The serving men spoke in prose, “When is good manners shall lie all in one or two means hands and they unwashed too, tis’ a foul thing.” This would show the audience that they were servants. This is because in Shakespeare times there would be no way of getting the point across so he had the lower class speak in prose and the upper class would speak in verse.
After the busy rush of the serving men, the arrival of elaborately costumed and decorative masked guests enter onto the stage. A festive atmosphere is rapidly established. Capulet is in a good mood. As he welcomes his guests and chats amiably with his relative: “You are welcome, gentlemen. Come, musicians, Play!” this shows the audience that Capulet is very happy to hold another masked ball, to have all of his friends there and to watch everyone dancing, enjoying themselves. Capulet then brings this calm approach to reminisce with his cousin: “By’r lady, thirty Years.” This shows that Capulet is a warm hearted, happy, family man to the audience, and contrasts to the busy start of the scene with the servants.
Shakespeare then brings Romeo onto the stage. As soon as Romeo enters the ball and sees everyone dancing, he spots Juliet. By asking a servant who she is: “What lady’s that which doth enrich the hand of yonder knight?” shows that Romeo is fickle as he can just switch off his emotions from one person to another. The servant did not know who Juliet was:“ I know not, sir” This would have been understandable in Shakespeare times as Capulet may have brought in more serving men to help around the ball.
Romeos language is now taken to another level. He uses poetic language to express how he feels about her:“ So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows as yonder lady O’er her fellows shows.” This would be clear to the audience as Shakespeare used the poetic language to express his feelings towards Juliet. In Shakespeare times all parts were played by men; therefore, without making them kiss or show love physically, they used words in a heightened elevated way to get the point across. However, as Romeo speaks these poetic words about Juliet, it shows the audience how mind changing Romeo can become. Romeo purposely went to the ball to see Rosaline in secret but his attention was caught by Juliet. The audience now get a better insight into his mind and how he can just switch his feelings, towards the opposite sex, on and off. Romeos character also contrasts to Capulet’s. It differs from the happy and teasing character to the romantic and serious character of Romeo.
Tybalt (Juliet’s cousin) overhears Romeo and becomes angry, as he knows Romeo is a Montague: “This, by his voice is a Montague. Fetch me my rapier boy!” Dramatic effect is added by using words such as “Antic face, fleer, and slave, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” This part of the play would appeal to the audience as the effect of Tybalt’s anger may result in another feud. Capulet addresses Tybalt in a controlled tone of voice by explaining that everything is okay: “Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone, a bears him like a portly gentleman.” By this reaction from Capulet, Tybalt is shocked and becomes even angrier towards the situation at hand. He storms off in rage. This also appeals to the audience as Capulet is and enemy of a Montague, but he addresses Tybalt with a comment such as leave him alone, he does no harm.
Meanwhile Romeo speaks to Juliet. It is love at first sight when they first talk to each other: “If I profane with my un-worthiest hand, this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this…” Romeo speaks in a very romantic yet religious language to Juliet, using words such as “Pilgrim” and “Prayer” The sonnet that both Romeo and Juliet share in the scene add to the dramatic effect for the audience, as it tells them that Romeo wants to kiss Juliet, “ O then dear saint, let lips do what hands do… touch…” This emotion of love for Romeo and Juliet contrasts greatly with the anger of Tybalts. This is a goof time where the contrast of love and hate are at play. Although Juliet is greatly attracted to Romeo, she allows him to make the first move, but during the seconds kiss, she is much more aggressive, using her logic to ensure that Romeo kisses her again in order to take back the sin that he placed onto her lips. Juliet during this conversation starts to mature from a timid young girl to a mature woman. She makes an interesting comment, “You kiss by th’ book,” Juliet is impressed with Romeo and ends up encouraging him to pursue their love.
In a lightning flash Romeo’s love for Juliet is complete and unchangeable nonce they have kissed. In my opinion I think the audience would have expected this, however they may have been shocked at Romeo forgetting all about Rosaline. After the kiss, Juliet is then pulled away from Romeo by the nurse as her mother “Craves a word”. When Juliet is speaking to her mother, Romeo speaks to the nurse to ask about Juliet. To Romeos devastation he finds out his only love is a Capulet: “Is she a Capulet? O dear account! My life is my foe’s debt.” This adds dramatic effect to the audience as they know Capulet and Montague’s are enemies. They will be eager to find out what happens to the two lovers, will they part? Or will they carry on seeing each other in secret? As Romeo is very upset that the girl he loves is his family’s enemy, he decides to keep this a secret from other Montague’s.
Juliet then asks the nurse who Romeo is, however she shows her youth side by not asking the nurse who Romeo is directly, but asking about others as well, “What is yond gentleman?...go ask his name.” This shows the audience that Juliet is curios as to who it was she spoke to, and also kissed. Although it shows the canning side to Juliet as she makes sure that she doesn’t seen to forward over knowing who Romeo is, even though she is desperate to find out.
Tension is built for the audience when Juliet realizes Romeo is a Montague. S he ends the scene with a prophetic note when she says: “My grave is like to my wedding bed”. This shows the audience that Romeo and Juliet are madly in love with each other and they will do anything to stay together. It shows that Juliet is devoted to Romeo and she says she will die unmarried if Romeo has a partner. This also tells the audience that Rosaline is completely out of the picture.
Juliet speaks in verse towards the end of the scene: “My only love sprung from my only hate. Too early seen unknown, and known too late”. By this Juliet means the only person she love was brought into the world by the people she hate, and knows who he is now, but its too late. As Juliet speaks this verse the nurse asks: “What’s this?” Juliet cunningly replies by the saying it were a rhyme she learned when dancing with someone. This shows to me, that Juliet is very quick minded. She does not want to tell no one about Romeo so she quickly explains is was a rhyme she learned while dancing with someone, which was technically true.
Act one scene five is a very important scene to the play as the language used by Shakespeare here articulately describes the deep passion that they feel for one another, and the audience are well rewarded for their patience in waiting for the two lovers meet. It also puts the audience into suspense as to what will happen in the next scene with Romeo and Juliet. Will the two families find out about the lovers? Will they carry on the affair in secret?
