ACT 1 SCENE 5 IS A TURNING POINT IN THE PLAY.

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“Romeo and Juliet” written in 1595, is one of the most famous plays of the 16th century. It was cleverly written by William Shakespeare who is the most renowned writer of all time. “Romeo and Juliet” is a play about star crossed lovers who’s forbidden love led to there horrific death.

Act 1 scene 5 presents a substantial turning point in the play. Shakespeare introduces the audience to the majority of the lead characters and also shows the audience the hatred and feud between the Capulet’s and the Montague’s. Romeo sneaks into the Capulet’s ball to take his mind of Rosaline. The fact that he hides his identity by the use of a mask is vital for when Romeo meets Juliet. Tybalt recognises Romeo’s voice and vows revenge against him. Towards the end of the play Romeo and Juliet realise each others true identity which leaves them both devastated.

This scene opens with the servants frantically rushing around trying to organise the ball. Each servant is ordering each other around and immediately tension is built up. We also become aware of the intensity of their shouting and stress by the frequent use of exclamation marks, “He scrape a trencher!” The servant’s language is also simple and common which clarifies their status in the Capulet family. Towards the end of the opening, the servants start to show there frustration with Capulet. This is because Capulet has been ordering the servants around and is expecting them to be at more than one place at a time, “We cannot be here and there too!” Again, the exclamation marks show their anger and frustration. I personally feel that Shakespeare wanted to achieve a tense atmosphere to promptly get the audience involved in the play at the beginning of the scene. This is because the crowd of the theatres in the 16th century would shout remarks to the actors and become greatly involved.

Following the servants quarrelling, Capulet makes a grand speech to welcome all his guests to the ball. Capulet speaks well and politely to his guests and even becomes humorous when the women come, “Ladies that have their toes unplagued with corn, come and dance.” However, when Capulet turns to the servants to give instructions, he speaks to them spitefully and shouts insults at them, “More light, you knaves!” These two sides to Capulet greatly contrast and show he is only nice to people he feels are of great importance. I think Shakespeare has included this part of the scene to distinguish to the audience the two different sides of Capulet and also to show us how his respect differs to different people.

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When Romeo first notices Juliet, he instantly falls in love with her and is taken away by her beauty. He compares her to jewels and other expensive goods which show he thinks very highly of her, “Like a rich jewel in an Ethiopia’s ear.” The tension at this part of the scene is quite high as we know Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet when he is forbidden to do so. This is also dramatic irony as Romeo is unaware that Juliet is a Capulet. The last line “For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night” shows ...

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