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myShakespeare | Romeo and Juliet 1.4 Queen Mab Song

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The Feud

The chorus (narrator) tells the audience at the beginning of the play that inside the town of Verona reside two wealthy families that have been at war with each other for a long time: 'Two households both alike in dignity.' But why do these families hate each other so much? We are never told, never given a single detail about the rivalry, which ultimately results in one of the greatest tragedies ever told. Interesting, right? Well, let's take a look at one half of the feud, the Montague family.

Lord Montague

Lord Montague is the father of our hero Romeo. Right from the start of the play, he seems like a pretty good dad who cares about the welfare of his son. Romeo is moping about, upset that his love for a girl named Rosaline has gone unrequited. But Lord Montague doesn't know how to cheer up his son, so he sends his nephew Benvolio over to speak with Romeo and to keep an eye on him.

It's this meeting that sparks the idea for Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo to crash the Capulet masked ball. It's at that masked ball where Romeo first meets Juliet and the young star crossed lover's lives are forever changed.

Later on in the play Romeo kills Tybalt, Lord Capulet's nephew, after Tybalt kills Romeo's friend Mercutio. Lord Montague uses his great influence with the Prince of Verona to spare his son from execution. The Prince agrees that Romeo will be exiled from Verona, his life spared. This speaks not only to Lord Montague's great power but also to his influence.

The two young lovers commit suicide and it is only then, while standing over their dead bodies, that Lord Montague and Lord Capulet agree to put their longstanding feud behind them.

Lady Montague

Lady Montague is the matriarch of the family and is mother to Romeo. We only get to see her a few times in the play. However, we get a sense that she is like most mothers. She cares greatly about what happens to her son.

She trusts her nephew Benvolio to look out for Romeo. Lady Montague is so completely heartbroken when she hears of Romeo's banishment that she dies (off stage). She clearly loved her son and just couldn't bear the grief of never seeing him again.

Romeo

Ever call a man 'Romeo?' The name itself has evolved over time to mean 'lover.' Romeo is the only child of Lord and Lady Montague. He is without doubt one intense young man who falls deeply and passionately in love. When we first meet our hero, he is sulking, upset that his love for Rosaline has been ignored.

However, his feelings for Rosaline disappear instantly at the mere sight of young Juliet at the Capulet masked ball. We can call Romeo a lot of things. Some have called him a little immature and brash. He does seem to take everything to heart. But one thing is for sure: Romeo feels 100% of whatever Romeo is feeling.

It's his idea of true love that beckons him to Juliet's balcony, even though he is essentially risking his life. Juliet is a Capulet and Romeo is a Montague. He is supposed to hate all things Capulet and honor the family name. Romeo also has rage in him. We see that in full form when he kills Tybalt. Yes, Tybalt killed his best friend Mercutio in a duel, but Tybalt is his wife's cousin (he had already married Juliet by the time Tybalt and Mercutio duel.)

And then there is his anguish. What does he do the second he finds Juliet 'dead' from a poisoning overdose? He kills himself, just like that, no questions asked. We know that Juliet was just sleeping, faking her death, but Romeo did not even consider waiting to kill himself. He's an all or nothing kind of guy. He feels it, he reacts.

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the montague family: history & family tree - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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The Montague Family: History & Family Tree - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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The chorus (narrator) tells the audience at the beginning of the play that inside the town of Verona reside two wealthy families that have been at war with each other for a long time: 'Two households both alike in dignity.' But why do these families hate each other so much?

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Character Analysis

'Loyal,' 'devoted,' 'funny' and 'witty' are just a few of the words that describe Romeo's best friend, Mercutio, in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. He is neither a Montague nor a Capulet, but he is more than just an interested party in the epic family feud.

Although Mercutio is just a secondary character, appearing in only four scenes, his character is known for stealing the show. Audiences cannot get enough of the funny and oftentimes even dirty Prince's kinsman. And for those of you who do not know, Mercutio is murdered in Act 3, Scene 1 in a fight with Tybalt (more on that later). It's reported that audiences love Mercutio so much that some performances go south after his character dies. There's even a story that Shakespeare himself confessed that Mercutio had to die or else his character would take the spotlight away from the star-crossed lovers.

Mercutio as the Skeptic Foil

Mercutio's character serves as a foil in Romeo and Juliet. A foil is a character who juxtaposes another character so audiences can clearly see certain qualities of the other character. This is usually done to help define the protagonist, or lead character, of the story. In Mercutio's case, he is the direct opposite of the hero, Romeo. As we already know, Romeo is a romantic, a man who easily falls in love and hopes beyond hope that true love can conquer all, even an epic family rivalry.

Meanwhile, Mercutio is a skeptic, a man who mocks love. When he finds out that Romeo is in love with a Capulet, his reaction is to make fun of his best friend.

'Romeo, Humors! Madman! Passion! Lover!

Appear thou in the likeness of a sigh,

Speak but one rhyme and I am satisfied.'

Yes, Mercutio is cynical; perhaps he doesn't necessarily believe in the idea of true love. More so, Mercutio is even outright hostile towards women in general. At the beginning of the play, Romeo is upset that his love for a woman named Rosaline went unrequited. Romeo is heartbroken, so what does his best friend do? He mocks him with a vulgar monologue that objectifies Rosaline's body.

'I must conjure him.

I conjure thee by Rosaline's bright eyes,

By her high forehead and her scarlet lip,

By her fine foot, straight leg and quivering thigh

And the demesnes that there adjacent lie,

That in thy likeness thou appear to us!'

Mercutio's Warning

Every character in Romeo and Juliet serves a distinct purpose in moving the narrative forward. Mercutio does not think that Romeo should get involved with Juliet, that it will only cause a monster headache and that it will never work out. Although Mercutio is a sort of tough guy, his goal is to keep peace between the families. But Romeo doesn't listen and instead mocks his friend: 'A gentleman that loves to hear himself talk and will speak more in a minute than he will stand to in a month.'

So Romeo ignores Mercutio's pleads. Love has already blinded him. It is this idea of true love that stops Mercutio from keeping the peace.

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mercutio in romeo and juliet: character analysis

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personality & traits - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet: Character Analysis, Personality & Traits - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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'Loyal,' 'devoted,' 'funny' and 'witty' are just a few of the words that describe Romeo's best friend, Mercutio, in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. He is neither a Montague nor a Capulet, but he is more than just an interested party in the epic family feud.

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Arranged Marriage

It's generally accepted that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is set in the 1300s. In the 14th century, aristocratic families in Europe often required their young daughters to marry successful older men in order to solidify the family's position and wealth. Girls were considered eligible at the age of 14 and had to give their consent to a marriage. In Romeo and Juliet, Paris is the man that Lord and Lady Capulet want Juliet to marry. He is a count and is related to Escalus, the Prince of Verona. We are first introduced to Paris in Act I, Scene 2 when he asks Lord Capulet if he can marry Juliet, even though she is not fourteen yet. Lord Capulet says he thinks she is too young and may be marred by an early marriage. When Paris asserts his case, saying that there are younger girls who are married mothers, Lord Capulet says he can attend the feast he is having that evening to see if Juliet is interested.

