Scene one then follows the prologue. It is important to establish the feud between the two families within this scene. The scene begins with a street fight between the Montagues and Capulets. We can tell that Sampson is timid because when he sees two Montague servants approaching instead of fighting them himself, he backs off and asks Gregory to be the one who starts the fight:
“quarrel, I will back thee”. Sampson is definitely trying to be the most aggressive out of the two males, because he explains that he would take on any Montague, whether male or female, even though the ongoing feud between the families is between the men only:
“…I will be cruel with the maids…”
This suggests that he is going to deal with the maids in an unpleasant way. A maid is another word for a virgin, so Sampson is explaining that he would force these girls to lose their virginity to him, in other words rape the maids of the Montague household. From hearing this the audience would almost likely be feeling shocked that the feud within the two families is so serious that Sampson would do such a frightful and wicked thing. You need to understand the hatred between the two families and to be able to see why the fight has started.
The film version of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ show the two families starting by bickering with each other in their cars in a petrol station, trying to better each other with cocky remarks and comments. The families encourage each other to flick their thumbs and start the street fight. As Benvolio enters and tries to keep the peace (as his name suggests ‘well wishing’) by parting with the fighters, Tybalt (Capulet) threatens Benvolio with death and also by the language he uses shows that he is not afraid to die fighting. Tybalt is a very vicious character and enjoys fighting, as we see throughout the story. This scene portrays the pure hatred that the two families have for each other and how easily it is sparked into violence and rage.
Later on in the scene is also the first appearance of a lovesick Romeo, he thinks he is in love with a girl named Rosaline, although he thinks he is deeply in love with this woman, he does not really know what to do about it. As Romeo enters Benvolio greets him. Benvolio acknowledges that Romeo is depressed but does not know the reason why. Benvolio asks ‘what sadness lengthens Romeo’s hours?’ Benvolio then discovers that Romeo is in love with Rosaline. He also discovers that Romeo is actually in love with a woman he has never even met, not even spoken to. This woman has also sworn to be chaste (pure or holy). As Romeo begins to explain to Benvolio about his love for Rosaline he rhymes the contradictory use of his language (oxymoron) ‘loving hate’ and ‘feather of lead’. This use of the rhythm and language intrigues the audience and keeps them firmly interested in the film. The message Romeo is trying to explain to Benvolio within the contradictory language is that love should be simple but in fact it is actually complicated. Benvolio tells Romeo that he should forget about Rosaline and he should look at other girls, Romeo then replies that is impossible.
The nurse however contrasts from any of the characters I have mentioned so far but does relate to Mercutio who is later introduced in the play. The nurse is a very large character with many different sides to her. She is loud, embarrassing and gossips rather relentlessly. For example the nurse talks about how Juliet will have to lie on her back for men when she is older, she jokes about this in front of Juliet’s mother! Above all the nurse is a very funny and much of a comic character. A character like this is important to have in a play such as ‘Romeo & Juliet’ as it contrasts from the rest of the play and gives the audience a break from all the hatred and depression from the rest of the play. This keeps the audience more focused on the play and also probably makes the comedy more amusing than it would usually be because it contrasts so much from the other factors of the play. Other examples of the nurse being embarrassing and comical are in lines sixteen to forty-eight. The nurse is screaming frantically at the top of her voice, and as we see in the Baz Luhrman film the nurse hysterically dashing around the house trying to find Juliet. Other comic lines from this scene include the lines when she is speaking to Juliet;
‘Yea,’quoth he, ‘dost thou fall upon thy face?
Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit
Wilt thou not, Jule?’ and by my holidame,
The pretty wretch left crying and said ‘Ay.’
To see, now, how a jest shall come about!
I warrant, an I should live a thousand years,
I never should forget it: ‘Wilt thou not, Jule?’ quoth he;
And, pretty fool, it stinted and said ‘Ay.’
