Romeo and Juliet

 

Act 1

 

Scene I

 

    The fight between the Capulet and the Montagues breaks out a few minutes before nine o’clock. Two Capulet servants, Gregory and Sampson, have nothing much to do except wander through the streets of Verona. It is here that their rivalry is turned into hostility, when they see two of Montague’s servants approach. Since the servants are nothing but cowards, all they can do is shout out rude words and perform gestures. That is, however, until the arrival of Benvolio, which gives the Montagues confidence. It is at this time, that the fight begins when Sampson provokes: ‘draw, if you be men’       

 

     Tybalt is nephew of Lady Capulet, kinsmen and Romeo’s enemy. His nature is that of an arrogant, hot-headed person. . 

 

  The prince had just put a stop to the fighting that took place between the Capulets and Montagues on the street of Verona (Q.1). His warning is that, should you violate this peace, you will be condemned to death.

 

    Romeo is feeling miserable and love-sick. We find out that has a love for Rosaline, an unrequited love.   

 

     Benvolio’s advice to Romeo’s love sickness is that he should “examine other beauties’ In other words, this means that Romeo should take interest in other beautiful women, there are other beautiful women out there, apart from Rosaline. 

 

Scene II

 

    Paris’s request to Capulet is to marry his one and only, soon to be 14 year old daughter, Juliet. However, Capulet is reluctant to lose Juliet; for Juliet ‘hath not seen the change of fourteen’ In other words he is determined to let Juliet mature for, at least’ two more summers’ He is also concerned for the fact that Juliet is his only hope i.e. his last child, therefore making his evermore reluctant to lost her. 

 

      Capulet’s response to Paris is: ‘My will to her consent is but a part; and she agreed, within her scope of choice. Lies my consent and fair according voice’ In other words, Capulet will give his consent and willing agreement to anyone Juliet chooses, whether that be Paris. 

 

Scene III

 

     In the conversation between Lady Capulet, the nurse and Juliet, we can see that Lady Capulet and the nurse think of Count Paris highly. They think of him as ‘the valiant Paris’ and ‘a man of wax’ i.e. a perfect model of a man.

 

 

   Juliet’s feeling towards the marriage is evasive. She won’t give Paris anymore encouragement that her mother will allow. 

 

    The nurse is considered to be part of the Capulet family. She has been Juliet’s foster mother from the time Juliet was born. She has a personal misfortune in the death of her daughter, Susan. She remembers trivial details, most of her talks are repetition and she cannot continue a line of thought for long.

 

Scene IV

 

   Mercutio is one of Romeo’s friends. His violent vitality, which is shown in text and action, causes a duel, a duel that has a horrific ending, which impacts every character in the play.  

 

    Romeo is uneasy due to the fact that his love, Rosaline, does not return his love i.e. he has an unrequited love for Rosaline .

 

Scene V

 

    Romeo’s reaction to Juliet is love at first sight. We can see this when he describes Juliet to the Servingman, ‘beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear’ In other words, he means Juliet’s beauty is too precious for everyday use, and too valuable for this world.    

 

   Romeo being a Montague and Tybalt being a Capulet, Tybalt’s reaction to seeing Romeo is immediate; our foe must die. In other words, Romeo must die.

 

    I believe Juliet is equally attracted to Romeo as Romeo is to her. I substantiate this by the text spoken by Romeo and Juliet. When Romeo firsts meets Juliet he begins with, what is called a sonnet, which goes for 14 lines. Romeo begins it, ‘If I profane….with a tender kiss’, it is here we can see that Juliet immediately responds to Romeo’s approach, sharing his image, and matching the four rhyming lines of his     quatrain. ‘Good pilgrim…palmers’ kiss’ I believe this shows that Juliet is responding to Romeo’s love for her.