In Act I, Scene 3, Lady Capulet comes to Juliet's room to tell her that ''the valiant Paris seeks you for his love.'' Even though Lady Capulet and the Nurse are excited about the pursuit of such a distinguished suitor, Juliet replies that she will meet him only to see if she is interested but doesn't promise she will like him. It's agreed that Juliet will formally meet Paris at the party thrown by her parents that evening.

Over Before It Began

Shakespeare never gives us a view of Juliet at the feast getting to know Paris. Instead, Juliet meets Romeo there and the romance of the ''star-crossed lovers'' takes off. We next see Paris in Act III, Scene 4 when he dutifully comes to pay his respects to Lord Capulet after the murder of Tybalt, Juliet's cousin. Capulet explains that with the recent family upheaval they have not had a chance to convince Juliet to marry. At the end of the scene, Juliet's father, confident that she will obey him, promises Paris that the two can marry three days later. Neither of the men are aware that Juliet is already married to Romeo.

When Lord and Lady Capulet come to Juliet in Act III, Scene 5 to cheer her up with the news she will marry Paris soon, Juliet does not react the way they expect. Shocked and eager to avoid revealing her secret marriage to Romeo, she declares that she does not even know Paris and will not marry him. Capulet is especially angry at Juliet's defiance and says he will force her to marry Paris by threatening to disown her. Juliet begs her father to listen to her, but he will not hear her and calls her ''baggage.''

In Act 4, Scene 1, Paris meets with Friar Laurence to plan the wedding ceremony. The friar, having already married Juliet to Romeo, is surprised and tries to convince Paris to take his time and woo Juliet properly instead of rushing into marriage. Juliet arrives on the scene to speak to Friar Laurence, and Paris greets her as ''my wife.'' Juliet tactfully replies that she is not yet a wife, and Paris insists that they will be married on Thursday. This exchange is ironic because both Juliet and Friar Laurence are aware that she is already married to Romeo, but Paris is not. Once Paris leaves, Juliet desperately begs the friar for a plan to get out of her wedding to Paris and to join Romeo, who has been banished from Verona for the murder of Tybalt. They settle on a risky scheme to falsify her death so she can run away with her husband, Romeo. Friar Laurence provides Juliet with a potion to make it seem as if she is dead.

Grief and Death

The next morning, Paris arrives at the Capulet house with Friar Laurence and musicians to collect his bride for the wedding, but Juliet has taken the potion, and everyone believes her to be dead. Paris is genuinely grieved over the loss of his intended wife, saying, ''Have I thought long to see this morning's face, and doth it give me such a sight as this?...O love! O life! not life, but love in death!'' Lord Capulet and Friar Laurence make plans for Juliet's funeral.

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paris in romeo and juliet: character analysis - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Paris in Romeo and Juliet: Character Analysis - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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It's generally accepted that Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is set in the 1300s. In the 14th century, aristocratic families in Europe often required their young daughters to marry successful older men in order to solidify the family's position and wealth. Girls were considered eligible at the age of 14 and had to give their consent to a marriage.

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Peacemaker

We first see Romeo's cousin Benvolio in Act One, Scene One of Romeo and Juliet, when the servants of the Capulet household pick a fight with the servants of the Montague household as part of their ongoing feud. The Prince of Verona has grown weary of the constant fighting between the two families, and their skirmishes often disrupt the peace.

As the fighting breaks out, Benvolio tries to stop it by saying, 'Part, fools! Put up your swords; you know not what you do,' (1.1) warning them to quit before things accelerate to a serious level. In that statement, he also alludes to some of Christ's last words on the cross, 'Father forgive them; for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34a). Just as Jesus is known as a peacemaker, so Benvolio takes on a peacemaker's role in this opening scene of the play. Benvolio then pleads with Tybalt, Juliet's hot-tempered cousin, to use his sword to stop the fray. Tybalt, of course, refuses.

Trustworthy Friend

Along with being a peacemaker, Benvolio is trustworthy. After the fight in the town square, Benvolio gives Lord and Lady Montague an account of all that has transpired. He doesn't slant the story to favor one side or the other but gives a true account.

Benvolio is also a good friend and cousin to Romeo, who has been losing sleep over his infatuation with a young woman named Rosaline. On more than one occasion, Benvolio tries to find Romeo, and he tells Lord and Lady Montague that he tried to follow Romeo that very day, hoping to speak with him. At this point in the play, Benvolio doesn't realize what is troubling Romeo, but he really cares about his cousin and makes an effort to help him. When Romeo reveals what is ailing him, Benvolio replies that he would 'weep' at Romeo's 'heart's oppression' (1.1). Benvolio is compassionate towards others.

Counselor

As a wise counselor, Benvolio advises Romeo to forget about Rosaline and 'giv{e} liberty unto {his} eyes . . . by {e}xamin{ing} other beauties' (1.1). He goes on to say that if Romeo compares Rosaline to other young women Benvolio knows, they 'will make thee think thy swan a crow' (1.2). Romeo is not too receptive to this idea but does agree to sneak into a Capulet masquerade party, where he meets Juliet and forgets all about his previous infatuation with Rosaline.

Problem Solver

Offended that any Montague dare attend a Capulet party, Tybalt sends a letter challenging Romeo to a sword fight. It is Benvolio who brings the letter to Mercutio's attention. Mercutio remarks:

'Alas poor Romeo! he is already dead; stabbed with a
white wench's black eye; shot through the ear with a
love-song; the very pin of his heart cleft with the
blind bow-boy's butt-shaft: and is he a man to
encounter Tybalt?'(2.4).

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analysis & profile - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Character of Benvolio: Traits, Analysis & Profile - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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We first see Romeo's cousin Benvolio in Act One, Scene One of Romeo and Juliet, when the servants of the Capulet household pick a fight with the servants of the Montague household as part of their ongoing feud. The Prince of Verona has grown weary of the constant fighting between the two families, and their skirmishes often disrupt the peace.

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Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most famous of William Shakespeare's plays from the 16th century. The story centers around 'a pair of star-crossed lovers,' Juliet, a Capulet, and Romeo, a Montague, whose families have been at war with one another for as long as anyone can remember. In spite of the play ending tragically with the lovers' deaths, one bright spot exists among all the violence and grief: Juliet's Nurse.

How Tension Works

Most enduring stories and plays involve tension or suspense. To build tension in a play requires that the writer release the tension at times. If the audience is on the edge of their seats with worry the entire time, the tragic ending might come off as too expected and prove less powerful. By releasing the tension throughout the story, the worry and anxiety that Romeo and Juliet will meet a fateful end grows at a steadier pace. A good way of thinking about this tension building is a staircase: each stair is higher than the last; some stairs provide a place of rest before one moves on to the next. Nurse provides one of these plateaus, a flat space along the incline in which the tension does not increase and the audience can relax.

