Act one Scene five is a very key scene in this play, as it contains a conflicting mixture of strong hate and passionate true love. The scene opens at the Capulet’s ball, where Romeo, a Montague shows up, wearing a mask. Tybalt is furious to discover that a Montague is at their ball, and confronts him; “now by the stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead, I hold it not a sin.” Tybalt swears on his ancestors and the honour of his family to kill Romeo. “content the gentle coz’, let him alone” Capulet tells Tybalt to let t go, but he continues to protest, Capulet starts to get angry, telling Tybalt that he is insolent, “you will set a cock-a-hoop, you’ll be the man?” using sarcasm he says ‘do you want to stir this up? You’d be a big boy then’ Tybalt exits, pretending to be calm, when he is in fact bubbling with rage, commenting that his sweet mood will soon turn to bitter hatred. This part of the scene portrays the families’ deep hate for one and other, but it is also the scene in which Romeo and Juliet meet for the first time. Romeo is in a sombre mood in the scene previous to this one; he is in this mood because he was in love with Rosaline. Just as everyone begins to dance at the ball, Romeo catches sight of Juliet, and is stunned by her beauty. He approaches her, and tells her that her hand is like a shrine, to which his lips go to worship, “this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand too smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss” they share their first kiss also in this scene, but are interrupted by the Nurse, telling Juliet that her mother wishes to speak with her. Romeo leaves before he is caught, but Juliet sends the nurse after to him to find out his name and if he is married “my grave is to be my wedding bed” she is saying that if he is in fact married, she will die unmarried or die without him. On finding out that he is a Montague, she realises that it is too late; she cannot change her feeling for him. In this scene, love and hate are equally key and prominent.
Act three Scene one is another key hate filled scene, this is the scene in which Mercutio and Tybalt are killed in duels. Mercutio and Benvolio are once again out in Verona, and the Capulet’s are looking for a fight. Benvolio wants Mercutio to withdraw, but he refuses. Tybalt and his companions come over, looking for Romeo, as he is still bitter at the fact that he showed up at their ball. Mercutio taunts them, looking for a fight, while Benvolio tries to warn him. When Romeo arrives, Tybalt tries his best to pick a fight with him, insulting him, but Romeo keeps his cool and responds calmly. Mercutio is incensed at Romeo’s apparent cowardice and challenges Tybalt himself, they fight while Romeo tries step in and stop the feud. In the confusion Tybalt dodges Romeo and stabs Mercutio, he finds help, but dies almost straight away. Romeo is furious and turns of Tybalt, attacking him frenziedly and killing him. Realising what he has done he flees. “fire-eyed fury be my conduct now” This scene may appear to be all about hate, but it is not only his hate for Tybalt that makes him stab him, it is also his love for Mercutio that makes him do it. The mixture of the two emotions results in Tybalt’s death.
Act three Scene five is another Romeo and Juliet love scene; Romeo has been banished from Verona, as a result of him stabbing Tybalt. He and Juliet are in her room. Having just spent the night with each other for the first time, making the most of the night before Romeo had to leave for Mantua. The nurse then interrupts them “your lady mother is coming to your chamber” The love in this scene is not only between Romeo and Juliet, but the Nurse’s affection for Juliet is also made clear, she is never far away from Juliet throughout the play and their relationship is key point in hers and Romeo’s secret love.
Act four Scene one is an absolutely key scene in the play, Romeo and Juliet are already married, but Capulet has arranged for Juliet to marry Count Paris. Paris greets her as his wife-to-be “happily met, my lady, my wife” but Juliet snubs him, he continues to try with her, but she continues to rebuff him, Friar Lawrence is also in this scene, to be excused from Paris’s company she tells Friar Lawrence that she has a confession to make, and Paris leaves. Juliet breaks down, saying that she would rather kill herself than marry Paris “’Twixt my extremes and me this bloody knife” this is not because she hates Paris, but because she is so in love with Romeo, she cannot bear to be away from him, let alone be married to another man. The Friar tells her that if she is willing to consort to death, then he may have a remedy for her. “Take thou this vial, being, being then in bed, and this distilling liquor, drink thou off; when presently through all they veins shall run a cold and drowsy humour” he gives her a potion to mimic death. This proves her love for Romeo; she is willing to let her family think that she is dead, so long as she will be with Romeo.
Act five Scene three is the final scene if the play, it is also the scene in which Romeo, Juliet and Paris die. Again it is one of the most famous parts of the play. Paris goes to the tomb where Juliet is, under the pretence of death. He lays flowers for her and speaks aloud of his grief at her death. As he is speaking, Romeo enters, with tools to break into the vault. Paris’ page warns him that there was someone else there and he hides. Romeo proceeds to try and open the tomb, Paris comes out to try and stop him, but he refuses, and asks Paris to leave, but he will not. Romeo thinks that Paris is trying to take Juliet’s body and Paris thinks that Romeo is trying to take away his grief for his dead fiancé. As result they fight, and Paris is killed, realising what he has done, he lays Paris in the tomb, which is now open, next to Juliet, as he requested “if thou be merciful, open the tomb and lay me with Juliet” In the tomb, Romeo is once again stunned by Juliet’s beauty. “By a dead man interred” he says that he will kill himself, and in his own eyes he is already dead. “Seal with kiss, A dateless bargain to engrossing death” He says he will make an eternal bargain with death, to take their two lives and seal it with a kiss. At this point, he draws a phial of poison, and drinks it. Romeo then dies too. He Friar enters, and sees the two bodies of Paris and Romeo, Juliet starts to stir, the Friar leaves, too afraid of what Juliet may do on seeing Romeo’s dead body, and he was right, upon seeing him she draws Romeo’s dagger, and takes her own life too.
In conclusion, this play is not about just love, or just hate, it is a powerful mixture of both of the strong emotions. They are both equally prominent throughout the play, engrossing the audience in the story unfolding. Love and hate are closely linked in the play, although they are opposite emotions. The two lovers are desperately in love with each other, willing to do anything for one another, are from two families who hate each other, from the heads of the house all the way down to rivalry among the servants, a deep seated grudge. If this play was just about hate, or just about love, the lack of the other emotion would change the story completely; it would either be two ordinary lovers, or just two sets of people who hate each other. This play needs both of these emotions to be as dramatic and absorbing it is.
