The Importance Of Act 1 Scene 5 In Romeo and Juliet Essay

Explain the importance of Act 1 Scene 5 in Romeo and Juliet and how what we learn prepares us for events later in the play

Romeo and Juliet was written by William Shakespeare in 1594. The prologue to the play is in the form of a fourteen-line sonnet, it describes two noble households in the city of Verona. The houses hold an ancient grudge against each other that remains a source of violent and bloody conflict. It then goes on to states that from these two houses, two star-crossed lovers will appear. These lovers will be the solution to the quarrel between their families by dying. The story of these two lovers, and of the terrible quarrel between their families, will be the theme of the play. Romeo and Juliet was first published as a poem in 1562 by Arthur Brook, titled The Tragically History of Romeus and Juliet. Shakespeare put the poem into play form. In Act 1, Scene 5 Romeo, Mercutio and a lot of the other Montagues gatecrash the Capulet party. It is in this party that we first see Romeo and Juliet together this is also where they fall in love. Most of the main characters are in this scene. We learn how they behave and of personalities.

Romeo is seen before in previous scenes and he is in love with another girl named Rosaline. He talks very bitterly and with lots of gloominess. He uses hyperbole, which also makes him unpopular because every time he talks the audience know that he is going to begin on a very long drawn out speech. As soon as Romeo sees Juliet begins on a very long-winded speech O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright... Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear... For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night. Romeo has completely forgotten Rosaline, this shows that he is very fickle and is very easily won over by love. When Romeo and Juliet do speak they speak in sonnet form and this is the first time the sonnet form has been used since the prologue. This is supposed to remind the audience of the death that is to come. The relationship between Romeo and Juliet at first is one of Courtly love. Courtly love was very much around in the medieval period between Knights or courtiers to a noble woman who was normally married. However this love had certain guidelines, for example you were never allowed to kiss or make intimate physical contact, and you also had to respect her. Romeo keeps comparing Juliet to being ethereal, almost like an angel. When he speaks to her for the first time he calls her this holy shrine this is symbolic because Romeos name means Pilgrim and he acts as if she is a saint.

Juliet changes a great amount from in the scenes before. In those scenes, she was docile and not so expressive. She was under pressure from her mother and her nurse as they were looking over her shoulder most of the time. During the party scene there is no nurse and her mother is not there, she is alone and when she talks to Romeo her way of specking is different. When Romeo is expressing his undying love for her, she is able to combat what he is saying and contradict him without hurting Romeos feelings. This shows that she is not shy and very brave, she does not hold back when talking to someone. This way that she talks prepares us for when she asked Romeo to swear to marry her in a church later in the play. Then Romeo kisses Juliet, this strengthens the bond between them both. Juliet says You kiss by the book which either implies that she thinks that he kissed without passion or that he kissed well. Juliet also predicts her death: My grave is like to be my wedding bed she says this while talking to nurse after the meeting. This means that because the feud between the two families that when they get married they will both end up dead, she is predicting her own death.

At the start of Act 1 Scene 5 Capulet is shown as a cheerful and hospitable man, and his first speech gives you an idea. Welcome, gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes...Unplagued with corns will have about you...Ah ha! My mistresses, which of you all...Will now deny to dance?

He talks cheerfully to a fellow Capulet, and jokes and laughs with him. However, later on in the scene, he confronts his nephew, Tybalt who has seen Romeo at the party and is going to go and fight with him. Capulet gets very angry and shouts at him he shall be endured... You'll not endure him! God shall mend my soul learn that he can switch modes in a second; this prepares us for when Juliet tells him that she does not want to marry Paris. When Capulet is speaking to Tybalt the audience learn that he is definitely the most powerful person in the household. We then at the end realise that Capulet is putting on the kind attitude to please his guests as his mode changes when he stops talking to Tybalt and he shouts What, Cheerly, my hearts.

Tybalt plays an important role in scene 5 because it is him who theoretically starts the entire chain of events that will finally lead to the death of Romeo and Juliet. Tybalt is very angry when he realises that the Montagues have entered the party and he is even more stirred up by Capulet who prevents him from doing his duty to his family and fighting them. Tybalt has to do what his uncle tells him to do because Capulet has influence over Tybalt. Then Tybalt says this intrusion shall...now seeming sweet... convert to bitterest gall this is the warning to the Montagues that begins the chain of reactions that leads to the death of Romeo, Juliet, Mercutio and Paris.

In conclusion Act 1 Scene 5 prepares the audience for what is to come. There are countless references to the death of Romeo and Juliet. Juliet even predicts her death during the scene. This is a very important scene because the anger that Tybalt bears is so great that he lashes out and what follows is the death of himself, Mercutio, Romeo, Juliet and Paris.