Nurse as Comic Relief

Though the only name given to her is simply ' Nurse,' the character provides much-needed comic relief for both Juliet and the audience. At times, she also helps Romeo through his relationship with Juliet. Her role is that of a caregiver for Juliet, who 'wast the prettiest babe that e'er I nursed.' One of Nurse's most comical moments occurs after she carries a message to Romeo about his impending marriage to Juliet. Upon Nurse's return to the Capulet mansion in Act 2, Scene 5, Juliet begs her for news from Romeo, and Nurse responds:
Lord, how my head aches! what a head have I! It beats as it would fall in twenty pieces. My back o' t' other side,--O, my back, my back! Beshrew your heart for sending me about,
To catch my death with jaunting up and down!

JULIET
I' faith, I am sorry that thou art not well.
Sweet, sweet, sweet nurse, tell me, what says my love?

NURSE
Your love says, like an honest gentleman, and a courteous, and a kind, and a handsome, and, I
warrant, a virtuous,--Where is your mother?

JULIET
Where is my mother! why, she is within; Where should she be? How oddly thou repliest! 'Your love says, like an honest gentleman,
Where is your mother?'(lines 51-61)

Nurse's unexpected reply serves to draw the tension away from Romeo's reply and onto the interaction between Juliet and her caretaker. The Nurse highlights how tired she feels, lightening the mood on stage. Her dialogue hopefully draws laughter from the audience, which in turn, allows them to relax from the building tension in the story line.

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the nurse & comic relief in romeo and juliet - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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The Nurse & Comic Relief in Romeo and Juliet - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Romeo and Juliet is perhaps the most famous of William Shakespeare's plays from the 16th century. The story centers around 'a pair of star-crossed lovers,' Juliet, a Capulet, and Romeo, a Montague, whose families have been at war with one another for as long as anyone can remember.

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Character Profile

In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is the nephew of Lord Capulet and Juliet's older cousin. We can accurately describe the skilled swordsman as a tough, cocky and aggressive character who is always looking for a fight. However, we should also be sure to mention that Tybalt is loyal beyond words and honors the family rivalry between the Capulets and the Montagues with great heart.

Tybalt the Angry Foil

Shakespeare often used foils to show the differences between certain characters in his plays. A foil is basically two characters who juxtapose each other so the audience can see their significant disparities. In Romeo and Juliet, Romeo's cousin Benvolio (whose name even means good will or benevolence) and Tybalt are foils. While Benvolio is just a nice guy who does everything in his power to stop a fight and keep the peace, Tybalt can't draw his sword quickly enough.

The first time we meet Tybalt is in Act 1, Scene 1. Benvolio is trying to stop the servants of the Capulet and Montague houses from fighting. When Tybalt enters the scene, he attempts to fuel the fire and goad the servants. He also tries to pick a fight with Benvolio, 'Turn thee... Look upon thy death.' Benvolio does draw his sword, but attempts to maintain the peace. Tybalt responds, 'Talk of peace? I hate the words as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee.'

The Prince of Verona eventually has to step in and break up the fight. The audience gets the sense here that Tybalt is not only an angry man but perhaps takes the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets more seriously than any other character in the play.

Tybalt the Fighter

Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, is a similar sort of hotheaded character. However, Mercutio is also known for his sense of humor and great wit, which we really don't see much of from Tybalt. Mercutio hates Tybalt and gives him the 'catty' nickname The Prince of Cats because Tybalt always seems to walking around looking for a fight.

Tybalt, true to his nickname, does find a fight at the Capulet's masked ball. Romeo, Mercutio and Benvolio decide to crash the party in order to try and get Romeo out of the dumps after his love for Rosaline goes unrequited. While the men are walking around the ball in masks, Tybalt recognizes Romeo's voice and of course wants to beat him up for being a party crasher. However, Tybalt's uncle stops him, not wanting to make a scene at the party. This enrages Tybalt to no end, but he listens to his uncle and steps off, for the time being. In his classic snarl, and his typical rhymed couplets, he vows to meet up with Romeo later on:

'Patience perforce with willful choler meeting

Makes my flesh tremble in their different greeting.

I will withdraw: but this intrusion shall

Now seeming sweet convert to bitter gall.'

One of the most interesting aspects to draw from here is that Tybalt's uncle, an older man with a longer history, is not even upset that young Romeo is at the masked ball. Like it's really no big deal, he says:

'Content thee, gentle coz, let him alone...

And, to say truth, Verona brags of him

To be a virtuous and well governed youth.

I would not for the wealth of all this town

Here in my house do him disparagement.'

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traits & analysis - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Character of Tybalt: Profile, Traits & Analysis - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Tybalt is the nephew of Lord Capulet and Juliet's older cousin. We can accurately describe the skilled swordsman as a tough, cocky and aggressive character who is always looking for a fight.

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What is a Foil Character?

A foil character is one that has traits that are opposite of another character - being melancholy to the other's happiness, for example, or extroverted to the other's introverted nature. Foil characters are sometimes used as comic relief, especially in tragedies such as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

Foil Characters in Romeo and Juliet

The first foil character that appears in Romeo and Juliet never actually appears at all. She is mentioned, talked about, and bemoaned, but never sets foot on stage. Rosaline, the girl Romeo is in love with before he sees Juliet, is a foil for Juliet's character. Rosaline is aloof, quiet, and has sworn off marriage and pleasures of the flesh. She is uninterested in Romeo and his adoration. Contrast this with Juliet, who is neither quiet and remote, nor disinterested and chaste.

Similarly, Paris is a foil for Romeo. Paris is nobility and exemplifies the traits the Capulets find desirable in a husband for their daughter and an ally for their family. He is already a friend of Lord Capulet and is, in all ways, the opposite of Romeo. Paris is very proper and follows the rules of society, while Romeo is impetuous, effusive with his romantic proclamations, and ignores convention by approaching Juliet directly, rather than through family.

Juliet's nurse, who also appears early in the play, is often portrayed as a foil for Lady Capulet. While Nurse is strict, she is also loving and warm with Juliet and dotes on her. She encourages her to make her own choices and helps when Juliet experiences parental censure for refusing to marry Paris. Conversely, Juliet's mother is stiff and cool towards Juliet, seeming to care only about how Juliet will make the family look to others, treating her as a tool rather than a beloved daughter.

Tybalt, kinsman to Juliet, is a foil for Benvolio, who is kinsman to Romeo. Tybalt is 'king of cats,' quick to anger and act without thought, prone to act fast and violently if he feels insulted or dishonored. Benvolio is called a peacemaker (even his name is from the root of 'benevolent' or kind), and tries many times to soothe frayed tempers and hurt feelings. Benvolio is also asked by Romeo's parents to keep an eye on Romeo, and he is the one the Prince approaches to get to the bottom of the street fight between Romeo's friends and Capulet's supporters. Tybalt is the opposite in character, being unfriendly and self-serving.

