The play opens with a public brawl between the two rival houses. This immediately portrays to the audience the immensity of their ongoing grudge, and reinforces the hatred and strength of the rivalry between them. It sets the scene of the play, and shows the audience the tense atmosphere surrounding the Capulets and Montagues. Romeo first appears in Act1, Scene1, where his character seems preoccupied. He is moody and withdrawn; full of sorrow about his unrequited love for Rosaline (‘Greifs of mine own lie heavy in my breast…love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs’ Act1, Sc1, L’s 179-184). He is showing the audience his role as a ‘courtly lover’, although his sorrowful outlook and desperate attitude does not match that of a man in love.
However, we are shown that Romeo is not acting himself, seemingly drowning in the depths of his emotions:
‘Tut, I have lost myself, I am not here, This is not Romeo, he’s some other where.’ Act1, Scene1, l’s 191/192. Although this does not give us an accurate picture of Romeo’s usual character, we can see that he’s a romantic with intense emotion, although what’s also apparant is his immaturity. We see he is not yet able to fully cope with these emotions. This sets up the sombre tone for the play, with Romeo’s woe echoing that of the tragedies that are yet to come.
In Act One Scene Two we see Paris asking Lord Capulet for his daughter Juliet’s hand in marriage; ‘but now, my lord, what say you to my suit?’ (Act1, Sc2,L6)however Capulet feels Juliet to be too young to wed and asks Paris to wait two summers until he feels Juliet has matured and is ready to become a wife:
‘Let two more summers wither in their pride, ere we may think her ripe to be a bride’ Act1, sc2 lines, 10 & 11.
Juliet is Capulet’s only daughter and he is reluctant to lose her too early. He tells Paris to win her heart, which shows he cares greatly for Juliet and her happiness, and does not want to force her into a marriage too early, or to someone she does not love. Lady Capulet, on the other hand, is eager for Juliet to marry young, just like she did herself; ‘By my count, I was your mother much upon these years’ Act1, Sc3 l 73. This shows us the diversity in attitudes between Capulet and his wife. There is also a sense of dramatic irony in this scene, as Capulet tells County Paris to wait until Juliet is ready to grow into the role of a wife and mother. The audience is aware from the beginning that Juliet will go on to wed and end her life with Romeo, marrying him only a few days after Capulet’s talk with Paris.
In Act One, Scene Four, Mercutio, Benvolio and Romeo attend Lord Capulet’s ball as masked intruders. Romeo, still sulking over his unrequited love for Rosaline and unaware he is about to encounter a new love, is in dark spirits ;‘I have a soul of lead So stakes me to the ground I cannot move’ Act1, Sc4, l’s 15 & 16. He is unenthusiastic about attending the Ball, and appears to prophesise what is yet to come; ‘I dreamt a dream tonight’. His grave attitude appears in stark contrast to Mercutio’s high spirited jests. Mercutio lightly mocks Romeo’s forebodings, however the audience is left with a sense of anticipation and tension is starting to build. Romeo continues to voice his apprehensions about entering the ball :
‘my mind misgives some consequence yet hanging in the stars shall bitterly begin his fearful date with this night’s revels’(Act one Sc four l’s 106-9)
The fact that he and the others are wearing masks gives Romeo the confidence and freedom to attend the ball. The fact that his face is covered not only hid his identity from the Capulet’s, but also allowed him to hide his fears behind a guise. This scene sets the foundations for what is to come, and a sense of inevitability is felt. Romeo is drawn into the ‘plot’ by an unknown force, and the audience gets a sense of this irony. Had Romeo refused to attend the ball, he may never have met Juliet, his ill-fated lover.
Due to the build up to this scene, we as the audience can understand how vital it is to the overall plot. It is the scene where fate brings these two star-crossed lovers together and also where they realise that fate will tear them apart. This is one of the most vital and dramatic scenes in perspective of the whole play.Their family backgrounds disallow their feelings for one another, and consequently lead to their ’untimely demise’.
As the ball scene begins, we see the party bustling, with servants rushing to prepare the feast, and Lord Capulet addressing his guests with joviality and humour. He jokes with the Men, encouraging them to dance: ‘Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have toes unplagu’d with corns will walk a bout with you’ (Act one Sc five l 15), and warmly welcomes all who have attended. He welcomes the masquers also, happily recalling the masquerades that he himself took place in as a young man. Lord Capulet is a kind host; however his character develops depth in later scenes when we witness his fury at Juliet’s disobedience. This shows he has a darker side to his character, and a fierce temper. The audience can relate to Juliet’s decision to marry in secret when we see the anger her father has shown and foretells the tragic end to their marriage. This builds up a sense of dramatic tension, as only the audience are aware of what is to come in the play.
