William Shakespeares use of language in the Prologue and Act I Scene I, prepares the audience for what is about to occur in the course of the play.

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William Shakespeare’s use of language in the Prologue and Act I Scene I, prepares the audience for what is about to occur in the course of the play. ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is a tragedy that deals with the children of two feuding families, Romeo of the Montague family and Juliet of the Capulet family, who become ‘star-cross’d lovers’ and die at the fault of their feuding families. The play is set in Verona, which is portrayed as a violent city due to the ‘brawls’.

In the Shakespearean era, the theatre was very different for poorer people as they had to stand on the ground and were labelled groundlings. They were often young apprentices, but people who were fairly wealthier would pay more to be seated in covered parts. The theatre consisted of many sides, with covered seats all around with the theatre being open air. In Elizabethan times, when people went to the theatre, it would be set in one location. For example for comedy it was often a street, for Oedipus Rex it was the steps before the palace. It was harder for a character to act in such context as they are constantly facing the audience.

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The characters in the prologue are mentioned in the scene. The scene commences with a ‘brawl’ on the sweltering streets of Verona between servants from the affluent Montague and Capulet households. While attempting to stop the fight, Benvolio, Romeo’s cousin is drawn into the fray by Tybalt, Kinsmen of the Capulets. The duel rapidly escalates as more civilians become concerned and soon the heads of both households appear on the scene. Finally, Prince Escalus arrives, infuriated that the peace in the streets has been disturbed once again, brings to an end ‘ the riot, forbidding any further outbreaks of ...

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