Tension in Act 1 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Tension in Act 1 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616) was born at Stratford-upon-Avon.From

the age of seven to about 14, he attended Stratford Grammar School

receiving an excellent well rounded education. At the age of 18 he

married Anne Hathaway, who was seven years his senior and three months

pregnant. He endured her until he could stand it no longer and fled to

London to become an actor. He then became actor-manager and part-owner

in the Blackfriars and afterwards the Globe Theatres. He was a

first-rate actor, but it is as a writer of plays that he has achieved

lasting world-wide fame. His plays are thought to be the finest ever

written in any language. His 37 plays vary in type; historical

romances, light, fantastic comedies, some are tragedies, all including

the comical and the farcical. He was a shrewd business man, amassing

quite a fortune in his time. He returned to Stratford for his latter

years where he died at the age of 52.

The atmosphere at the start of the scene is very lively and one full

of excitement. We hear Capulet's servants complaining about one

another "Where's Potpan, that he helps not to take away?" The servants

bustle also picks up the pace of the play. They are in a hurry, and

there's a sense that everything is speeding up. While the servants are

still bustling about, Lord Capulet enters followed by his kins and

guests. The stage direction says "to the Maskers," which lets us know

that Capulet is speaking to Romeo's company when he says, "Welcome

gentlemen........" and is making sure that these strangers are made

welcome. I think the sight of the maskers summon...

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...and forever, and they both fear

the consequences of their love, but without any thought of changing

their minds or hearts.

The Nurse asks Juliet what she's saying, and Juliet lies, saying it's

just a rhyme she heard from a dance partner. The someone calls for

Juliet, and she and the Nurse hurry away, ending the scene.

I think Act 1 scene 5 is a very crucial scene as this is where the

play really kicks off and starts to build the tension. I think its one

of the most important scenes of the whole play as this is where they

meet and the love begins shortly followed by hatred. We see a lot of

emotions come through in this scene, firstly with Capulet and Tybalt

having an arguement, then, Romeo and Juliet falling in love and then

finally Romeo and Juliet finding out that there 'only love sprung from

their only hate.'