‘Welcome, gentlemen! I have seen the day
That I have worn a visor and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair lady's ear,
Such as would please: 'tis gone, 'tis gone, 'tis gone:
You are welcome, gentlemen! come, musicians, play.’
Lord Capulet now gets very excited and orders the guest to give more room in his hall for dancing,
‘ A hall, a hall! give room! and foot it, girls’
Lines 25-27 indicate that Lord Capulet is in a party mood. The audience know that the atmosphere is hot by Lord Capulet indicating to his servants that he wanted,
‘And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot.’
Lord Capulet than settles down and talks to his cousin Second Capulet. He tells jokes again and tells him that their dancing days are over, this than leads their conversation into Lord Capulet wondering how long it was since they had actual danced.
‘How long is't now since last yourself and I
Were in a mask?’
This than results in a friendly argument over how many years it actually was since they had danced with Lord believing that it was less than what Second Capulet had thought. They then link this with an age of a person son. Finally their part ends when lord Capulet says,
‘Will you tell me that?
His son was but a ward two years ago.’
This then opens up for Romeo part in the scene. At this point it would all be quieter on stage as Romeo spots Juliet. His language tells us that it is a romantic scene. He does his by using rhyme,
‘ Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!
For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.’
Romeo also uses metaphors and simile to describe his fancy for Juliet.
‘O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!
It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night’.
‘So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,’
The second quote I have used can also be described as holy imagery of Juliet, because Romeo basically feels that Juliet is light out of all the darkness around, this could be quite mind dazzling for the audience. Romeo also shows a big change from the previous because he had just broken up with Rosaline whom he had thought he loved very much and was quite depressed about. But now that he had seen this beautiful woman it seemed he had forgotten about Rosaline already.
Danger and excitement than arrive with the “fiery” of Tybalt. He uses violent, dangerous language. Tybalt spots Romeo at the party and is really angered.
‘This, by his voice, should be a Montague.’
Tybalt is so enraged that he quickly commands his servant to get him his sword so that they can do battle.
‘ Fetch me my rapier, boy. What dares the slave
Come hither, cover'd with an antic face,’
Tybalt insults Romeo by describing him as a slave, which shows that he feels that Montague are unworthy to be amongst Capulet and feels that Romeo is making a mockery of them, therefore threatens to kill him.
‘ Now, by the stock and honour of my kin,
To strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.’
Capulet describes Tybalt’s mood as a “storm” which shows that Tybalt’s anger had not been consumed and was quite obvious to the audience and to Capulet.
Capulet eventually becomes angry and explains that he had Romeo that morning and that he did not want any trouble his party.
‘ Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone;
He bears him like a portly gentleman;
And, to say truth, Verona brags of him
To be a virtuous and well-govern'd youth:
I would not for the wealth of all the town
Here in my house do him disparagement:
Therefore be patient, take no note of him:
It is my will, the which if thou respect,
Show a fair presence and put off these frowns,
And ill-beseeming semblance for a feast.’
Tybalt than resist Lord Capulet’s demand and Lord Capulet thunders at him and puts him firmly in his place and giving orders about the party in same lines.
‘What, goodman boy! I say, he shall: go to;
Am I the master here, or you? go to.’
‘You are a saucy boy: is't so, indeed?
This trick may chance to scathe you, I know what:
You must contrary me! marry, 'tis time.
Well said, my hearts! You are a princox; go:
Be quiet, or--More light, more light! For shame!
I'll make you quiet. What, cheerly, my hearts!’
You see that in both of this quotes Lord Capulet describes Tybalt as a “boy”, Lord Capulet those this to remind Tybalt that he is under him and that whatever he says goes.
As a result to this Tybalt leaves Romeo alone but his words are heavy and threatening. Tybalt spits out alliterations to show his contempt and is literally shaking with anger.
‘ Patience perforce with wilful choler meeting
Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.
I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall
Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall.’
Tybalt speaks in rhyme to make his words memorable to the audience.
Tybalt now exits the scene and Romeo enters.
After a moment of anger the audience than find a joy to see Romeo and Juliet dancing together. Their words are full of tender and holy imagery,
‘ If I profane with my unworthiest hand
This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:
My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand
To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.’
Their lines rhyme and chime together to form a sonnet (a classic love poem)
They dance and kiss until the Nurse interrupts them.
There audience would probably feel quite emotional at this part in the scene.
Romeo than finds out that Juliet is a Capulet. We again know that he is in love with Juliet because of the way he describes her as her life.
‘Is she a Capulet?
O dear account! my life is my foe's debt.’
Capulet then sees his entire guest off and every one exits the scene apart from Juliet and the nurse.
Juliet asks the nurse ho Romeo was and she explained that he was a Montague the only son of he father’s greatest enemy. Juliet again as did Romeo describes her love in rhyme,
‘My only love sprung from my only hate!
Too early seen unknown, and known too late!
Prodigious birth of love it is to me,
That I must love a loathed enemy.’
The Hurse than calls Juliet away and the scene ends.
This scene would have probably left the audience in suspense because of the fact that Romeo and Juliet’s family were both adversaries and even though it was extremely early it was very obvious that they were in deep love with each other. Romeo and Juliet show that they are quite serious about each other. An example of this is when Juliet asks the nurse,
‘Go ask his name: if he be married.
My grave is like to be my wedding bed’.
I think that this scene is the most important scene in the play because it is the first time Romeo and Juliet meet.