Lord Capulet welcomes his guest; he’s in a joyful mood, cracking jokes,
“Ladies that have their toes unplaged with corns”
Lord Capulet is trying to get the ladies to dance, or else they will have to take their shoes off to show off their horrible feet. Lord Capulet is trying to involve everyone in the party. Shakespeare is building up the excitement for the audience by having lots of actors on stage, dressed in costumes and finery.
Romeo and his friends are wearing visors to disguise themselves, so Lord Capulet doesn’t find out who they really are. As the audience see Romeo come on stage, it builds the tension, as to what is going to happen next. Romeo sees Juliet for the first time, and instantly falls in love with her. Shakespeare uses a poetic language to shows Romeo’s feelings towards Juliet;
“As a rich jewel in an Ethiop’s ear”
The dazzling quality of the jewel stands out against the dark skin of a weaver. Romeo is different to other men because of his culture, back in the 16th century; most men back in that time didn’t care about women, but Romeo is different. The love he has for Juliet is real, the love that he didn’t feel with Rosaline.
Shakespeare has built up the audience’s emotion, to then reverse the emotions to show hate and anger from Tybalt, when he hears Romeo’s voice,
“This, by his voice, should be a Montague”
Tybalt is extremely enraged to find Romeo had been allowed into Capulets’ party and is one Tybalt’s worst enemies. The audience of this play, would be deeply scared of what is to follow, not that Tybalt knows Romeo is at the party. Tybalt refuses to stand there and do nothing, so he goes and asks his uncle if he can kill Romeo. Lord Capulet puts Tybalt in his place and prevents him from causing a scene, but Tybalt’s calmness for the rest of the party will soon “Convert to bitt’rest gall” when he next sees Romeo. The word “gall” suggests poison and makes it clear to the audience just how humiliated he is and how dramatic it could get when the meet again.
This cleverly devised section of act 1 scene 5 shows the beauty and the characters feelings towards one another. Juliet sees Romeo for the first time; this builds the audiences excitement of what’s to come. As the audience already know, Romeo has a strong love for Juliet; this may well end in tragedy. They way Shakespeare uses dramatic irony, is to create excitement and tension. The conversation between Romeo and Juliet is set in a sonnet form; when Shakespeare wrote the play “Romeo and Juliet” it was the way to write love poetry.
Juliet’s nurse, split Juliet up from Romeo, as her mother wants to talk to her; Shakespeare leaves the audience on a cliff hanger, to what is going to happen next. Romeo asks the nurse, “Is she a Capulet?” Romeo is shocked when the nurse tells him who she is; he is very frustrated “my life is my foe’s debt”, Romeo is emotional to have found that his love is his enemy. Romeo doesn’t want his friends bestirring him about his true love, so he doesn’t give any information away.
With the party drawing to an end, Lord Capulet is disappointed that his guests are leaving, but still in a good mood despite having an argument with Tybalt. All the actors leave the stage to just leave Juliet and the nurse on stage. The audience all know what is coming up, but Juliet is just about to find out, who Romeo really is; bringing excitement to the audience. Shakespeare has yet again used dramatic irony thought at this section of the play, by not allowing Romeo and Juliet know who each other are, but letting the audience into a secret. Juliet has been told by nurse, that Romeo is her families’ worst hate, “My only love sprung from my only hate” Juliet is shocked that Romeo is someone her family hates, and she is determined to pursue her love for Romeo, leading to further complications and confrontations.
There have been some high and low points in Act 1 scene 5 and this is why I think it is one of the most important, and exciting scenes in the play “Romeo and Juliet”. With all the action and events that have taken place in this scene, this will build up to what will happen in the other acts. As this is a play, to be performed on stage, Shakespeare has used dramatic irony to great effect, to increase the excitement for the audience. I have enjoyed the beginning part, when the servants are rushing around creating a real buzz to the atmosphere. I also liked the part where Lord Capulet is trying to get the ladies to get up and dance, if they don’t they will have to show their feet, you don’t see this happen nowadays.
