The Importance of Act 1 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

The Importance of Act 1 Scene 5 of William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

In this scene Romeo meets and falls in love with Juliet at her

parent's masked ball. Previous to this scene we have learnt that Romeo

is very depressed due to the fact that he thinks he is in love with

Rosaline, who does not return her love to him. This is called

unrequited love. This idea suggests to the audience that he is fickle

and typical of a love struck youth. The audience also have discovered

that there is much hatred between the Capulet and Montague families,

which also include the servants of both families, who brawl in the

streets.

The opening of the play presents a street brawl started by an instant

insult by the servants of both Capulet and Montague. The reason for

this feud lies in the history between the two families; however the

effects are very clear. Benvolio, Romeo's cousin tries to calm down

the situation and is seen to be more sensible, generally when he meets

the squabbling servants. "Put up your swords, you know not what you

do".

We also have met the 'fiery Tybalt' who continuously looks for fights

with his enemies. When the play opens Tybalt comes into the street

brawl and starts to fight Benvolio. 'I hate the word, as I hate hell,

all Montagues, and thee'. The effect of the word 'hell' shows the

extent of his hatred. He has already called Benvolio a coward for not

wanting to fight. Therefore when the audience see how Tybalt behaves

in Act 1 Scene 5 we understand his reaction when he believes that

Romeo is behind the mask.

Capulet, head of the household is a very powerful man who expects to

be obeyed. Although he is earlier ...

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...hy Paris was invited

the 'ancient feast'. Romeo responds to this detail, 'O dear account!

My life is my foe's debt'. He sees this as a costly reckoning as he

feels he owes his life to his enemy. Similarly, when Juliet finds out

whom Romeo is, having asked the nurse about 'yond gentleman', she

states he feelings 'my only love sprung from my only hate'. She sees

this as a 'prodigious birth of love' which has the meaning of ominous

and foretelling evil.

This scene also predicts what will happen, at the end of the play, in

both the characters speeches Romeo has already had a dream where he

fears something awful if he goes to the party and how he foresees his

'untimely death'. When Juliet finds out that he is a Montague she

ironically predicts 'My grave is like to be my wedding bed', an

anticipation of events to come.