Romeo & Juliet Act 1

Characters chart
Character:






Notes:

Basic setting:

The story happened in a city of Italy. Two similar families in the city inherited hatred from their ancestors. Juliet is from Capulet while Romeo is from Montague.

Act 1

Scene 1
  • Two Capulet servants were joking
  • They tried to irrigate a Montague servant, which led to a fight
  • Benvolio, Romeo's best friend tried to stop them
  • Tybalt, from Capulet, led Benvolio into the fight, too
  • The fight grew bigger and the chaos noticed the Prince of the city
  • The Prince stopped them and warned them, if the fight ever happens again, they will be all banished.
  • The Montague glad that Romeo was not engaged in the fight. At the same time, they worried about why Romeo behaved abnormally, wondering what made their son unhappy.
  • Through the conversation between Romeo and Benvolio, Benvolio knew that Romeo was in love with a woman who swore would never give up her chaste.
  • Benvolio suggested Romeo to "examine other beauties."


1. Benvolio is afraid of Tybalt?

2. What does bite the thumb means?

3. Romeo still likes the woman, he is too in love and panic himself.-----
try to convince Benvolio that he would not give up.

4. P 20: Romeo:" Here's much to do with hate, but more with love. Why then, O brawling love! O loving hate!" ---- might foreshadow the later love with Juliet. An important line.


Scene 2:


  • The Lord Capulet speaks to County Paris, seem him as the man Juliet would be married
  • Paris is eager to have Juliet somehow
  • Capulet thinks time is too early, but allow them to meet in the dinner
  • Capulet handed a servant the invitation list
  • The servant cannot read, so he tries to find someone could read
  • The servant finds Romeo and Benvolio
  • Romeo and Benvolio read the list for the servant
  • Romeo thus find the one he loves, Rosaline is invited
  • To prove Romeo can find a woman better than Rosaline, Benvolio suggests Romeo go to the dinner
  • Romeo does not want Benvolio to follow him in the dinner and does not believe Benvolio's statement about finding new love
1. If the common marriage age is 14, why Juliet is still not married? From the previous scene, we could not see much spoil that the Capulets hold on Juliet. Or the age is to fit Romeo's age somehow?

2. Why the servant does not recognize Romeo and Benvolio are from the house of Montague? Romeo and Benvolio should be well known? Is this another artificial elements for the story's processing?

3. Rosaline is from the Capulet? Why Romeo fell in love with her? Besides Juliet, is this another exception behind family hatred?

4. P. 30, Romeo kind of swear that he would never forget Roseline. Is this a fraud? Is that Romeo needs love from someone no matter who's?


Scene 3:

  • Ms. Capulet call Juliet from nurse
  • Talk about marriage and Paris
  • Ms. Capulet and nurse were arguing Juliet's age
  • The topic changes to Juliet's childhood
  • Capulet changes back the topic to the possible marriage between Juliet and Paris
  • Juliet holds no personal opinion on Paris, she looks forward to the marry itself.
  • Juliet decides to listen to her mother to meet Paris

1. Is the nurse a person who likes remembering back? The time with her child and husband still alive?

2. Juliet seems more close to the nurse rather than her mother

3. From only the lines, the lady Capulet is a very serious monotone woman. I myself think its better because it makes a contrast between the nurse and the mother. It is also the reasons that why Juliet more likely to seek advice from nurse rather than her mother.



Sence 4:


  • Benvolio, Mercutio, and Romeo is going to the supper
  • Romeo tries not to go to the ball
  • Romeo says he had a bad dream
  • Mercutio says dreams are opposite?
  • Mercutio says his dreams last night
  • Romeo says its ridiculous
  • They all go to the ball
1. I don't know what Mercutio is talking about. Maybe to convince Romeo to go to the ball? Maybe he is making bad jokes?

2. But Mercutio is energetic and talkative, may be sensitive.

Sence 5:


  • The Lord Capulet states everyone should dance and welcoming the guests.
  • The Lord Capulet has a little conversation with his cousin about reminiscing their young.
  • People dance
  • Romeo sees Juliet and fall in love with her
  • Tybalt sees Romeo and tries to kill him because he thinks Romeo is to disturb the ball
  • Tybalt is stopped by the Lord Capulet
  • the Lord Capulet thinks Romeo is a good boy
  • Romeo approaches Juliet and kisses her
  • Romeo asks nurse who is Juliet
  • Everyone leaves the party
  • Juliet asks nurse who is Romeo
  • Romeo and Juliet both find out they love the one from their enemy.

1. P 48 "She i'll swear hath corns. Am I come near ye now?"(Lord Capulet) Lord Capulet loves his daughter and thinks she is too young

2. P 49 "For I ne'er saw true beauty till this night." (Romeo) Interesting

3. P 52 "Now seeming sweet, convert to bitt'rest gall." (Tybalt) Foreshadow?

4. P 55 "My grave is like to be my wedding-bed." (Juliet) Foreshadow?

5. Many foreshadow in this scene!

6. Romeo changes his mind too fast

7. Juliet changes her mind too fast

8. Are Romeo and Juliet too young to handle the love? or they do not actually know the feeling of love between lovers. Maybe they kill themselves is leading without further consideration? Will Romeo forget Juliet just like he forgets Roseline if he had no chance to get back from the banishment?














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