 

     Capulet’s reaction to seeing Romeo is ordinary. He thinks of Romeo as ‘a portly (dignified) gentlemen’, ‘a virtuous and well-govern’d (good mannered) youth’ Therefore, he restrains Tybalt from attacking Romeo and does not want to cause him any harm. 

 

    When Juliet first meets the stranger (Romeo), she had fallen in love with him. However, when she learns of his name and that he is a Montague, she believes that her only love (Romeo) is sprung from her only hate (the Montagues). It because of this that Juliet is so upset (i.e. she has fallen in love with her enemy).

 

The chorus in my own words:                I believe what the chorus (also considered a prologue to act 2) is trying to say is: First Romeo loved Rosaline, and he would die for her. However, now his match has come; Juliet. Now Romeo loves Juliet, who loves him back. They are both bewitched by each others looks. However, both of them being foes, they may not be able to meet each other, to exchange words as lovers would. But, as passion gives them power, they will find a way.

 

Act II

 

Scene I

 

 As we can see Romeo is now in love with Juliet. Romeo will not respond to his friends calls to him, due to the fact that he does not want them to know that he is love with Juliet, he does not want them to think of him as fickle. 

 

Scene II

 

     This is considered to be the famous scene at the balcony. Juliet is positioned at the top of the balcony, while Romeo is at the bottom. 

 

     Near the end of this scene, Juliet questions Romeo on why he is called ‘Romeo’. She speaks the words ‘deny thy father and refuse thy name’ to tell Romeo to deny his parental heritage (which is Montague), and that he should refuse to be called ‘Romeo’ I believe she does not want Romeo to be a Montague (or her to be a Capulet, ‘and I’ll no longer be a Capulet’) in order so that they can lovers and not enemies.    

 

       When Romeo and Juliet declare their love for each other, the problem that causes concern for Juliet is that Romeo is a Montague. Also, Romeo should not be here, inside a Capulet premises.

 

Scene III

 

     Friar Lawrence is a priest, a holy-man who devotes his time to prayer, study and the concentration of medicines from the herbs that grow around his home.

 

      Romeo asks Friar Lawrence to give his consent to marry him and Juliet today.  

 

     Friar Lawrence accuses Romeo of being a ‘young men’ who’s ‘love lies not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes’ In other words, Romeo only loves based on looks as opposed to true love, e.g. he loved Rosaline, but when he saw Juliet, he fell in love with her.

 

    By allowing the daughter of the Capulets (Juliet) marry the son of the Montagues (Romeo), Friar Lawrence sees an opportunity that this will restore peace between the two enemies. ‘For this alliance may so happy prove. To turn your households’ rancour to pure love’   

 

Scene IV

 

    Romeo’s friends see a significant change in Romeo. Romeo is no longer love-sick, no long in depression, for now he and Juliet are going to get married.

 

     Romeo tells the nurse to tell Juliet that he will be waiting ‘at Friar Lawrence’ cell’ There they can be given absolutism and be married. He also tells the nurse to wait behind the abbey wall, where within this hour, his main man shall be. His main man will bring the rope ladder (needed for Juliet to climb out of the balcony).

 

Scene V

 

      Due the nurse being in a mischievous mood, she decides to keep Juliet in suspense from Romeo’s instructions and greetings to his love. It is for this reason, that Juliet is angry with the nurse.

 

     As we can see from the picture, Juliet is excited about her marriage.

 

Scene VI

 

     Through the incorporation of the Holy Church, Romeo and Juliet are made into one i.e. Romeo and Juliet are married.

2. Answer:       

 

Act III

 

Scene I

 

    Romeo, being a Montague, attended the Capulet masquerade (Act 1, Scene 5). There, Tybalt (Capulet kinsman) wanted to kill Romeo, but was restrained by Lord Capulet. It is for this, that Tybalt wanted to fight Romeo.

