After the speech from the Prince has ended, all that is left on stage is Lord and Lady Montague, and Benvolio. Romeo is first mentioned here, as his mother, lady Capulet, says, “O where is Romeo?” as both of his parents are worried about his recent behaviour. Benvolio then replies that he saw Romeo walking “underneath the grove of sycamore”. The word ‘sycamore’ may also be used as a pun for ‘sick amour’, meaning that Romeo is having love problems. Benvolio also gives the audience the impression that Romeo is upset about something, as he was “not pursuing” his humour, and he “gladly fled” from Benvolio. The audience should also notice the change in atmosphere, as the atmosphere of conflict has disappeared, coincidentally that Romeo has been mentioned. This presents an image that Romeo is not a violent person, and the atmosphere that surrounds him is calm and silent. Lord Montague then goes on to talk about Romeo- “his deep sighs”, “private in his chamber”, “locks fair daylight out”- supporting the thought that Romeo is upset about something. Lord Montague also mentions “Aurora”, goddess of dawn. Shakespeare has made references to mythology and other classical literature, emphasising the theme of fate and destiny, which was first mentioned in the chorus. Romeo is the first character that the audience have heard of before they have met him. Benvolio then says that he will find out what is wrong with Romeo. When Romeo arrives on stage the only person left with him is Benvolio. He soon discovers that Romeo is in love, but confused about his feelings. The audience can see this by the style and language of Romeo. Firstly, he uses personification, as he talks about love as if it were a person-“Alas that love, whose view is muffled still”. Romeo also says, “Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love” which sums up the whole play, as the opposition of love and hate is one of the main themes throughout the play. It means that Romeo is stuck in all the hatred and conflict between the families, but more concerned and interested in love. Romeo also uses many oxymoron’s, which is like juxta-positioning, but with words. They are phrases made up of opposites-“loving hate”, “cold fire”, “sick health”. Once again the theme of fate and destiny is repeated, as Romeo says, “Still-waking sleep, that is not what it is” which is an image of the future, when he finds Juliet, supposedly ‘dead’. Romeo also uses imagery, like when he describes love as “smoke made with the fume of sighs”, and “a fire sparkling in lovers eyes”. ‘Eyes’ also play a part here, because eyes are known to be the passageway to see inner beauty. From the way Romeo speaks about love, and uses all the different language techniques, like oxymoron’s, the audience can see that Romeo is fickle, and he has contrasting opinions about love and life. However, Benvolio persuades Romeo to forget about the women he is in love with, and look for someone else- “Examine other beauties”.
In Scene Two of Act One, a new character is introduced, Paris. Paris wants to marry Juliet, and is now seeking for Lord Capulet’s approval- “What say you to my suit?”. However Lord Capulet thinks that Juliet is still too young, as she is just thirteen- “She hath not seen the change of fourteen years”- but agrees that in about “two more summers” Juliet will be “ripe” enough “to be a bride”. This already brings some confusion to the play, as the audience should have already noticed that Romeo and Juliet are destined to be together. Therefore Paris is a potential threat to Romeo, and the audience can make more predictions as to what future events make occur. Plus, Lord Capulet talks of his other children like the “earth hath swallowed all my hopes”, implying that Juliet is his last chance to show his success through his children. Then the first reference of the ball is made when Lord Capulet asks Peter, a servant, to find all the people “Whose names are written” on the invitation, and to ask them to attend the ball. Coincidentally, Peter cannot read so therefore goes out searching for help, bumping into Benvolio and Romeo. Peter then asks Romeo to read for him- “I pray can you read anything you see”. Romeo and Benvolio then find out about the ball, and that Romeo’s love, “fair niece Rosaline”, will be attending too. This is the first time Rosaline’s name is mentioned, and the audience can see that Romeo is already at risk for being with Rosaline, as she is the niece of Lord Capulet. In the rest of this scene Benvolio persuades Romeo to go to the ball, and see other “beauties of Verona”. He also says that he will make “thy swan”, Rosaline, look like “a crow”. Romeo is reluctant at first, but then agrees to go along- “I’ll go along”- not thinking about the risk he is taking by going to an enemy’s ball. In this scene the audience are prepared for Romeo’s first sight of Juliet, because Benvolio’s remarks create a sense of anticipation-“Compare her face with some that I will show”. The quote “…some other maid That I will show you shining at this feast” shows the future, because when Romeo gets to the ball, a girl does stand out above every other one, and it is not Rosaline. This quote also warns the audience about the drama to come, as Romeo had just said that if he does see someone more beautiful than Rosaline, turn his “tears to fires”, because his eyes would be lying to him. In a way, this is exactly what happens, because he sees Juliet, and he is punished for it. Romeo had just said that if Scene Two is also used as a dramatic coincidence, because if Peter was able to read, Romeo and Benvolio would have never found out about the ball, and the oncoming events may have never occurred.
