Just by analysing the beginning of the play, we can assume that Shakespeare wanted his audience to realise the level of hatred the families had between one another. He has included puns to make certain insults harsher or more humorous. As soon as two servants from the Montagues enter there is a real sense of fear. As a joke Sampson says, “ My naked weapon is out”, which we know has two implications. This shows that young men continually make puns, even in a sticky situation. Both sides wish to fight, but neither wishes to be responsible for starting the ensuing brawl. As soon as they start fighting, Benvolio enters and says “Part fools!”. Benvolio, a nephew to the Montagues as well as being a peace loving man, tells both parties to stop fighting. Tybalt, who is a nephew to Lady Capulet, enters straight away and urges them to continue fighting. He also challenges Benvolio to a battle but Benvolio refuses. At his stage Capulet, Lady Capulet, Montague and Lady Montague are at the scene. Not only has Shakespeare expressed hatred verbally but has made the servants have a physical battle, all in the first scene. Even though the play is regarded to be a romantic one Shakespeare has made it clear in the prologue that there will be conflict. The first four lines of the Prologue give away the feud, “Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.” which will give the audience an idea of what to expect in terms of violence.
After this little incidence with the enraged servants, the Price enters to make his speech. The citizens are so annoyed with the feuding families that they say “Down
with the Capulets! Down with the Montagues!” which is quite a cause of concern. It is clear that the citizens are fed up with grudge and want all the problems to stop. The Prince of Verona states quite important points about the dilemma and also mentions the consequences of any more trouble. He starts the speech of by referring to “Rebellious subjects, enemies to peace,” implying that his message is for those Montagues and Capulets causing so much distress. He then says “Profaners of this neighbour stained steel” which is a key quote because he is talking about those who have stained their metal swords with blood. He talks about the civil disturbance and points out how the families have caused trouble three times. He then uses the phrase “cankered peace,” suggesting that the hatred is like a disease. Nearer the end of his note he announces the punishment for disturbing the peace. This punishment can result in banishment or even death, so no matter what happens there is a real sense fear and danger amongst the streets.
In the play Tybalt is a very violent character. He first appears in Act one scene one and his entrance isn’t a humble one. He enters with his sword and tells Benvolio “turn thee, Look upon thy death” which gives the audience an impression that Tybalt is going to be extremely aggressive and that someone is going to end up dead. When Benvolio says no to a fight, Tybalt responds with, “talk of peace? I hate the word as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee.” This further displays Tybalt’s disdain for the Montague clan. We see Tybalt again at the party of the Capulets and he sees Romeo at the gathering. He states, “What dares the slave come hither, covered with an antic face, to fleer and scorn at our solemnity? Now by stock and honour of my kin, to strike him dead I hold it not a sin.” In this Tybalt is past the point of wanting to just protect the Capulets, he wants to kill Romeo. Even though Romeo is at the feast, Capulet does mind and says “Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone.” Even this comment by Capulet does not lessen Tybalt’s hatred of Romeo. Before Tybalt exits from the scene it can be seen that he is planning something against Romeo when he states, “But this intrusion shall, now seeming sweet, convert to bitterest gall.” Tybalt will not forget that Romeo intruded and all that he has said sums up his character as vengeful and bitter.
We then see Tybalt again in Act three scene one where the death of Mercutio occurs. After Tybalt has stabbed him, Tybalt and his companions escape leaving Mercutio wounded. One of his last words “No tis not so deep as well, nor so wide as a church door; but tis enough, twill serve.” Mercutio is basically saying that his wound is not huge but is big enough to kill him. Then he continues to say “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.” In this quote there is a pun on the word ‘grave’ where it could mean serious or death. This basically sums up Mercutio character as a loyal friend even joking to the very end. When Tybalt enters later in the scene, Romeo seeks revenge and frenziedly attacks him. Because of this incident Romeo gets banished to Mantua.
Nearer the end of Act three Juliet is having and argument with her father. Capulet wants his daughter to marry Paris however she refuses leaving Capulet frustrated. Earlier in the scene she tells her mother “I will not marry yet; and when I do, I swear it shall be Romeo whom you know I hate rather than Paris”. Capulet threatens to disown Juliet if she doesn’t marry Paris. It was usually the fathers’ choice
for whom their daughters married. Even so Capulet said, in the first act, to Paris “She is the hopfull of me earth” implying that Capulet would give his daughter quite a lot of care as well as freedom. It is also surprising how Capulet is affectionate over his daughter and then soon is willing to disown her. In act three scene five there are many images of death such as “Evermore weeping for your cousin’s death” which interprets the hatred going on in the play. The play also ends with violence and death. Paris mourns his bride that never was. Romeo arrives, opening Juliet's coffin to look at his love one last time. Paris fights Romeo whom he believes is desecrating Juliet's grave. Paris dies, Romeo placing him beside Juliet. After Romeo poisons himself Juliet wakes up to find him dead. Juliet kisses the now dead Romeo and stabs herself, dying.