 

     Romeo, as we know it, is in love with Juliet, a Capulet. Since he is in love with a Capulet, he does not want to fight any Capulets i.e. he does not want to fight Tybalt. ‘…good Capulet, which name I tender as dearly as my own…’

 

    Mercutio, as we know it, is Romeo’s friend. Hence, Mercutio is outraged when Romeo receives Tybalt’s abuse with mildness; therefore he draws his own sword and challenges Tybalt to fight. 

 

      When Romeo tries to part Tybalt and Mercutio fighting, this seems to confuse Mercutio, causing him to let off guard, which results in Mercutio being struck by Tybalt’s sword. After awhile, Mercutio dies.

 

     After Mercutio dies, Romeo feels that he is guilty for his death. He feels to exact revenge on Tybalt.

 

    Romeo had a significant fortune; Juliet, marriage etc. Inspite of knowing the princes sentence: should anyone fight in the streets of Verona, they will be condemned to murder, Romeo’s hot head led him to take revenge against Tybalt (instead of letting the prince deal with the matter). When Romeo killed Tybalt, he knew his fortunes would be over, for he had to face death (we know it will be banishment), therefore stating ‘O, I am fortune’s fool’ 

 

    We would assume Romeo’s punishment to be death, however, the prince had declared: Romeo banished form Verona, should he be found inside the streets of Verona, he will be killed.

 

Scene II

 

       When Juliet first hears of Romeo’s part in Tybalts death, she is confused. Juliet’s heart and mind are torn by conflicting emotions as she struggles to understand what the nurse is trying to say. 

 

      At first we could see that Juliet was only venting her feelings, when she realized Romeo’s apparent contrast between his appearances and his reality, ‘O serpent heat, hid with a flow’ring face!’ However, when the nurse joins in Juliet’s anger, her views on Romeo change instantly, as if she didn’t mean anything she said before.

 

     True love accepts, not rejects, the person loved, whatever happens. I believe this statement is true, substantiating this with the example of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet can be considered to ‘truly’ love each other. Now, when Romeo killed Juliet’s cousin, Tybalt, Juliet is still in love with Romeo. From this we can see that true love (Juliet) accepts, not rejects, the person loved (Romeo), whatever happens (e.g. Romeo killing Juliet’s cousin).

 

Scene III

 

    Romeo is now banished from Verona, meaning that he can no longer visit Juliet. This for Romeo, is far worst than death itself.

 

    Friar Lawrence tells Romeo he is ungrateful, for, if Romeo had faced the prince’s proper sentence, it would have been death. Romeo could have been killed, however instead he is banished from Verona.

 

     In response to the above, Romeo says that being not able to see Juliet is far worse than death for him. Romeo even asks Friar Lawrence if there is anything he can kill himself with, ‘Hadst thou no poison mix’d, no sharp-ground knife, no sudden mean of death…’

 

   When the nurse arrives and tells Romeo that Juliet is distressed, Romeo attempts to kill himself.

 

  Friar Lawrence trys to comfort Romeo by saying: ‘Hast thou slain Tybalt? Wilt thou slay thyself’ In other words, if you hadn’t killed Tybalt, Tybalt would have killed you.

 

    Romeo decides to follow Friar Lawrence’s advice on going to Juliet that night, then leaving the city for Mantua until everything is sorted out.

 

Scene IV

 

    Lord Capulet offers Paris to marry his daughter, Juliet, on the coming Thursday.

 

Scene V

 

     At first we realize that Juliet was being selfish, when she wanted Romeo to stay for longer. ‘…Therefore stay yet, thou need’st not be gone…’ However, Juliet then snaps back to reality, knowing that Romeo will die if he stays any longer, she tells him to hurry away. ‘It is, it is. hie hence, be gown away!’ 

 

   There are many reasons as to why Juliet keeps the pretence of hating Romeo from her mother. As we already know, Juliet is already married to Romeo, by consent of Friar Lawrence; however her mother and father do not know this (except for the nurse). Although Juliet is in love with Romeo she must still pretend that she has no feelings for him, for her parents would be outraged to acknowledge this. Also, Romeo killed Tybalt, supplying more of a reason to hate him.