One of the most important themes in this scene is of love and marriage. The nurse briefly describes in this scene how good fortune can still come from marriage even if you are not in love. We see that Juliet is not in love with Paris as she is neither too surprised nor pleased with her marriage proposal from him. The marriage may not bring total happiness to the couple but good things may still spring from the opportunity. Juliet’s parents recognise the advantages of what their daughter’s marriage will bring, as Paris is the Prince’s nephew and in further quarrels between the two families it is hoped by the Capulets that the Prince will mildly take their side. It is also as if Juliet’s parents are using Juliet as a form of bribe.
The other rather comic character in the play is Mercutio. Mercutio is Romeo’s best friend and is comic in parts of the play but is also has a very deep and shadowy side to his personality. The first appearance Mercutio makes in the play is in scene four where he tells his speech. He starts off comical and entertains his friends as he usually does, but starts to get dark and sound very distressed towards the end of his story. He starts off quite poetically talking about a story of queen Mab, he talks pleasantly of lover’s dreams, but as you read on his mood and context of his voice begin to change. In the films you can hear the sound of his voice change and become very passionate about what he is saying, it is as if the words he is speaking are actually happening and he starts to believe what he is saying will become true. Towards the end of his dramatic speech he begins to talk about death, murder and corruption. In the Baz Luhrman film we can see that Mercutio starts to become angry with himself by the way of his body language and the way he is throwing himself about.
Within this speech it really does show the darkness of Mercutio’s personality. Mercutio seems like the kind of person that has a very contrasted personality. Shakespeare portrays this very well in this scene as Mercutio begins talking about pleasant dreams and entertains his friends to Mercutio and finally becoming agitated and talking about nightmares. This character is very important is the play as he is comical, but can also show a very serious and distressed side to his personality which is very interesting to watch.
Scene five is the most important scene in the first act and probably the most important scene of the play as in this scene Romeo meets Juliet. When Romeo arrives at the Capulet’s mansion and first sees Juliet he completely forgets about Rosaline and instantly falls deeply in love with Juliet. This scene is very interesting for the audience as all the following scenes have built up to this one and have in it most of the characters in the whole play. This scene is also very unpredictable because it seems that Romeo is in a no-win situation if he is to try and fulfil his love. Not only is Juliet to be married but also she is part of a family that the Montagues hate. However Romeo does not yet know of any of this and begins to talk about Juliet to himself;
‘O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night
Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope’s ear
Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!
From this speech we can tell that Romeo’s image of Juliet is bright and pure and she compared to everything else makes everything else look dull and lifeless.
As Romeo mutters to himself his love for Juliet he carelessly unmasked himself to get a better view of his love. As he does this Tybalt recognises him and becomes raged that a Montague dare show his face at a Capulet party;
‘Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave
Come hither, cover’d with an antic face,
To fleer and scorn at our solemnity?’
Tybalt is determined to fight Romeo there and then. This causes the tension to rise significantly and grips the audiences’ attention. In the film’s of ‘Romeo & Juliet’ Tybalt’s voice is better expressed, his voice is full of anger, hatred and also determination to kill Romeo for this outrage. Luckily for Romeo Juliet’s father gets involved and there is a power struggle between the two. Old Capulet orders Tybalt that no blood will be spilt in his house on such a night. Tybalt furiously argues his point but then stands down. This power struggle causes the tension to rise even further as this argument literally would have decided Romeo’s fate.
After this Romeo & Juliet finally have their first dialogue with each other. There are fourteen lines in their conversation and unlike the prologue this is a more original sonnet as it is based about love. Within this sonnet there are rhyming couplets which also describe love. Shakespeare does this to clearly display that the couple are falling in love and from this we think that Tybalt will suddenly lash out at Romeo if he discovers this. Romeo also uses religious imagery to describe his love for Juliet, he does this because he thinks that their love is pure and perfect and that he believes in Juliet as much as his faith.
The more that Romeo talks about his love for Juliet the more we start to feel sorry for him because he does still not yet know that Juliet is a Capulet, that her cousin wishes to kill him and that in fact she is due to marry Paris. It seems that their love for each other at this point would only cause harm or even death.
