ROMEO & JULIET ACT 1 SCENE 1

During the first scene of the play we are introduced to several character and the setting for the play. The story is set in the Italian city of ‘Verona’. Italy was regarded as a wealthy and romantic country where extravagant love affairs took place. Verona is a town that was popular with the rich and classical civilisation. This makes Verona an ideal setting for the tragic romance.

     

The play was written in the 16th Century (1595) and is about forbidden love. “A pair of star crossed lovers”, find themselves facing death due to their feuding families.    

We are introduced to two different families with one major thing in common. They despise the other family. Both families will go to extreme lengths to out do the other. They will do anything from “biting” their “thumb” at each other, to fighting to the death. Both families take any opportunity to hurt/ destroy the other family.

Sampson and Gregory, Capulet servants, are roaming Verona looking for trouble. “We’ll not carry coals”. They come across Abraham and another servant from the Montague household. A fight breaks out; Benvolio one of the Montague family tries to stop the fight (“part fools”). Matters are made worst as Tybalt a Capulet arrives and sets on Benvolio. “…Talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montague’s, and thee”. The fighting threatens to get out of hand as Lord and Lady Capulet and Montague arrive on the scene. Prince Escalus arrives and orders the families to stop or they will suffer a grave penalty. They are told to “throw” their “mistempered weapons to the ground”. The Capulets are ordered to leave. Lady Montague finds out from Benvolio what had happened and expressed her pleasure that Romeo was not there.

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Benvolio describes Romeo’s recent strange behaviour and general sadness to Lord Montague. Benvolio discovers that Romeo is in love but that the women he loves has resolved to do nothing with men. Benvolio suggests that Romeo should forget her and “examine other beauties”. Romeo assures him this is impossible.

At the beginning of the scene Romeo is noticeably absent. We discover he is suffering from love sickness, the object of his unanswered devotions being Rosaline. This was the reason why Romeo’s fit of depression was brought on. He is adamant that there is no other woman for him. ...

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