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foil characters in romeo and juliet - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Foil Characters in Romeo and Juliet - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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A foil character is one that has traits that are opposite of another character - being melancholy to the other's happiness, for example, or extroverted to the other's introverted nature. Foil characters are sometimes used as comic relief, especially in tragedies such as Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.

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Characterization of Romeo and Juliet

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Two Families

Romeo is the only son of the Montague family, and Juliet, the only daughter of the Capulet family. As the play begins, the conflict is stated immediately in the prologue to Act I:

'Two households, both alike in dignity,

In fair Verona, where we lay our scene,

From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,

Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.'

Romeo

A family feud has raged through the streets of the Italian city of Verona for many years; so long, in fact, that the Montagues and Capulets don't even remember who started it. Romeo, the only son of Lord and Lady Montague, is approximately 16 years old. As the story opens, we find he is deeply infatuated with a young woman named Rosaline who refuses to return his interest. Romeo is a sensitive young man. He literally loses sleep and his appetite over Rosaline's rejection, and he often confides in his local priest, Friar Laurence.

Shakespeare immediately draws the audience into the story through the use of identification. Almost everyone has experienced unrequited love at one time or another. In fact, Lord Montague observes that 'Many a morning hath he there been seen, {w}ith tears augmenting the fresh morning dew, {a}dding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs. . .' It is clear that Romeo literally weeps over Rosaline, pining for her. Romeo's family, including his cousin Benvolio, is understandably concerned over his mental health.

When an opportunity arises for Romeo to attend a masquerade party at the Capulet's home, albeit in disguise and uninvited, his friends urge him to go, hoping he will find a new girl to admire. Romeo only agrees to go because Rosaline will be there. Romeo is obviously only infatuated with Rosaline, as is clearly evident when he sees Juliet at the party. He immediately forgets Rosaline and falls in love with Juliet, saying in Act 1, Scene 5:

'O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!

It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night

Like a rich jewel in an Ethiope's ear;

Beauty too rich for use, for earth too dear!

So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows,

As yonder lady o'er her fellows shows.

The measure done, I'll watch her place of stand,

And, touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.

Did my heart love till now? forswear it, sight!

For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night.'

Romeo asks the questions, 'Did I even love anyone before I saw Juliet?' Rosaline's role in Romeo and Juliet is definitely short-lived. She is now forgotten, and the melancholy Romeo only has eyes for Juliet. The question of true love versus infatuation begs to be asked as Romeo so quickly forgets the woman he has been weeping over for days, and immediately fixates on a new love interest. It has been said that puppy love is real to the puppy, and Romeo believes himself to be deeply in love with Juliet, enough to ask her to marry him that same night.

Juliet

Although many girls married quite young in those days, Juliet is only 13. In modern society, she is barely a teenager, and many would agree, far too young to even consider marriage, let alone a serious relationship. However, her own father and mother, the Lord and Lady Capulet consider her to be of marrying age. Before the party, her mother urges Juliet to consider marrying Count Paris, a man she barely knows, to which Juliet wisely replies in Act 1, Scene 2: 'I'll look to like, if looking liking move {b}ut no more deep will I endart mine eye {t}han your consent gives strength to make it fly.' Juliet agrees to see if Paris is attractive. However, at the party, Juliet is immediately attracted to Romeo, and they flirt by touching palms, pretending the palms of their hands to be lips, and eventually kiss.

After the party, Romeo ditches his friends who still understandably believe he is in love with Rosaline, jumps over the Capulet garden wall, and hides under Juliet's balcony hoping to catch a glimpse of his newly found love. He is then rewarded as Juliet walks out onto the balcony and speaks of her love for Romeo. By this time, both are well aware that they are in trouble, as one is a Montague and the other is a Capulet. We love this famous balcony scene for its sweetness and poetic appeal. As Juliet enters the balcony, Romeo states (Act 2, Scene 2):

'But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?

It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.

Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,

Who is already sick and pale with grief,

That thou her maid art far more fair than she:

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characters of romeo and juliet: description & analysis - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Characters of Romeo and Juliet: Description & Analysis - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Romeo is the only son of the Montague family, and Juliet, the only daughter of the Capulet family. As the play begins, the conflict is stated immediately in the prologue to Act I: 'Two households, both alike in dignity, In fair Verona, where we lay our scene, From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.'

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The Chorus delivers another short sonnet describing the new love between Romeo and Juliet: the hatred between the lovers’ families makes it difficult for them to find the time or place to meet and let their passion grow; but the prospect of their love gives each of them the power and determination to elude the obstacles placed in their path.

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Scene Synopsis

Act 2 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet is very short but can be a bit confusing, as there are some allusions, or references, to other works that may be unfamiliar to the reader. It functions as a transition between the scene of the Capulet's party, where Romeo and Juliet meet, and the famous balcony scene, where Romeo sneaks below Juliet's bedroom balcony to catch another glimpse of his beloved.

The scene takes place outside at night, after the Capulet's party. Romeo does not want to leave, saying 'Can I go forward when my heart is here?' He cannot imagine leaving Juliet, so he quickly sneaks over the wall that surrounds the Capulet's property to find her. His friends, Benvolio and Mercutio, come out and look for him.

Benvolio calls out for Romeo but Mercutio casually assumes that he must have been smart and gone home to go to bed. Benvolio, however, is sure that Romeo is up to no good and thinks he saw him sneak over the wall. He tells Mercutio to call out for him, thinking Romeo might respond to him instead. He is afraid that Romeo will get himself into trouble if he lingers at the Capulet's house.

Mercutio then calls out for Romeo, saying he will try to summon him like one would summon a spirit. He makes references to Venus, the Roman goddess of love, and Cupid, her son who shoots arrows to pair up lovers, and finally Rosaline, the woman Romeo was in love with before he met Juliet. Mercutio and Benvolio are not aware of Romeo's rapid change of heart and that he is now in love with Juliet, but referring to Rosaline serves to remind him (and us as readers) of how fleeting his emotions can be. Romeo does not answer.

Benvolio warns Mercutio that his words might make Romeo angry, but Mercutio dismisses his concern. Benvolio says that Romeo is hiding in the dark because his love is blind, so darkness is the appropriate place for him to be.

Mercutio makes several vulgar sexual references then decides to give up on luring Romeo out of the darkness. He decides it's time to go to bed, and Benvolio follows, agreeing that there is no point in working so hard to find Romeo if he does not want to be found. The two men exit the scene, heading to bed after a long night. This signals the end of the scene.

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romeo and juliet act 2 - scene 1 summary | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 2 - Scene 1 Summary | Study.com

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Act 2 Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet is very short but can be a bit confusing, as there are some allusions, or references, to other works that may be unfamiliar to the reader.