 

     Juliet is obstinate to marry Paris, ‘I will not marry yet’ She would rather marry Romeo rather than Paris, ‘I will not marry yet, and when I do…It shall be Romeo…Rather than Paris’

 

     Lord Capulet reacted to Juliet defiance by bulling, threatening, swearing and cursing at her. He also mentions that if you do not go through with this, then to never again look at I again, never speak to I.  Also Lord Capulet will never look after Juliet again, whether she begs, starves or dies in the streets. Lady Capulet follows in her husband’s intentions, ‘Do as thou wilt, for I have done with thee’

 

  When we hear of the nurse’s advice to Juliet, we can see that Juliet is outraged as to how the nurse can say that (i.e. the nurse is taking Lord and Lady Capulet’s side, as to whom Juliet should marry) Juliet feels that she can no longer confide to the nurse.

 

     One course of action is to seek the Friar’s advice on how to deal with the situation. The other option is to kill herself, ‘myself have the power to die’

 

 Act IV

 

Scene I

 

      Juliet begs of the Friar ‘give me some present counsel…’ In other words she urges the Friar to give her some advise, some solution, on how to approach the current situation. 

 

     I the Friar cannot help her, Juliet threatens to kill herself.

 

      With the Friar’s expertise in medical herbs, he purposes a sleeping potion to Juliet. His solution to Juliet is that, she give consent to marrying Paris, however she then drink the sleeping potion. This will enable her to fall in a coma, causing her to have every appearance of death. When she officially declared dead, she will be laid in the family vault; there she will sleep until Romeo, who will be recalled from Mantua by the Friar, will be waiting.  

 

Scene II

 

   Juliet’s good news to her father is that she will agree to marry Paris.

 

   Due to Lord Capulet being flabbergasted at Juliet’s new decision, he decides to have the wedding a day earlier, therefore the wedding will now occur on Wednesday.

 

Scene III

 

    When Juliet decides to take the poison, we (and Juliet) are faced with a dilemma, if Juliet does not drink the poison, she will have to marry Paris. However, if Juliet drinks the poison, what is the chance that it is real poison?  What if the Friar has cunningly given Juliet real poison, in order to cover the mistake he made of marrying Juliet and Romeo illegally?

 

    Juliet’s motivation to drink the poison is Romeo.

 

Scene IV

 

     The Capulet household is preparing for the wedding.

 

Scene V

 

  At first when the nurse goes in to wake up Juliet, she does not realize that Juliet is ‘dead’ However after calling continuously, with Juliet not responding, she realizes that Juliet is ‘dead’

 

  

 

Act V

 

Scene I

      Romeo is in a slightly happy mood, for his morning dream has foretold some joyful news is close-by.

 

    Balthasar brings the news of Juliet’s death to Romeo.

 

      Learning that Juliet is dead, Romeo’s life now has no meaning. He decides to illegally buy poison from an apothecary, an apothecary who is so poor, that Romeo has the advantage of bribing him.

 

Scene II

 

    Friar Lawrence hurries to the Capulet vault, due to the fact that it is now time for Juliet to wake up from her sleep.

 

Scene III

 

    At Juliet’s tomb, Romeo meets Paris, who is praying for Juliet. Romeo advices Paris to stay out of his way, however Paris decides to apprehend Romeo, as he is a criminal. They both engage in a fight, with the result being Paris slain.

 

     When Juliet awakens from her sleep, she enquires where Romeo is, being partly drugged she does not realize Romeo lying across her body. On acknowledging about Romeo’s death, she decides to kill herself, by digesting some of his poison on his lips. Learning that his lips have none on them, she decides to stab herself with the dagger in her coffin.

 

     The Friar decides to confess everything that has occurred during this time, e.g. the love between Romeo and Juliet. He also, open – heartedly, confesses his part in all of this and accepts any punishment.