Even with so much conflict, violence, hatred and death the play is still romantic. Even before Romeo sees Juliet he is in love with Rosaline. This unrequited love puts Romeo in melancholy situation. In act one scene one when Lady Montague asks “O where is Romeo?” Benvolio replies by saying “underneath the grove of sycamore” where there is a double meaning on the word ‘sycamore’. Literally this means that he is under a sycamore tree but when analysed carefully could mean love sick. Romeo is said to be mooning around refusing to play with the sunlight. He is depressed and malcontent. When Romeo and Benvolio are having a conversation Romeo explains how he is in love and how confused he is. For this Shakespeare has used several oxymorons that Romeo is made to say. “Feather of lead, bright smoke, cold fire, sick health” tells us how confused Romeo is and the feelings of love and aggression combined in a sense. Romeo soon says “With Cupid’s arrow. She hath Dian’s wit” where Cupid is the god of love and Dian is the god of virginity. Shakespeare has used this quote to say that the arrow is referring to the penis and the target will be the women’s genital. This all shows that Romeo is miserable because he is not getting any love.
One of the most Romantic parts of the play is when Romeo first sees Juliet at the feast of the Capulets. To an audience this would be like dramatic irony, as they will think something bad will happen. Once Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio have arrived at the house of the Capulets they are worried of being caught. Romeo is still unhappy and for this Mercutio says, “If love be rough with you, be rough with love” which personifies love making it seem like a bully. Mercutio soon asks Romeo whether he wants to dance however Romeo replies, “Not I, believe me, you have dancing shoes with nimble soles, I have a sole of lead”, where there is a pun on the word ‘sole’. ‘Sole’ refers to the dancing feet that people have but Romeo uses the word “soul”, in the quote, to say that he is too heavy-hearted to dance. During the ball, Romeo still seems gloomy and to cheer him up Mercutio says “borrow Cupid’s wings, and soar with them above a common ground” but in reply Romeo says, “I am too sore empierced with his shaft, to soar with his light feathers”. As you can see this is verbal sparring because when Mercutio mentions ‘soar’, Romeo uses the word “sore” to evaluate his feelings. The only reason why Romeo seems distraught is because of Rosaline.
In scene five of act one Romeo first sees Juliet. The first thing Romeo says after seeing Juliet is “If I profane with my unworthiest hand this holy shrine, the gentle sin is this, my lips two blushing pilgrims ready stand to smooth that rough
touch with a tender kiss.” Romeo is conveying that Juliet’s hand is like a shrine to which pilgrims travel and worship. In Romeo’s case the pilgrims is his lips and the verb ‘worship’ is to kiss. So basically Romeo wants to kiss Juliet’s hand. A part of Juliet’s reply is “And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss” suggesting that she doesn’t really want to be kissed but connecting by hands is all right. Romeo, being very impatient, wants to kiss Juliet however she wants to take things quite slower. Romeo soon says, “Then move not, while my prayer’s effect I take” and then kisses her. She then refers to the kiss as a sin and Romeo says that he wants the sin again. To praise Romeo, Juliet then replies “You kiss by th’book” suggesting that even though Juliet was slightly reluctant to kiss Romeo she is still interested in him. Even when Romeo and Juliet first meet there is very Romantic language that Shakespeare has written.
Act two scene two of ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is commonly known as the “balcony scene”. When Romeo is present in Capulet’s garden the first thing he says, “He jests at scars that never felt a wound” implying that love is wounding himself. In the famous balcony scene Romeo associates Juliet with sunlight, “It is the east and Juliet is the sun!” daylight, “The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp” and the light emanating from angels, “O speak again bright angel”. It was thought then that describing someone by the sun, which is a star, was like saying they were beautiful. In turn, Juliet compares their new-found love to lightening, primarily to stress the speed at which their romance is moving, but also to suggest that, as the lightening is a glorious break in the blackness of the night sky, so too is their love a flash of wondrous luminance in an otherwise dark world, a world where her every action is controlled by those around her. In their romantic conversation Juliet brings up Romeo’s name. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou name?” means that Juliet is requesting Romeo to change his name. Juliet continues to say that names are not important and compares Romeo to a rose. She says, “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other word would smell as sweet.” A rose would smell the same even if you gave it a different name and so she wants Romeo to acknowledge this fact.
In act three scene two Juliet awaits Romeo to arrive. At the start of this scene Shakespeare has incorporated a soliloquy that Juliet says. A soliloquy usually used to express ones feelings and in this case Juliet talks about Romeo and how they are going to consummate their marriage. The first lines of her soliloquy show how Juliet is waiting impatiently for Romeo. “Gallop apace, you fiery-footed steeds, towards Phoebus’ lodging”, showing her impatience, means that she wants the God of the Sun, Phoebus Apollo, to gallop faster with the Star, so that the night will come quicker therefore Romeo will be brought to her. As you can, the language of love in the whole play is quite strong however Shakespeare has coagulated the two themes, of love and violence, to make things seem more different.