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Also known as...Act 2 Scene 2

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Recap

So, by Act 2, Scene 3 of the play we know our lovers and their stories. We know that the two families are feuding, and we know that Romeo and Juliet's relationship, if discovered, will not be tolerated. She tells him in the famous balcony scene that it would mean his death if he is caught there, and she's not exaggerating. Lord Capulet was merciful when Romeo crashed his party, but he wouldn't be so accommodating if he knew Romeo was in love with his only daughter.

Major Characters

Act 2, Scene 3 introduces us to Friar Laurence, who is an important, though mainly off-stage, player in Romeo and Juliet. He is good and wise and embodies all that is both holy and pure in Verona. In that way, he stands apart from the feud that's tearing Verona apart. Friar Laurence's special knowledge is in the usage of plants for their medicinal qualities.

In addition, we learn more about Romeo Montague, who is the teenage scion of the Montague family. He is impetuous and fickle, and once he sets his mind to something he will do anything to master or possess it. Romeo is unwilling to entertain any point of view but his own.

Act 2, Scene 3 Summary

When Act 2, Scene 3 starts, it's early morning, and Friar Laurence enters the scene carrying a large basket. He's working in his garden, filling his basket with plants and flowers. We learn about his deep knowledge of plants and their medical uses, which will become very important later in the play. He points out that every plant has a good and evil usage, much like most everything in the world. While Friar Laurence is still collecting plants, Romeo enters.

Friar Laurence immediately realizes that Romeo hasn't slept at all. His immediate fear - that Romeo has sinned by sleeping with Rosaline - is calmed by Romeo's insistence that he hasn't even seen Rosaline. In fact, he doesn't love her anymore. Friar Laurence is happy to hear this, but his relief doesn't last.

Romeo fills the Friar in on his meeting the night before. He declares his love for Juliet and tells Friar Laurence that they will be married. In fact, Romeo wants Friar Laurence to marry them today. Friar Laurence is taken aback by this sudden swing in Romeo's affections, but by now we probably aren't too surprised.

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scene 3 summary - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 2, Scene 3 Summary - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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So, by Act 2, Scene 3 of the play we know our lovers and their stories. We know that the two families are feuding, and we know that Romeo and Juliet's relationship, if discovered, will not be tolerated. She tells him in the famous balcony scene that it would mean his death if he is caught there, and she's not exaggerating.

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Tybalt's Letter

At the beginning of Act 2, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio and Benvolio are on the streets of Verona, wondering where Romeo is because he never came home the night before. At this point, they also still think that he is lovesick over Rosaline.

Benvolio mentions that Tybalt, Lord Capulet's aggressive nephew, sent a letter to Lord Montague's house. They speculate that it's probably a challenge, and Benvolio thinks that Romeo will accept it. Mercutio goes on to describe what a good swordfighter Tybalt is.

Suddenly Romeo enters the scene, and they comment on how thin he looks because of his lovesickness and scold him playfully for taking off alone after the party the night before. Romeo and Mercutio joke around, teasing each other. Mercutio comments that he is acting like himself again and says isn't joking around with friends better than pining for Rosaline and feeling miserable?

Romeo and the Nurse Plan a Wedding

At that moment, Juliet's nurse and a servant, Peter, enter the scene. Mercutio makes jokes about the nurse being old and ugly in addition to making several offensive sexual innuendos; she tells them that she needs to speak to Romeo. Benvolio and Mercutio exit.

She pulls Romeo aside, first asking who the rude jerk was who was making fun of her and scolding Peter for not defending her. She then tells Romeo that he better not be double crossing Juliet or tricking her about his promise of marriage because she is so young, sweet, and innocent. Romeo assures her that he has arranged a marriage. He went to visit Friar Laurence in Act 2, Scene 3. He tells the nurse that she needs to bring Juliet to Friar Laurence's cell later that afternoon and the marriage rite, or ceremony, will be performed.

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romeo and juliet act 2 - scene 4 summary - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 2 - Scene 4 Summary - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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At the beginning of Act 2, Scene 4 of Romeo and Juliet, Mercutio and Benvolio are on the streets of Verona, wondering where Romeo is because he never came home the night before. At this point, they also still think that he is lovesick over Rosaline.

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Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene 5

In this brief but significant scene towards the end of Act 2 of Romeo & Juliet, the Nurse brings Juliet the news that Romeo has arranged for them to be secretly married. Despite enforced secrecy--and in part because of it--Romeo and Juliet manage to get from expressing their mutual love to agreeing to get married in under 12 hours. Act 2 closes in the evening, at the friar's cell just before the lovers' ill-fated marriage. Scene 5, the next to last in the act, takes place shortly after noon.

Summary

This scene can be summarized in a single sentence: The Nurse finally returns to Juliet, who is impatiently waiting for news of Romeo's intentions towards her, and tells her young charge that Romeo will marry her. It's a relatively short scene, serving to establish one plot point: Romeo and Juliet can get married. Yay! Or, 'Hie to high fortune!' as Juliet delightedly exclaims.

In the opening lines of the scene, Juliet meditates on time, love, and how annoying old people can be sometimes. On its most basic level, Juliet's brief soliloquy establishes necessary information: she sent the Nurse to see Romeo at 9 a.m., and is still waiting for her three hours later. It also establishes Juliet's nervous state; in line 3, she worries 'Perhaps she cannot meet him--that's not so.' The conclusion of Juliet's speech brings an abrupt transition from the fanciful, light-hearted image of the Nurse as a ball, passed between the lovers in a game of words, to her complaint 'But old folks--many feign as they were dead; / Unwieldy, slow, heavy, and pale as lead.' This shift may seem jarring, but should surprise no one who has reread the embarrassing journal they kept when they were fourteen.

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romeo and juliet act 2 - scene 5 summary | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 2 - Scene 5 Summary | Study.com

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In this brief but significant scene towards the end of Act 2 of Romeo & Juliet, the Nurse brings Juliet the news that Romeo has arranged for them to be secretly married. Despite enforced secrecy--and in part because of it--Romeo and Juliet manage to get from expressing their mutual love to agreeing to get married in under 12 hours.

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Also known as...Act 2 Scene 6

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Meeting

Romeo talks with Friar Lawrence, a person who provides him with counsel, particularly in regard to his love for Juliet. Romeo and Juliet plan to meet in the cell of Lawrence with the intent of running off and getting married. This is a final opportunity for Lawrence to counsel Romeo and perhaps persuade him to act more prudently. Lawrence greets Romeo with good tidings and acknowledgement that this is a favored marriage.

Romeo takes this opportunity to proclaim his love for Juliet. All it takes is just a glimpse of her, and he is filled with love for her. Romeo has no concern for any danger that may befall him. Even though his family and Juliet's are at odds and do not want this marriage, nothing will deter Romeo from marrying Juliet. He explains to Lawrence that even if death were to come for him, as long as Juliet is his, he fears nothing. His love for Juliet consumes Romeo.