Romeo refuses to dance, instead choosing to wallow in his sorrowsand play the part of the courtly lover. It is here, whilst he is watching from the shadows, that Romeo first catches sight of Juliet and is captivated by her astonishing beauty ‘O she doth teach the torches to burn bright!’ (Act One Sc five L 43). This is the first of many comparisons in the play of light and Juliet’s beauty, and Romeo uses vivid visual descriptions to portray to the audience how mesmerising he finds her, and the strength of his emotions. He falls instantly in love, thus setting the tragedy in motion, and his previous infatuation with Rosaline is entirely forgotten: ‘Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight! For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.’ l’s 52-3.
This shows us Romeo’s immaturity, as moments before he was enraptured with Rosaline, supposedly ‘in love’. This immaturity could ultimately be one of the reasons for their doomed end, thus it is important the audience understand Romeo’s youth and tendency to dramatise.
It is whilst Romeo admires Juliet from afar that Tybalt recognises him as a Montague, his sworn enemy, and is immediately overcome by rage ‘What dares the slave come hither, cover’d with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity?’ 54-6. He calls for his rapier; however his uncle, Lord Capulet, showing surprising grace, ends the battle before it has begun. Although he recognises Romeo, he is still playing the part of the gracious host, and tells Tylbalt that Verona brags of Romeo to be virtuous and well-governed. At this stage, Lord Capulet is unaware of Romeo’s infatuation with his daughter and tells Tybalt ‘He shall be endured’ l 76. He does not wish to undermine the festivities by ousting Romeo, as he has no cause to think that Romeo poses any threat to him. An ominous indication of what’s to come is contained in Tybalt’s line; ‘I will withdraw, but this intrusion shall, Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt’rest gall.’ L90-1. This is a key moment to the scene and the play as a whole, the beginnings of another tragic element in Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt has sworn revenge on Romeo, and this consequently leads to the death of Mercutio and banishment of Romeo.
Meanwhile, Romeo and Juliet share their first words in a hidden corner of the hall. Their language turns more poetic, and Romeo uses romantic metaphors to describe his new found love ‘My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’ Act One Sc five l’s 94-95. This language shows his promiscuous nature, and the audience see him flirting with Juliet, attempting to portray the passion he feels to her. He describes their meeting as a religious occasion, referring to Juliet as a saint, and uses religious imagery and language to try and tempt her with a kiss. He says as hands touch in prayer, so should lips. This part of the scene is written as a sonnet, which deliberately sets it apart from the normal verse used earlier in the scene.
As we see them together we become aware that they have eyes only for each other, and amidst the drama around them are completely unaware of anything but their emotions. This shows us that although they are young, their love is strong and enraptures them. The innocence of Romeo & Juliet’s first encounter is all the more apparent to us, the audience, as they are both blissfully unaware of each other’s true identities. This is one of the most dramatic and vital moments of the play: the audience know that soon after this sweet meeting much sorrow will be brought upon them, and their love will bring dire circumstances, therefore dramatic tension is strongly in use.
When Juliet later questions her nurse of Romeo’s name, she shows her first signs of immaturity by proclaiming ‘Go ask his name.- If he be married, My grave is like to be my wedding bed.’ L’s 33-4’. At this point Juliet is unaware that her words are prophetic, and love and excitement are the only emotions she feels. However, moments later she realises her dreams can never be fulfilled as she has fallen in love with the son of the only family she has been bought up to despise. Her distress is obvious, and she sorrowfully announces; ‘Prodigious birth of love it is to me, That I must love a loathed enemy’ l 139-140’.
Throughout the play Romeo’s character is that of an ill-fated hero. From Act One Scene One we see him as a tragic figure, his thoughts and emotions vividly portrayed to the audience. From his first meeting with Juliet he takes on the role of the star struck lover, and once banished from Verona his part as a tragic hero is set.
Dramatic tension is used throughout the play to add drama to the tragedy. The audience’s knowledge of the ultimate outcome gives a sense of realism to the tragedy, and makes the emotions they attach to the characters stronger. In following scenes, we see Romeo hide from his friends and risk death to stay and exchange vows of love with Juliet. The two enemies fall in love before they know each others name, therefore reinforcing the ideals of love at first sight. This first meeting sets the tragedy in motion; however other aspects enter the play such as the juxtaposition of love and hate, and the roles of chance and destiny.
Their despair when they realise that they are from rivalling families is naïve, but their love is so powerful that we have a sense of the inevitable outcome of their tryst. Juliet has told the audience that now she has loved, she can never love again. The stage has been set- fate has stepped in to change the lives of these star crossed lovers forever.