Scene Three is the total opposite to Scenes One and Two, as it is set in the Montague household, and is about a totally different matter. It concentrates on women’s matters, instead of men’s. Shakespeare has most probably done this on purpose, to make the audience wait in suspense as to what is going to happen at the ball. Firstly, the Nurse is introduced. She is more like a mother to Juliet than Lady Capulet, and she is also a comical character. Juliet depends on the nurse the most, as she is like her advisor. The audience can immediately see this by the way she talks about Juliet’s childhood- “And she was weaned-I shall never forget it…”. The nurse goes on about the childhood, until Lady Capulet tries to stop her- “Enough of this”. Then the main plot of the scene is brought up, first by the nurse- “I might live to see thee married once”. The nurse speaks freely of marriage with Juliet, but Lady Capulet is more embarrassed. Once the nurse introduces the subject of marriage, Lady Capulet asks Juliet “How stands your dispositions to be married?”. However, Juliet does not reply in the way Lady Capulet had hoped- “It is an honour that I dream not of”. Lady Capulet expresses no sympathy or sensitivity towards Juliet when delivering the news about Paris- “The valiant Paris seeks you for his love”- but describes Paris in a sonnet, hopefully putting forward the image of love. However, she tries to ‘sell’ Paris to Juliet by telling her of the things she will gain- “…share the glory…share all that he possess”. The nurse also interrupts with an interesting comment- “why he’s a man of wax”. This can mean two things; he is the perfect man, or, he has no character. Shakespeare probably done this to see how the audience respond to that comment, and see which meaning they take. It also demonstrates how people love for different reasons. Lady Capulet is more interested in physical beauty and wealth- “To beautify him…in gold clasps…”. This scene ends with Lady Capulet putting pressure on Juliet to respond, by saying, “Speak briefly; can you like of Paris’ love?”, showing that she does not actually care what Juliet thinks, but wants her to commit to marrying a total stranger. The main purpose of this scene is to illustrate the role of women in the sixteenth century, and to show how women had a low status, as they were forced to marry. This prepares the audience for the tension between Romeo and Paris, because they know that Juliet will be pushed into marriage with Paris, at the same time as when she is in love with Romeo.
In Scene Four of Act Once the ball has started, and Romeo, Mercutio, Benvolio, Horatio and some others are on their way there. This is the first appearance of Mercutio. It shows the audience that Mercutio and Romeo are very good friends, and Mercutio means as much to Romeo as the nurse to Juliet. This can be seen when Mercutio tries to cheer Romeo up, as he is sad, or “heavy”. Mercutio says- “Nay gentle Romeo, we must have you dance”. The first impression of Mercutio is that he is a bit mad, but very jolly and a loyal friend. Romeo then mentions that he “dreamt a dream tonight”, which automatically brings up the theme of fate and destiny, and this dream has made Romeo think twice about going to the ball- “’tis no wit to go”. However, Mercutio also had a dream, and he says that “dreamers often lie”, but Romeo believes that when you dream, you “dream things true”. Mercutio then makes a big speech about dreams. He says, “Queen Mab hath been” with Romeo. Queen Mab was a suspicious fairy, or dream catcher. Mercutio is really over dramatic with this speech, because even though it is a fairy tale, there is much imagery in it. For example, Queen Mab is a dream catcher, and she travels around in her wagon “Through lovers’ brains, and then they dream of love”, “ladies lips, who straight on kisses dream”, and “driveth o’er a soldier’s neck, And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats”. These are very bizarre images, and Romeo tries to calm Mercutio down by interrupting and telling him that he is talking nonsense- “Thou talk’st of nothing”. This is the point that Mercutio was trying to make in the first place, that dreams are “nothing but vain fantasy”, and that Romeo should take no notice of his ominous dream. This prepares the audience for the actions that will take place with Mercutio, as they know he is quite a wild and fiery character. Romeo then goes on to explain how fate and destiny has affected him. He sees the future in his dream, and he has an image of his “untimely death”. He also believes that the stars are warning him, as he says, “Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars”. The audience already know that Romeo’s fate is fixed, but Romeo does not, so this is another example of dramatic irony, and preparation for the following events. Many strange feelings are brought up in this scene, especially in Mercutio’s speech, which also helps the audience to understand the effects these feelings have later on in the play.
