Romeo In The Play example essay topic

As Act 1 Scene 1 opens, we are introduced to Sampson and Gregory, instantly we find out that these two do not get along with the Montagues, 'A dog of the house of Montague moves me'. We therefore find out about these two that they are members of the Capulet family, and despise the Montagues, ' The quarrel is between our masters, and us their men'. Abram is entered into the scene immediately looking to cause trouble, 'Do you bite your thumb at us, sir'. This tells us that Abram also does not get along with the Capulets, and already, the audience are aware of the fact that this play about a family feud. Then, Benvolio enters, and tells the servants to 'Put up your swords; you know not what you do'. This gives off the impression that Benvolio does not agree with the fighting, and therefore puts an end to it.

But then, Tybalt is introduced, and he immediately provokes Benvolio, 'Turn the, Benvolio, look upon thy death. ' This tells us that Benvolio and Tybalt have a rivalry, and what Benvolio was first thought of by the audience, has changed dramatically, even though he attempts to get Tybalt to part the servants, 'Put up thy sword, or manage it to part these men with me'. While the fight is commencing, Old Capulet enters with his wife, and immediately we find out that again, they do not like the Montagues. 'Old Montague is come, and flourishes his sword in spite of me'. Montague, who is now involved, insults Capulet, 'Thou villain Capulet' adding to the tension which is already in the scene.

As we can see, Shakespeare, in this particular play, has introduced many main characters very early, so that the audience can get an idea of the play, very early on. Prince, who is fed up with the fighting, ends the brawl very quickly. This tells us that obviously fighting had taken place before, 'Three civil brawls. ' Prince now threatens that another fight would result in the death of them all.

The audience sees Prince as a good person just wanting the fighting and rivalry to end. Before Romeo is entered into the scene, we here about Romeo keeping himself to himself, and how Montague has questioned him over this, but yet Romeo will not admit to it. As Romeo enters into the scene, we immediately see that he is more involved with love and peace, than fighting and despair. When we first meet Romeo in the play, he seems very upset and heart broken.

'Ay me, sad hours seem long. ' He also tells us that he is 'out of love', and that the girl he loves, does not love him. The audience starts to see that all Romeo is, is a young man, in love with a woman he cannot have. Romeo then sees about the brawl which took place earlier that day, and we find out that Romeo has no place for violence, so we think, and in a way, is more grown up and mature, in comparison to Benvolio and the others.

Also, Romeo uses an elaborate way of speaking, which could mean that his love for the woman is artificial, and not coming from the heart. Also, during Romeo's speeches to Benvolio, he plays with words of how love is confusing and mixes people up, turning 'order into chaos'. Romeo uses a lot of oxymoron's, 'cold fire' and 'sick health'. This tells us again, that by using words and sentences so complex and detailed, his love could be false. Also, during this encounter between Benvolio and Romeo, we find out more about Benvolio and how he is not just a man looking for a fight, but is also a good person, and a good friend to Romeo when he is down. The audience may also start to feel sorry for Romeo and take a liking to Benvolio, because he is acting like a brother to Romeo, and Romeo is pouring out his heart to him, and how his life is now ruined due to his lack of love.

I think that Act 1 Scene 1 is a very important part of the play, as it introduces a lot of characters, and tells us what part they have to play in the plot. I think that by introducing Romeo as being upset and 'out of love' in a way tells us that he is going to fall in love with someone (Juliet) and then that leads on to the family feud between the Capulets and the Montagues, and how the relationship between the two, would end up in a tragedy. By opening the play with a brawl between the two families makes it interesting, because the audience are left knowing that there will be a climax at the end, with someone dying or something going wrong. Shakespeare by opening the play with the fight introduces the idea of conflict very early on leading the audience aware of the fact that this will be a key part of the play.