The play opens with a sonnet through which the Chorus introduces the audience to the two feuding noble families of Verona. It also conveys that an unavoidable tragedy is about to strike the two families. The sonnet also states that two “star-crossed” lovers would emerge from these families and that they would be instrumental in ending the feud.
As in traditional Greek tragedy, the prologue serves a narrative function; it also provides commentary on events as they unfold, and gives the audience brief but important background information about the main characters. In effect, the prologue sets up the play’s tragic tone.
The scene opens with Sampson and Gregory, two servants of the Capulets, making lewd comments about the Montagues, the arch rivals of the Capulet family. On seeing two servants of the Montague family, they provoke them with inappropriate gestures. Benvolio, a kinsman to Montague, intervenes in an attempt to stop the fight. As Benvolio draws his sword to put an end to the fight, Tybalt, a kinsman to Capulet, feeling insulted by Benvolio’s action, draws his sword in response. Benvolio tries to explain that he has drawn his sword merely to end the fight, but an unconvinced Tybalt attacks Benvolio. The fight quickly escalates and turns bitter. Both Capulet and Montague enter the scene, and instead of trying to end the fight, they both engage in the fight themselves. Lady Capulet and Lady Montague, seemingly uninterested in the fight, try to stop their husbands. At this moment, Prince Escalus, the king of Verona, enters the scene and immediately orders them to stop. Tired of the families’ incessant fighting, Prince Escalus announces that further instances of violence involving the two families will result in a death sentence. Everyone leaves the scene, except Benvolio, Montague, and Lady Montague. Lady Montague is concerned that her son Romeo is troubled, and asks Benvolio to counsel him. Romeo, Benvolio’s cousin, enters the scene, and the Montagues leave upon seeing Romeo. Romeo, Benvolio finds out, is lovelorn; Romeo, troubled by his unreciprocated love for Rosaline, tells Benvolio that he cannot forget her. Benvolio then resolves to help Romeo forget Rosaline.
The scene is not only impactful but also conveys essential background information to the audience. It also sheds light on the societal structure of Verona. Shakespeare presents a brief but essential picture of Verona’s power hierarchy: the scene features characters ranging from the families’ servants (representing the lower end of the hierarchy) to the Prince (the epitome of power). The verbal exchange between the servants and Tybalt’s action also allude to the theme of male honor. The scene also reveals the characters’ temperaments: Benvolio, the sensitive one; Tybalt the hot-tempered one; and Romeo, the hopeless lover. It is worth noting that the play features characters from a wide range of social strata. The servants are not seen as mere props; they are also pivotal to the play.
This short scene takes place on a street in Verona. Paris asks Capulet for Juliet’s hand in marriage. Though Capulet is overjoyed, he tells Paris that Juliet, barely 14 years old, is too young for marriage. Nonetheless, he invites Paris to the Capulets’ masquerade feast, and advises Paris to woo Juliet. Capulet also tells Paris that he may marry Juliet if she consents to it. Capulet then sends his servant, Peter, to invite more people. Meanwhile, Romeo and Benvolio continue arguing about love. Peter runs into the cousins, and being unable to read and not knowing they are Montagues, asks them to read out names from the guest list. The two cousins notice Rosaline’s name on the list. Peter then invites the cousins to the feast. While Romeo agrees to go in the hopes of meeting Rosaline, Benvolio thinks it is a good opportunity for Romeo to meet other women.
This scene prepares the audience to witness the eventual meeting of Romeo and Juliet. It also sheds further light on Verona’s social hierarchy. Juliet, being a woman, doesn’t seem to partake in a discussion about her marriage. Later in the play, we will witness Capulet calling her a “young baggage.”
In this scene, we see Juliet for the first time. Just as the feast is about to commence, Lady Capulet asks Juliet what she thinks of Paris’s marriage proposal. The Nurse is also present during this conversation. Hoping to encourage Juliet to consider the proposal more seriously, Lady Capulet reveals that she had Juliet when she was of Juliet’s age. Juliet tells her mother that she has not thought about marriage yet, and that she would consider the proposal after meeting Paris at the masquerade.
This scene relates Juliet’s proclivity for romantic love with her rebellion in the face of parental authority and control. It also reveals the character and temperament of the three women. Juliet, a 13-year-old, is innocent and naïve. Lady Capulet is presented as a person who is more practical than emotional. She also appears more interested in the benefits she could enjoy should Juliet marry Paris; she seems less interested in Juliet’s preference, and much less interested in the idea of romantic love. Juliet’s nurse, on the other hand, is revealed as a more caring figure. Having raised Juliet, the Nurse understands her better than Lady Capulet, and also cares for Juliet’s welfare. The Nurse sees marriage more as a sexual union.
In this scene, Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio covertly partake in the Capulets’ feast. Interestingly, the three of them are also accompanied by other minor characters from the Montague household. Since it’s a masquerade, however, they are free to wear masks, which makes it easier for them to remain undetected. Romeo, still unable to forget Rosaline, confesses that he is in no mood to dance or celebrate. Mercutio, however, playfully taunts Romeo. He then tells Romeo about Queen Mab. Mercutio describes her as a mischievous figure who brings rather unpleasant dreams to sleeping humans. Her dreams tend to be unpleasant because they are based on a person’s deepest and basest desires and wishes.
Perhaps the most important aspect of this scene is the dream described by Mercutio. Notably, Mercutio’s famous speech about Queen Mab also appears in this scene. He mentions lusty, star-crossed lovers and the plague, and they turn out to be prophetic. The scene also shows that Mercutio does not believe in idealized romantic love.
The scene opens with the feast in full swing. Away from the hustle and bustle of the party, Romeo avoids the dance and is seen sulking in a corner. He then notices Juliet, and is immediately taken by her beauty and falls in love with her. Although Romeo is masked, Tybalt recognizes his voice and prepares to confront Romeo. However, he is stopped by Capulet, who reminds him of Prince Escalus’s warning. Romeo, in the meantime, approaches Juliet, and soon enough, the two share their first kiss, which is interrupted by the Nurse. Before proceeding further, the Nurse tells Juliet that Lady Capulet wants to talk to her. Romeo is shocked and disappointed to learn that Juliet is a Capulet. After the party, Juliet, too, is deeply disappointed to learn that Romeo is a Montague.
This could arguably be called the play’s most anticipated scene, since this is where Romeo and Juliet finally meet and begin their love story. The scene is replete with rich language, sonnets, and metaphors. The two “star-crossed” lovers are seen employing Christian metaphors such as “shrine” and “pilgrim,” during their conversation, thus hinting at the purity and divinity of their love. In particular, Romeo hails Juliet as an image of divinity.