Advice

Romeo might be better served taking advice from someone other than Friar Lawrence, perhaps someone closer to his age group, or someone who has experienced similar feelings for a young woman. Yet the advice Lawrence gives here hints at future difficulties if Romeo and Juliet proceed with their plan to marry. He tells Romeo that 'These violent delights have violent ends' (2.6.9). Is Lawrence trying to warn Romeo that the love that burns brightest, burns shortest?

Lawrence does come to this meaning, but here he is warning Romeo about the strong, almost violent, passion he and Juliet have. Not everyone believes their love to be sincere, and neither family is in favor of the marriage. If Romeo and Juliet proceed with their plan for marriage against their families' wishes, it could have violent repercussions. In essence, one could see that Lawrence not only hints about the future tragic end of Romeo and Juliet, but also violence between the Capulets and Montagues. This caution is tempered by further explanation about the love Romeo and Juliet feel for one another.

Proceed with Caution

Lawrence concludes his brief advisory session with Romeo by mentioning that Romeo lets his love for Juliet consume him, and too much of a good thing will eventually diminish and 'become loathsome in his own deliciousness' (2.6.12). If you gorge on a favorite food, your taste for that dish will eventually be replaced by disgust. This is the point Lawrence is trying to make with Romeo.

It is unfortunate Romeo is not attentive to Lawrence's words. He actually makes a good point in telling Romeo to 'love moderately. Long love doth so.' (2.6.14) Instead of letting their passions overwhelm their senses and making decisions based on emotion, they would both do well to let things take their natural course. If their love is true and real, they won't be separated. Moving at their current pace only invites trouble. As he concludes this thought, in walks Juliet.

Enter Juliet

Lawrence pays a grand compliment to Juliet and the way she moves. Both Lawrence and Juliet exchange greetings, and then Romeo and Juliet explain how much joy and happiness arise whenever they see one another. Their words express how much passion burns in their breasts, and Lawrence is witness to it. He sees and hears the love they express for one another. Being present for this exchange doesn't hinder his next act.

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romeo and juliet act 2 - scene 6 summary | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 2 - Scene 6 Summary | Study.com

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Romeo talks with Friar Lawrence, a person who provides him with counsel, particularly in regard to his love for Juliet. Romeo and Juliet plan to meet in the cell of Lawrence with the intent of running off and getting married. This is a final opportunity for Lawrence to counsel Romeo and perhaps persuade him to act more prudently.

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Puns in Act 1 of Romeo and Juliet

Though Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, or a play in which the characters suffer extreme loss or misfortune, Shakespeare included numerous puns. A pun is a play on a word's meaning or it may be a homophone (a word that sounds like another word with a different meaning, like the words 'eight' and 'ate'). Shakespeare used puns and wordplay to engage the audience as well as reveal his characters' attitudes and feelings.

Puns to Engage the Audience

Act 1's opening scene is filled with puns intended to warm up the audience. Sampson and Gregory, two Capulet servants, are bantering. They play on the words 'collier/choler/collar', all sounding alike, as you'll see in the following dialogue:

Sampson: Gregory, on my word, we'll not carry coals.

Gregory: No, for then we should be colliers.

Sampson: I mean, if we be in choler, we'll draw.

Gregory: Ay, while you live, draw your neck out of collar.

They joke about refusing to do low labor (carrying coals), or the work of a collier. They proclaim they'd be angered (in choler) if made to do so, and draw arms against their master. Gregory points out that's fine, but then they'd then have to 'draw your neck out of collar,' meaning they'd be hung (the collar being the hangman's noose).

Sampson and Gregory continue their exchange, making puns about taking the virginity of the maids (cutting off their heads, making them lose their maidenhead) until they are interrupted by the arrival of Benvolio and Tybalt. The exchanges between Sampson and Gregory are typical of puns in Shakespeare's plays, ribald and fast, serving as an antidote to the more serious parts of the play and keeping the audience's attention.

Puns to Reveal Character

By far, the most notable puns in Act 1 come from Mercutio, a nobleman and close friend of Romeo. He engages in witty wordplay in every scene he is in, revealing his attitudes about life while trying to cheer up his friend. He is a major character in Scene 4 of Act 1, where he spouts ribald puns and banter with the other characters. Most famous is his Queen Mab speech, which is one long and extended pun beginning when Romeo tries to tell him of a dream he'd just had. Mercutio says he had a dream as well, and it was that 'dreamers often lie,' a pun on the word 'lie' meaning untruth, and also the fact that dreams come most often in sleep, when one lies down. He is also using the word 'dreamer' in a double meaning, one being a dreamer is asleep, but also a dreamer is one who is given to flights of fancy and ignoring responsibility.

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puns in romeo and juliet act 1 - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Puns in Romeo and Juliet Act 1 - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Though Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy, or a play in which the characters suffer extreme loss or misfortune, Shakespeare included numerous puns. A pun is a play on a word's meaning or it may be a homophone (a word that sounds like another word with a different meaning, like the words 'eight' and 'ate').

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Speech

We'll begin by reading the full text of Mercutio's famous Queen Mab Speech from Romeo and Juliet.

Mercutio begins:

O then, I see Queen Mab hath been with you.
She is the fairies' midwife, and she comes
In shape no bigger than an agate-stone
On the fore-finger of an alderman, (60)
Drawn with a team of little atomies
Athwart men's noses as they lie asleep;
Her wagon-spokes made of long spinners' legs,
The cover of the wings of grasshoppers,
The traces of the smallest spider's web,
The collars of the moonshine's watery beams,
Her whip of cricket's bone, the lash of film,
Her wagoner a small grey-coated gnat,
Not so big as a round little worm
Prick'd from the lazy finger of a maid; (70)
Her chariot is an empty hazel-nut
Made by the joiner squirrel or old grub,
Time out o' mind the fairies' coachmakers.
And in this state she gallops night by night
Through lovers' brains, and then they dream of love;
O'er courtiers' knees, that dream on court'sies straight,
O'er lawyers' fingers, who straight dream on fees,
O'er ladies o' lips, who straight on kisses dream,
Which oft the angry Mab with blisters plagues,
Because their breaths with sweetmeats tainted are: (80)
Sometime she gallops o'er a courtier's nose,
And then dreams he of smelling out a suit;
And sometime comes she with a tithe-pig's tail
Tickling a parson's nose as a' lies asleep,
Then dreams, he of another benefice:
Sometime she driveth o'er a soldier's neck,
And then dreams he of cutting foreign throats,
Of breaches, ambuscadoes, Spanish blades,
Of healths five-fathom deep; and then anon
Drums in his ear, at which he starts and wakes, (90)
And being thus frighted swears a prayer or two
And sleeps again. This is that very Mab
That plats the manes of horses in the night,
And bakes the elflocks in foul sluttish hairs,
Which once untangled, much misfortune bodes:
This is the hag, when maids lie on their backs,
That presses them and learns them first to bear,
Making them women of good carriage:
This is she--

Description

Mercutio's Queen Mab speech is not only one of the most famous speeches in Shakespeare's classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, but it is also one of the more famous speeches in all of his collected works. Let's start with some background. Mercutio is Romeo's best friend but is very different from the romantic, dreamy heartthrob who falls in love with Juliet at first sight. Mercutio's name could be derived from Mercury and is similar to the word mercurial, which according to Merriam-Webster means characterized by rapid and unpredictable changeableness of mood. This is Mercutio to a T. He is volatile, moody, cynical, and has a sharp wit. His words are filled with puns, and his sharp tongue often stings, especially sweet Romeo. He mocks poor Romeo, and in turn, he mocks love. At times, he is the comic relief for a very tragic play.

