How does Shakespeare shape our response to The lovers first meeting in Romeo and Juliet.

In Act 1 Scene 3 we are introduced to more important characters, Lady Capulet, the Nurse and Juliet. Juliet, in this scene is revealed to be a naive and innocent girl. This shapes our response to the lovers first meeting because at this stage Romeo has the same immaturity as Juliet. Juliet is very obedient to Lady Capulet, when Lady Capulet requests her presence she says to her mother, “Madam I am here. What is your will?”. But this also shows the difference between the relationship with Juliet and her mother compared to Juliet and the Nurse. In Elizabethan times as soon as a child in a rich family was born, a nurse, like a modern day nanny but more involved in a child’s life, would bring the child up and take on all motherly duties including breast feeding. This scene also shows the differences in our society compared to Elizabethan Society because these days mothers look after their babies and take on all motherly duties; a Modern day audience would be surprised at this where as a Elizabethan audience wouldn’t. Another key factor of the play is when Lady Capulet talks to Juliet about marriage to a young man called Paris. Bearing in mind Juliet is only fourteen a 21st century audience would be astonished to see this, but getting married so young to unite rich families was common in Elizabethan times. We can also sense that Juliet has a better relationship with the Nurse than her Mother, a prime example of this is when Lady Capulet doesn’t know her daughters age and the Nurse does, Lady Capulet says “She is not fourteen” and the Nurse says “I’ll lay fourteen of my teeth”. The nurse adds some humour to this scene, but some of her humour is rather crude;

“She could have run and waddled all about

For even the day she broke her brow”.

The nurse seems to be more than a servant to the Capulets so she will be an important character in the plot because she is so close to Juliet, Will she stop Juliet from marrying her true love or will she do the opposite and help Juliet in her quest for true love?

In Scene 4 Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio are on their way to the Capulet ball as Masquers. They are wearing masks so as not to be recognised by Capulets. Romeo is not in a good frame of mind and doesn’t wish to attend this ball. But he comments on something that Shakespeare yet again uses to shape our response to the lovers first meeting when he says, “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars” and “By some vile forfeit of untimely death”. This means that he has had a premonition or dream that after this night tragedy will arise; this premonition turns out to be true. He believes that he has no control over what goes on tonight, “But he that have the steerage of my sail”.  Most of Modern day audiences wouldn’t believe in the stars telling your fortunes but Elizabethan society had a very strong believe in the stars telling you your fate. In this Scene we hear Romeo say “Some consequence yet hanging in the stars”, and then if we look back at what the Chorus says, “A pair of star crossed lovers”, we see that fate(stars) is mentioned twice, this shows that fate is a key theme in this play.

Act 1 scene 5 is the last scene in this first act; this is the scene where Romeo and Juliet first meet. The setting for this scene is at the Capulet’s ball in the Capulet’s house. When Romeo first lays his eyes on Juliet he compares her elegance to jewels. He does this through the use of metaphors, “As a rich jewel in an Ethiops ear” and “A dove among crows”. This reveals that he is astonished at Juliet’s beauty. The moment they see each other they become unconnected to the dancing and everything else that is taking place around them. When Romeo and Juliet are approaching each other they say a sonnet together, this demonstrates the seriousness of their meeting. The language the couple use also illustrates changes in their character, they use religious imagery, “holy”, “prayer”, “pilgrims” and “sin”. This is an indication of their genuine, serious and deep love they have for each other. After these expressions of love for each other a kiss was shared between the two.

Overall the main factors that have shaped are response for the lovers first meeting is about both lover’s character before they met and status. Romeo was a confused boy that he believed a woman that he hadn’t even spoke to before was the love of his life (Rosiline). When the lovers first meet we can see he has matured and grown up because has actually found and approached the true love of his life. Also firstly Juliet’s character is immature and naive young woman but as the play progresses she become a more independent and a more mature woman. Another response to their first meeting is also shaped through the way Shakespeare showed the aggressive and intense rivalry the Capulets and Montagues had. When Juliet and Romeo realised that they were meant for each other this made us think, Will they be able to marry because of the families rivalry?