Lord Capulet tells Tybalt to calm down and leave Romeo alone, Tybalt becomes angrier. “It fits, when such a villain is a guest: I’ll not endure him”. Tybalt describes Romeo as being a cruel and malicious person and tell his uncle that he cannot bear with Romeo being at the ball any longer, this gets the audience eager and makes the audience wonder what Tybalt’s next move will be. This shows us that Tybalt is a very hot-headed character and that he wont back down.
Romeo was in love with Rosaline before he met Juliet, but his feelings were mixed about her. Romeo’s feelings quickly change when he sees Juliet. In addition to this when Romeo first sees Juliet he is so much more in love with her than he was with Rosaline. The first words he says about her were, “ O she doth teach the torches to burn bright! ”This means the Romeo thinks she lights up the room and that she is beautiful. He also describes Juliet as a jewel in a black persons ear. This means that she stands out from the crowd plus all the other women are ugly compared to her. This is because a black person is dark and a jewel is bright. In addition to this by saying this Romeo could’ve also been describing Juliet as being rich because at that time black people were quite poor and jewels were expensive. When Romeo and Juliet first meet it is very exciting because it brings dramatic irony to the play and it is exciting because we as the audience know that they are from feuding family’s who have years of rivalry between them and this creates lots of tension because we know that they shouldn’t fall in love. Romeo and Juliet hide the fact that they’re talking about love by using religious words and imagery also, in their time everybody would have believed in god. Romeo describes Juliet as a “holy shrine”, this shows his care for her. Furthermore, Romeo tries to kiss Juliet by saying “O, then dear saint, let lips do what hands do;” Romeo wants to kiss Juliet by doing this Romeo brings religion into it and says that they should pray by kissing each other.
In this Paragraph I intend to show how Shakespeare gives us hints of what is going to happen in the future. Tybalt promises to take revenge on Romeo for coming to the Capulet ball. Even after being told by Lord Capulet to leave Romeo alone Tybalt still wanted to take vengeance on Romeo and Shakespeare shows us this when Tybalt says “Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting I will withdraw but this intrusion shall now seeming sweet conver to bitter gall.” Tybalt is still exceedingly angry despite being told to calm down and forget about Romeo by Lord Capulet, however Tybalt gives us a hint that he will take revenge on Romeo because Romeo and Juliet seeing each other makes his flesh vibrate. Also Tybalt says that he was forced to stay patient with wild anger meeting, this tells us that he had no other choice but to stay patient and as a result of this he has to do something to Romeo. Romeo and Juliet are both very worried when they realize they have fallen in love with their enemies. Romeo is heart broken when he first finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” This shows us that Romeo is confused at first Shakespeare shows us this because he uses a question mark then suddenly Romeo is shocked Shakespeare also shows us this by using an exclamation mark. Romeo says that his life is his enemy’s debt. This tells us that he thinks his life is over, and he is heart broken. The nurse rushes Juliet because Juliet’s mother wants a word with her because they want Juliet to dance and get married with Penucio. Juliet realizes that it’s too late to do anything about it; their lives will now be ruled by this love. “My only love sprung from my only hate!” Juliet says that this was the first time she fell in love and how it changed so rapidly to become her only hatred she says this since the Capulet’s and the Montague’s are enemies. Juliet knows that it is too late to do anything about it, “Too early seen unknown, and known too late!” Juliet realizes that she fell in love with Romeo too soon not knowing who he is and now that she does know whom Romeo is its too late. This creates tension because we know that their deep in love and that they won’t just stop loving each other.
I think that Romeo, his cousins and his best friend Mercutio being at the ball with Tybalt and his men makes this scene incredibly thrilling for the audience because the audience know that they shouldn’t see each other and audience are anxious because they can clash at any time. Also, Romeo and Juliet falling in love quickly without knowing each other very well made this scene breathtaking since the audience already know that the Montague’s and Capulet’s are rival enemies so them falling in love so fast creates anxiety and dramatic irony because the audience know that they shouldn’t fall in love. What’s more we know that Juliet’s favourite cousin Tybalt who has a very short temper is there and so is Romeo’s cousins and his best friend Mercutio, which creates even more tension and adds anticipation to the scene because anything can occur between them.
By Ahmed Noor