Mercutio's monologue occurs fairly early in the play (Act I, Scene IV, lines 57-109), before Romeo even falls for Juliet. At this point in the play, Romeo is still pining after another girl, Rosaline. He is wounded from love and sulking quite a bit. As he and his friends prepare to crash the Capulets' party in disguise (where he eventually meets Juliet and falls in love), outside of the party on the street, Romeo and Mercutio begin a debate about dreams:

Romeo: I dreamt a dream tonight.
Mercutio: And so did I.
Romeo: Well, what was yours?
Mercutio: That dreamers often lie.
Romeo: In bed asleep while they do dream things true.
Mercutio: O, then I see Queen Mab hath been with you
(If you're following along in your copy of the play, these are lines 53-58.)

This moment is critical in the play because it serves as foreshadowing, or a warning about what is to come. Romeo shares with his friends that he had a prophetic dream the night before that warned him of going to this party (hence, the foreshadowing). This is where Mercutio starts spinning his tale about Queen Mab.

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queen mab from romeo and juliet:  analysis

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description & speech - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Queen Mab from Romeo and Juliet: Analysis, Description & Speech - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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We'll begin by reading the full text of Mercutio's famous Queen Mab Speech from Romeo and Juliet.

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Background and Important Terms

William Shakespeare did not just depend on traditional theatrical standards, but transformed them. He used some of the ideas of Greek drama from two thousand years before his time, intertwined it with sixteenth-century English dramatic ideas, and improvised even more. One of the Greek theatrical devices that Shakespeare uses and transforms is the prologue. In Greek drama, a prologue gives background information that is essential for the audience to understand the play as it unfolds. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare gives some background information in his prologue, but generally uses it to give the reader an overview of what is going to happen. This allows the audience to watch as the events lead up to the anticipated end.

The sole character in the prologue to Romeo and Juliet is the chorus. In Greek drama, the chorus consists of a group of people who serve to narrate throughout the play; they provide more details of what the characters are thinking or feeling, and they often sing and dance. In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare designates a single person (rather than a group of people) as the chorus. The individual only appears before the first and second acts to tell the audience how the play is going to end. In similar fashion to the singing Greek chorus, Shakespeare's chorus speaks in a poetic sonnet.

Prologue Structure

The structure of the prologue in Romeo and Juliet is an Elizabethan/Shakespearean sonnet. There are different types of sonnets. An Elizabethan sonnet is a fourteen-line poem that is split up into three quatrains (stanzas--groups of poetic lines--of four lines) and a couplet (stanza of two lines). The rhyme scheme of this type of sonnet is abab cdcd efef gg. Elizabethan sonnets typically have the same topic in the first two or three quatrains, followed by a volta or ''turn'', which marks the transition to another related topic. In this prologue, as we will discuss later, the volta occurs after the second quatrain. There it marks the transition from telling the background and the outcome of the play to laying out its major events and letting the audience know the play is about to begin.

Play Background: Quatrains 1 and 2

The first quatrain provides a significant amount of background detail for the play--all in four lines. The chorus explains in this quatrain that there are two ''households'' or families that are ''both alike in dignity,'' meaning they are similar in terms of socio-economic status. The chorus wants to point out that one family is not higher ranking than the other, which could otherwise be a possible cause of their conflict. We find here that the play is set in Verona, Italy and that the ''ancient grudge'' that these two families have had is erupting with renewed violence among otherwise ''civil'' people.

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prologue of romeo and juliet: summary & analysis | study.com

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Prologue of Romeo and Juliet: Summary & Analysis | Study.com

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William Shakespeare did not just depend on traditional theatrical standards, but transformed them. He used some of the ideas of Greek drama from two thousand years before his time, intertwined it with sixteenth-century English dramatic ideas, and improvised even more. One of the Greek theatrical devices that Shakespeare uses and transforms is the prologue.

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Act 1 Scene 1

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Have you ever crashed a party? Did you get into trouble? In this lesson, you'll see how Romeo decides to crash a party that will lead him both to love--and some serious trouble.

Scene 1 Recap

The play opens with the Capulets and Montagues fighting in the street. Benvolio (a Montague and Romeo's cousin) tries to break it up, but it takes Prince Escalus to actually calm the rowdy group.

Romeo's parents (Old Montague and Lady Montague) see that something is bothering Romeo, but he won't tell them what it is. Benvolio is able to get him to open up and learns that Romeo is in love with a girl named Rosaline who doesn't want to get married.

Benvolio encourages his cousin to forget about Rosaline and find another girl. Romeo protests that this will not help, but simply make him think of Rosaline even more. The scene ends with Benvolio saying he will prove his point or die trying.

Scene 2 Summary

The Marriage Proposal

This scene opens with Capulet and Paris walking and talking on the streets of Verona. Paris wants to marry Juliet, Capulet's only daughter. Of course Capulet doesn't want to lose his only daughter. She's not even 14 years old yet! He uses the term soon married, soon marred to get Paris to understand that marrying too early will be harmful, but Paris doesn't care about her age.

Instead of agreeing to Paris's offer of marriage, Capulet invites Paris to a feast, or party, that he is having at his house that evening. He tells Paris to come and look at all the beautiful women. Who knows: he may find one that he likes more than Juliet. If not, Capulet tells him to woo Juliet and let her make the final decision.

Romeo's Invitation to the Feast

After their chat, Capulet gives the Clown a list of people to invite to the party. Unfortunately for Capulet, but fortunately for Romeo, the Clown can't read. He sees Romeo walking on the street and asks him to read the list for him.

Romeo reads the list and some of his sadness fades when he reads that Rosaline, the girl he is in love with, is one of the guests. There are several other young ladies named, but Romeo doesn't pay attention to that part.

The Clown invites Romeo to attend, providing that he's not a Montague (which he is, but he doesn't tell the Clown that).

Entertaining Thoughts of Other Women

Benvolio immediately thinks about the other young girls who will be at the party and urges Romeo to consider going to see them. His instructions are similar to the instructions Capulet gave Paris. Go and look at the others and maybe someone else will catch your eye.