It is clever how Shakespeare has made the language of love seem like the language of violence too. His use of different stagecraft connects certain themes together, mainly love and violence. The puns can be used to make jokes however they are also used to convey a serious note. In this play there are sexual puns as well as violent puns, which can be recognized in the first scene of the first act. Puns can also have double meanings, for example, when Mercutio says he is a ‘grave’ man. Just for
the audience Shakespeare makes some signs of foreboding throughout the play. This will enhance the suspense and the audience will be more surprised to see what happens knowing what the problem is. The prologue gives away the context of play however it has some significance.
In the prologue, we learn that this play will be a tragedy and that the children, Romeo and Juliet, of two feuding families both alike in virtue, will both love and die. The prologue explains that the audience will follow “The fearful passage of their death-mark'd love,” the sad events of their death marked love, the ongoing rage of their parents and ultimately their tragic death. We can assume that Shakespeare has intentionally expressed the themes of love and hate, in the prologue, so the audience will sense the level hatred and romance present in the play. In the ‘ball scene’ Romeo is very persuasive and predatory towards Juliet. Juliet refers the kisses as a sin and Romeo then says “ Sin from my lips? O trespass sweetly urged. Give me my sin again,” meaning that Romeo desperately wants to kiss Juliet again however the words ‘trespass’ and ‘sin’ seem to be linking with violence. He says Juliet is like a holy relic. He imagines that his kiss would be like a sin nevertheless wants one. Juliet seems to prefer just holding hands as redemption for the kiss they made earlier and thinks lips are for prayer. Romeo then replies saying let us kiss like our hands touch. Their conversation is not only romantic but is like an argument, which is love and conflict intertwined. Throughout this romance, we can see that Shakespeare is playing with words.
The ‘balcony scene’ contains a lot of romantic language but you can see a slight side of conflict as well. She says “If any of my kinsmen find thee here” suggests that she is introducing a new theme to the conversation so that there love will be undercut be violence. Romeo replies, “For stony limits cannot hold love out, and what love can do, that dares love attempt. Therefore thy kinsmen are not to stop me.” Romeo’s reply shows that he has a great amount of passion and love for Juliet and is saying that he will rather die in loving her than hating her. This is a sign of foreboding as it shows that Romeo will die for love, and could occur at any point in the play. And there is also dramatic irony, as the characters in the play do not know what is going on. Romeo swears by the moon of is love but then Juliet says “O swear not by the moon, th’ inconstant moon,” The god of the moon is also the god of hunting and virginty which links violence and sex. Their relationship is going against the rules of their fathers however at the same time they are in very much love. Juliet also says “I have no joy in this contract” which may imply that she is happy about his relationship but she is worried something will go wrong.
In act three scene two, when Juliet awaits Romeo, there is a lot of aggressive language. In her soliloquy Juliet says “Give me my Romeo, and when I shall die, take him and cut him into little stars” shows how aggressive the language as well as their love for on another. The Nurse enters, bringing in Romeo's “chords”, a rope ladder. Throwing them down in a display of anger, we soon learn the Nurse's reason. Exclaiming that “he's kill'd, he's dead!” Juliet fears the worst from the Nurse's words. We soon learn it is not Romeo that the Nurse speaks of but Tybalt. The Nurse explains Romeo's role in Tybalt's murder and the Prince's punishment. Juliet now is somewhat conflicted; she loves Romeo, but he has killed a member of her house.
When the Nurse asks whether Juliet will weep Tybalt's death, she explains that her tears will be spent on Romeo's banishment. Juliet laments her loss, explaining that her ropes are now “beguil'd,” and Juliet now seeks death and says “Come cords, come nurse, I'll to my wedding bed, And death, not Romeo, take my maidenhead!” Juliet makes it seem like the end of the world and relates to more aggressive language.
In the Elizabethan period, a man called Boethus invented a philosophical belief in Lady Fortune. Lady Fortune controlled everyone’s fate and this usually related to stars, also known as astrology. This was very popular at the time of Shakespeare and he has brought the theme of stars into his play. It is because of the stars that Romeo is distraught. In act five scene one Romeo says “Then I defy you stars”, implying that it is because of the stars that Juliet has been taken away from Romeo so he is not going to give in. It was even mentioned in the prologue “A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life” suggesting that the stars and astrology has an important role in the play. This has also made us aware that Romeo and Juliet are going to die. In scene three of this act Romeo says, “Shake the yolk of inauspicious stars” suggesting that he has been subjected to a lot of misfortune and wants to get rid of the stars that cause misfortune. The fact that Romeo hates Lady Fortune causes some hatred however the fact that Romeo is willing to die for Juliet is very romantic.
Shakespeare has interpreted love with violence, hatred and conflict but at the same time made it seem so beautiful. For two lovers to love each other from opposing houses is very difficult and the fact that they never gave up shows the extent to which people can go. For an Elizabethan audience the play will be quite awkward as parents, especially fathers, made decisions for their children. Children were expected to obey their parents and only marry people with their parent’s consent and approval. A twenty-first century audience would understand the meaning true love and passion therefore it wouldn’t be as surprising to see them disobeying their parents. However the fact that Romeo and Juliet die because of their love will be overwhelming to any audience as it is expresses the true meaning of love.