The servants at the beginning of scene 5 are used to create atmosphere. They ‘hurry about the stage’ shouting orders at each other and acting as a foils to the Capulet family showing how rich they are because the Capulets have so many busy servants. It shows how important the ball is going to be because the servants are working so hard to make it perfect. Capulet is seen as self-assured he doesn’t seem threatened by Romeo’s arrival and doesn’t worry that people will think he has no authority because his enemy’s son is at the party though it is likely that most people will not know as the it is a masked ball, however the nurse managed to tell Juliet who Romeo was and Tybalt recognised Romeo. He shows his authority straight away when Tybalt questions it saying ‘Am I the master here, or you?’ He is confident and witty joking with his guests saying things such as ‘she that makes dainty, she’ll swear have corns.’ I also think this scene shows he is convivial he shouts ‘welcome, gentlemen!’ and does not send Romeo away also showing his power because he is unaffected by one guest. This contrasts with Tybalt’s naïve outrage at an uninvited Montague coming to their party Capulet just wants to be a good host and enjoy the party. I also think that it shows how in some ways the rivalry is wearing thin with the people who have lived with it longest. The wives clearly show they are tired of the feud. Both Capulet and Montague’s wives stop them from fighting in act 1, scene 1. This could influence Capulet’s decision to stop Tybalt from fighting and ruining his party. Tybalt seems very opposite to Capulet. He is eager to fight and defend the Capulet name and he is very foul tempered. We see this when he is talking to Capulet. He often loses sight of his role because of his temper. He questions the authority of those who are above him. I think people become unsympathetic to Tybalt as they see his anger and the way he lacks any tolerance. However we do see his loyalty to his family, which he never loses. Capulet becomes a more caring and trustworthy character. He is more interested in having a good party and doesn’t feel as strongly about the feud as the party is his priority and he is not worried that Romeo is at it. He doesn’t treat Romeo badly even if Romeo has secretly got into the party without an invitation.
Later on when Capulet orders Juliet to marry the county Paris the audience start to dislike Capulet. He has ordered Juliet to marry a man she does not love. It makes the audience feel he has misguided them because they trusted him at the beginning when he was convivial and caring. He completely changes that by not caring for Juliet’s feelings. It makes us empathise with Juliet when she feels her only hope is to stage her own death. We begin to understand just what the families’ feuds can do to a person.
I think when Romeo and Juliet meet it is very important because it contrasts with the hustle and bustle of the party. It is very private and is easily disrupted by people such as the nurse. It’s extremely fragile. I think that the disruptions that stop them sharing a second sonnet reflect the disruptions by other people that will result in their relationship being ruined. The sonnet uses imagery to convey how they feel. It refers to religion and light and dark in particular. He often refers to Juliet as if she is holy or as if she is light (like an angel which is combining the two) He says ‘she doth teaches the torches to burn bright, it seems she hangs upon the cheek of night’ and when he shares a sonnet with her he uses a lot of religious imagery ‘my lips two blushing pilgrims’ and a play on words about ‘pilgrims’ ‘saints’ and ‘palmers’. I think it shows the sanctity and inviolability or their relationship. I also think it reflects Jesus’ life in that the couple have to make huge sacrifices which later results in their unjust deaths. It could also show how important their love is and how it is sacrilegious not to let them be together because it’s what fate intended and they are in love. Romeo sees Juliet as saintly, holy and above him and feels he has to worship her.
Earlier on Romeo has revealed part of his plan to touch Juliet’s hand and then say he has tainted her, which can only be resolved and forgiven with a kiss. I think because the audience have heard his plan, it is amusing and exciting to see it unfolding before them and working! Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet and cannot see how anyone can compare. Romeo uses the typical language of a besotted romantic who is pining for the unobtainable female.
I think the contrast in the scene and the language used in the sonnet, are the most important aspects of this section. I also think the imagery and symbolism are important as they really set the scene for the audience. The religious, and light and dark, imagery are profound as they show how much Juliet means to Romeo and compare their love too much greater things. The fact they are still wearing their masks symbolize that they will have to keep their love hidden from everyone especially their families. The sudden change from the hustle and bustle to the serenity shows a real difference and makes their intimacy seem greater in comparison. The sonnet reflects their love as all sonnets were about love.
The imagery of light and dark is developed later in the play as its used again because the meanings behind them are quite clear and the repetition makes you think of there earlier love. The light usually means purity, goodness and something positive and the dark symbolizes negative things and hiding things. The light in this play is love particularly the love shared between Romeo and Juliet. The darkness is usually representing death and the families’ involvement in the relationship. The religious imagery is used again because it’s so powerful especially to a strongly religious audience the sonnet was particularly important because sonnets were only used between lovers and were very secret. To an Elizabethan audience I sonnet would demonstrate love perfectly and show how in love they were because it’s so personal and special.
The atmosphere at the end of the scene is quite negative as Juliet learns straight away that Romeo is a Montague and that her ‘only love springs from her only hate’ they cannot be together as he is from the rival family. She is already in torment as she can predict the troubles this will bring.
Juliet is being called away by a family member this symbolizes the families involvements. She knows she cannot be with Romeo and that it will cause trouble but knows that won’t stop her.
The scene for the audience will be very important because of the contrasts of characters and the contrasts between the scenes. It is also when Romeo and Juliet first see each other and fall in love and if that were not to happen the whole play would seize right there. It is where the ‘real’ action begins and we begin to see what the characters destinies are.