There is a definite change of atmosphere at the beginning of Act 1 scene5, from Romeo and his friends being outside in the cold dark night to being inside Capulets busy, lively house with smiling cheerful people. Shakespeare however had trouble changing the scenery for this scene, he decided to use the servants in the play to bring on the scenery for this scene but in doing this it makes the audience think that the servants are getting the house ready for the ball. Shakespeare did this because he had no modern staging methods. This builds up excitement and anticipation and it’s a change of pace from the previous scene especially with Romeo and his friends entering with masks on. As soon as Capulet sees them enter he rushes over and says, “Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes unplagu’d with corns will walk a bout with you”. The audience can see that Capulet isn’t annoyed or suspicious about them and he is in a good mood when he says, “I hath seen the day that I have worn a visor” and also when he says, “You are welcome gentlemen”. By now the audience’s tension has gone but quickly comes back when Romeo first sees Juliet. He declares, “O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” meaning that she is so beautiful that her light shines brighter than the torches. Shakespeare has put this speech in poetry to show its private and also to put more emphasis on Romeo. He also says she is “As a rich jewel in an Etheop’s ear: beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!” he means this that she is a shiny jewel in an Ethiopians ear, too beautiful to touch. This is also a dramatic change in atmosphere; from the way Romeo and Capulet are talking (Happy, pleasant and cheerful) to the language Romeo is using now (Poetry). The audience’s tension and excitement is incresed when Tybalt over hears Romeo talking. Tybalt declares, “This by his voice, should be a Montague”. He fills up with rage and shouts “Fetch me my rapier”. With this the audience are sitting on the edge of their seats. Old Capulet sees this and isn’t too bothered about it but moves to calm Tybalt. He tells Tybalt “To say truth, Verona brags of him to be a virtuous and well govern’d youth”. Tybalt becomes even more enraged “I’ll not endure him” with this Capulets attitude and manner suddenly changes towards Tybalt “He shall be endur’d”. With this Tybalt storms out the room leaving the audience in suspense. They now know that Capulet is a short-tempered old man who is not used to being challenged.
The conversation between Capulet and Tybalt has given Romeo time to talk to Juliet. This makes the atmosphere tenser because Romeo has to work up the courage to speak to Juliet. There is now a romanic atmosphere between Romeo and Juliet, all the audiences’ attention is on them. There is an obvious change in the language as Romeo and Juliet are now talking in rhyming couplets (sonnet). It is a very intimate scene where one seems to know what the other will say and can answer back in responsive poetry. This shows that they are in tune with each other and that their love is intense, special and reciprocated. The imagery used in the sonnet is religious. Romeo uses words like “pilgrim”, “sin” and “holy shrine” in order to show that he regards Juliet highly and sees her as something precious, pure and saintly. He sees himself as unworthy of her, Romeo finds her worthy of being worshipped. Juliet sustains the imagery but she gently teases him and encourages him to see her as human and to kiss her, “Pilgrim, lips that they must use in prayer”. The nurse interrupts the lovers. This breaks the intensity and creates a lighter mood. She does this by saying “Madam, your mother craves a word with you”. Shakespeare uses the nurse (the nurse is a comic character) to get Juliet away from Romeo so that she can tell Romeo who Juliet is. Romeo finds this upsetting as he finds out she is a Capulet.
The masquers leave – this ends the party and creates a different mood on stage. The audience are left with only the nurse and Juliet. Juliet finds out who Romeo is. Before she finds out who he is she says, “My grave is likely to be my wedding bed”. She feels the same despair and fatalism as Romeo did.
Shakespeare makes this scene dramatically effective by his use of contrast (the atmosphere and tension vary greatly), stagecraft and structure, entrances and exits (he does this so the audience don’t get bored and can focus on different things). He also makes good use of character development (each character having their own role) and his use of language (he has a sonnet and Capulets change of attitude. At the end of the scene the audience will be anticipating what Tybalt will do, what will happen between Romeo and Juliet and if this will bring the houses of Capulet and Montague together or set them further apart.