During Act 1 scene 5 we see the Capulets having a party; this is a very important scene in the play because this is where Romeo meets Juliet for the first time. Romeo and his friends attend the party in disguise with the intention of gate crashing it. Romeo voice is recognised by Tybalt, nephew of the Capulet’s. He is a very hot tempered man, and we can see that he hates Romeo. We discover next what Capulet thinks of Romeo. He tells Tybalt not to disturb the peace and cause a fight. Capulet says that Romeo is “a well governed youth.” Capulet is praising Romeo. Shakespeare is contrasting Romeo to Tybalt; he does not back his own nephew because he just wants peace.
Toward the end of this scene we see Romeo meeting Juliet for the first time. Shakespeare changes the mood of the play from a violent, angry one to a romantic mood. When the lovers first talk they speak a sonnet to each other. This sonnet is spoken by two people; an Elizabethan audience would have known this. Shakespeare uses a sonnet at this time because this is the most romantic part of the whole play. Shakespeare has Romeo and Juliet say the sonnet together to symbolize their love for each other.
Imagery of religion is used whilst Romeo and Juliet are speaking. As they talk it is as if the lovers are playing a sort of love game. Juliet says “This means that saints and pilgrims must use their lips to pray. Juliet may be hinting that if Romeo wants a kiss he’s going to have to ask for it. Romeo realizes this and says
.” He's asking for permission to let his lips pray and kiss. Romeo and Juliet kiss for the first time. Romeo expresses his happiness and says “Thus from my lips, by yours, my sin is purged” which means that kiss has cleansed him of sin. Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet (love at first sight). Throughout this scene Romeo uses lots of metaphors, for example “my lips, two blushing pilgrims.” The way he talks is very deep. He plays a kind of love game with Juliet and is very charming. Romeo may sound incredibly soppy whilst he is talking, but he is not. Talking in this way and relating to religion was very popular at this time. This point in the play the audience may be hopeful that there will be a happy ending, although they already know that this is a tragedy from the prologue. At the end of the scene Romeo is horrified when he finds out that Juliet is from the Capulet family.
The next key scene of the play is Act 3 scene 1. This is a turning point of the whole play because it starts to become a tragedy. The contrast of love and hate in the play is very clear in this scene. During the scene we see two characters die, Tybalt and Mercutio. When Romeo arrives in the scene, Tybalt immediately wants to fight him. He insults Romeo by saying “thou art a villain” Romeo does not react as expected but answers him by saying Romeo is saying that he has a reason to love Tybalt and so he's going to ignore the insult. He then says he's not a villain, and starts to leave. This shows that Romeo cares deeply for Juliet and is trying his best not to fight with her family or upset her. This also represents him as a good man with good intentions. Romeo also says that he loves the name Capulet as he loves his own. We know that this is because he has just married Juliet, but to the other men around it sounds as if he is afraid. Mercutio thinks Romeo is a coward and fights with Tybalt. Romeo desperately tries to break it up but Mercutio is wounded. Before Mercutio dies he shouts a curse to both the houses “A plague o’ both your houses!” When Romeo is delivered the news of Mercutio’s death by Benvolio he is grief stricken. Mercutio died defending him, Romeo changes his attitude and goes after Tybalt. Romeo's anger and desire for vengeance triumphs over his love for Juliet. Romeo says before he fights Tybalt “fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!” He is furious and uses personification to represent his rage.
After haven killed Tybalt Romeo is distraught and says “O, I am fortunes fool” relating to the scene being fate. Romeo is banished from Verona by the prince to another city state of Italy called Mantua. Romeo wants to kill himself when he finds out because he won’t be able to be with Juliet. This could suggest that Romeo rushes into things without thinking them through properly, he tells the nurse that he is going to stab himself.
After studying the play and analyzing these two scenes very carefully I have come to the conclusion that Romeo is a kind-hearted, good man. He did not want to kill Tybalt. He is generous and kind to his friends, and when he kills Paris he is very depressed. I think falling in love with Juliet helps Romeo to grow up. At the beginning of the play he feels sorry for himself and has self pity. At the end he thinks of Juliet and not himself. When he kills himself it is to be reunited with her. Romeo is very rash and lets his emotions take over him whether it is falling in love or fighting for vengeance.