Romeo still denies that there is anyone who could capture his attention like Rosaline, and he even wishes himself harm if he finds one. Benvolio suggests that the only reason why Rosaline seems so lovely is because Romeo has no one to compare her to. Romeo does agree to attend the party for his own reasons, not to prove Benvolio right.

Key Points of Interest

Capulet and Benvolio Give Similar Advice

Both Capulet and Benvolio give the men they are talking with advice that it's important to consider several women before settling on one. Capulet tells Paris this when he expresses interest in Juliet, and Benvolio tells Romeo this concerning Rosaline. The advisors want the young men to know that there's nothing wrong with exploring options before making such a huge decision.

Soon Married, Soon Marred

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romeo and juliet act 1 - scene 2 summary | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 1 - Scene 2 Summary | Study.com

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Have you ever crashed a party? Did you get into trouble? In this lesson, you'll see how Romeo decides to crash a party that will lead him both to love--and some serious trouble. The play opens with the Capulets and Montagues fighting in the street.

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Scene Synopsis

Act 1, scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet takes place at the Capulets' house. Lady Capulet enters and tells Juliet's nurse to summon Juliet. After Juliet arrives, Lady Capulet tells the nurse to leave but changes her mind, asking her to stay for their conversation. Lady Capulet mentions that Juliet is not yet fourteen and the nurse gives a monologue (or a long speech given in a play by one speaker) about her memories of Juliet as a baby: when she was born, when the nurse weaned her, and a time when she was a toddler and fell on her face while walking. This speech characterizes the nurse as a chatty and somewhat common person, but very fond of Juliet. This contrasts with Lady Capulet's cold distance from her daughter.

Juliet enters the room and Lady Capulet asks her how she feels about getting married. Juliet is not interested, responding, 'It is an honor that I dream not of.' Lady Capulet reminds her that there are many girls of high social standing in Verona who have gotten married and had children at a younger age than Juliet, including Lady Capulet herself. She asks Juliet to start thinking about marriage because a man named Paris would like to marry her.

The nurse exclaims that Paris is a great man. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that Paris will be at the party they are hosting at their house that night, and Juliet should carefully examine him to see if she likes him enough to marry him. Lady Capulet describes Paris as virtuous and handsome and suggests Juliet should do her best to like him. Juliet replies, 'I'll look to like, if looking liking move/ But no more deep will I endart mine eye/ Than your consent gives it strength to fly.' She's saying that she will do as her mother says and try to like him, if looking alone can cause liking. This quote shows that she wants to be obedient but is still not interested - or convinced - that she will want to marry Paris.

First Impressions:

Act 1, Scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet is where the titular heroine makes her appearance. First impressions may not be lasting impressions, but they do help establish an audience's view of a character. Through these discussion questions, you will examine your first impressions of the three characters introduced in this scene (Juliet, Lady Capulet, and the Nurse) to better understand how Shakespeare is building character and conflict.

Lady Capulet:

How would you characterize her relationship with her daughter? How old is Lady Capulet? Does her attitude towards her daughter's marriage seem to differ from her husband's, and if so, how so? Does her attitude seem contradictory at points, and if so, why might that be?

The Nurse:

You might want to compare and contrast Lady Capulet's demeanor from that of the Nurse. Note the actions the Nurse describes: teasing, breastfeeding, commenting on Juliet's beauty and age. Additionally, note her use of explicitly bawdy humor in her words (such as in lines 44 and 97). What does this suggest about the Nurse and Juliet's closeness?

Juliet:

Consider how Juliet is introduced: we hear a discussion of her from her father and Paris in the previous scene. Did the previous scene set up any expectations that were confirmed or contradicted in Act 1, Scene 3? What do her first lines to both the Nurse and her mother tell us about her relationship with both of them? How does she remind you of Romeo? How does she act differently from him?

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romeo and juliet act 1 - scene 3 summary - video & lesson transcript | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 1 - Scene 3 Summary - Video & Lesson Transcript | Study.com

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Act 1, scene 3 of Romeo and Juliet takes place at the Capulets' house. Lady Capulet enters and tells Juliet's nurse to summon Juliet. After Juliet arrives, Lady Capulet tells the nurse to leave but changes her mind, asking her to stay for their conversation.

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Recap

In the three previous scenes, we have witnessed fighting between the Montagues and the Capulets, and we know that they hate each other. Like brawling-on-the-street hate each other. We've met Romeo Montague, one half of the star-crossed lovers, and heard him lamenting over the beautiful but uninterested Rosaline. We learn Paris wants to marry Juliet Capulet, only fourteen, and we know Juliet isn't ready but her mother thinks she is. Most importantly, we know our star-crossed lovers are heading toward their pivotal meeting.

And no, it doesn't happen here. But it will, soon. Bard's Honor.

Act 1, Scene 4: Major Characters

Romeo Montague is the teenage hero of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo is a lover, as he talks of little else. Romeo, at this point in the play, is still obsessed with Rosaline, who doesn't return his affection.

Benvolio is Romeo's friend and cousin. He is a staunch supporter of the Montagues and tries hard to uphold his cousin's honor. Benvolio is committed to helping Romeo get over Rosaline.

Mercutio is one of Shakespeare's best-known characters. A good friend of both Romeo and Benvolio, he is quick-witted and quick-tempered.

Act 1, Scene 4: Summary

Romeo and his two BFFs, Benvolio (whom we know from the first scene) and Mercutio, (whom we are meeting for the first time) want to go to a party. So they don their masks and head off to the Capulet's mansion, hoping to have some fun and get poor Romeo's mind off the uncaring Rosaline.

Romeo worries aloud that they will be discovered as Montagues, but his friends reassure him. Romeo declares that he won't dance and talks of his love. Mercutio twists Romeo's declarations into twisted, sexual innuendos. Romeo ignores him, stating that he had a dream going to the feast was a bad idea.

Mercutio responds with one of the most famous speeches of the play, where he talks about Queen Mab, the fairy who messes with humans and their dreams. Though the tone of the speech is lighthearted at first, it quickly devolves into a bitter rant about humanity.

Romeo, in an attempt to calm his friend, utters one of his most famous lines, 'Thou talk'st of nothing' (I.iv.96).

Mercutio agrees, admitting that all dreams are not the fault of meddling fairies but 'children of an idle brain' (I.iv.97).

Benvolio just wants to party, so he pleads with them to continue. They agree, though Romeo says he has a bad feeling about the party, worried that Fate is messing with him. But he shrugs it off and admits that he has no control over his fate (some pretty heavy foreshadowing there), and the friends continue on to the party.

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romeo and juliet act 1 - scene 4 summary | study.com

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Romeo and Juliet Act 1 - Scene 4 Summary | Study.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In the three previous scenes, we have witnessed fighting between the Montagues and the Capulets, and we know that they hate each other. Like brawling-on-the-street hate each other. We've met Romeo Montague, one half of the star-crossed lovers, and heard him lamenting over the beautiful but uninterested Rosaline.