In Act One Scene Five, the ball has begun, and they are presented with Sampson and Gregory, two servants in the Capulet house. The audience can see that the two men are under pressure, as Sampson says, “Where’s Potpan, that he helps not to take away?”. Shakespeare has probably done this because to lift the tension built up from the last scene. It also gives a busy atmosphere, and shows the importance of the ball. Lord Capulet then comes on set, greeting all his guests- “You are welcome, gentlemen”. In this speech he brings everyone on stage, as he says, “Come, musicians play. A hall a hall, give room, and foot it girls”, and it also sets the mood of good humour. Not long into the party, Romeo first sets eyes on Juliet- “Did my heart love till now?”. The audience can see by this quote that Romeo has forgotten the love he had for Rosaline. It is also seen that Romeo has fallen in love straight away, as he talks about Juliet as “a rich jewel” and “a snowy dove”, even though he has not actually approached her yet. The speech he makes is also a sonnet, representing the theme of love. Even though Benvolio advised Romeo to cheer up, by looking for someone else, the audience already know that the relationship Romeo and Juliet have together will end up in disaster. This first sighting also confirms the passionate and fickle nature of Romeo, which will prepare the audience for Romeo’s reaction to later events. Straight after Romeo catches sight of Juliet, Tybalt spots Romeo- “’Tis he, that villain Romeo”- which is a huge contrast to the speech Romeo just made. Tybalt is still angry about the fight that occurred in Scene One, even though Romeo was not there. Tybalt then goes to tell his uncle, Lord Capulet, that a Montague is at the ball- “Uncle, this is a Montague, our foe”. However, Capulet does not want his ball to be ruined with a fight between Romeo and Tybalt, and therefore tells Tybalt to “let him alone”, as he has heard that Romeo is a “virtuous and well governed youth”. The audience become aware that Tybalt is not happy with Capulet's response, and can predict that there will be later actions between Romeo and Tybalt. This prepares them for more fighting later on.
Once Tybalt has left the scene, Romeo approaches Juliet. The speech between them is another sonnet, representing the theme of love. It also isolates them from the rest of the people surrounding them, as if they were alone. Romeo is very dominant, and hopes to win Juliet over and get a kiss- “let lips do what hands do”. Once they kiss, Juliet says, “You kiss by th’ book”, which may mean that Juliet has been kissed for the first time, and therefore has been overcome by Romeo, as he kisses perfectly. Shakespeare has made this meeting out to be perfect, showing the strong love between them, which will have a bigger effect when the tragedy occurs. Unfortunately, the perfect meeting of the two lovers disintegrates once Romeo discovers that Juliet is a Capulet. When Romeo says, “Is she a Capulet”, he is talking to himself, as he has just realised that his life is his “foe’s debt”. Juliet also discovers the truth from the nurse- “His name is Romeo, and a Montague”. Now Juliet knows Romeo is the “son of your great enemy”, the Montague’s, Juliet feels the same as Romeo- “only love sprung from my only hate”. Juliet then makes a very important statement- “Too early seen unknown, and known too late”. By this Juliet means that before she knew Romeo was a Montague, she fell madly in love with him. Now, that she knows who it is, it is already too late, as she has already is in love with “a loathed enemy”. This reflects the importance of names and secrecy, as Juliet is not allowed to tell anyone, apart from her nurse, that she loves an enemy. This adds tension to the surroundings, and prepares the audience for the drama to come, as they now know how much in love Romeo and Juliet are.
In conclusion, it is obvious that Shakespeare has used Act One to prepare the audience for the drama to come. He has used it as a crescendo, so the events are being built up as time goes by. There is also a lot of dramatic irony, which in this case is very effective. The audience know what is going to happen, but not how it is going to happen, leaving them in suspense. Therefore Act One also develops some of the mysteries that were mentioned in the Chorus. Act One also ends on a cliffhanger, as the lovers have just met, and nothing drastic has happened, so the audience are still left in suspense. Shakespeare has used a very interesting technique, because the preparation in Act One has made the rest of the play much more effective. Over all, Romeo and Juliet was a successful play due to the abstract and dramatic techniques that Shakespeare used.