1. Plot 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. (I, i, 1) This line defiantly tells us about the plot. First it tells us that two families that have the same dignity and respect are feuding. Next it tells us that all of this is taking place in Verona.
When Shakespeare wrote, “where civil blood makes civil hands unclean” he was foreshadowing that there will be bloodshed between the two civil families. 2. Language No, sir, I do not bite my thumb at you sir; but I bite my thumb, sir. (I, i, 44) This shows the language that people used in Shakespearian times. In today’s day and age when you are angry with someone you might give someone the finger, which is immature and disrespectful, but this is basically what Sampson is doing to Abraham.
A moment before Sampson was telling Gregory about how he is going to show Abraham what a strong man he was and how he wasn’t afraid of anything but when the time came for the two men to converse with each other Sampson starts to stutter and uses the word, “sir” many times. It looks like Sampson isn’t as brave as he claimed to be. 3. Character Bid a sick man in sadness make his will.
Ah, word ill urged to one that is so ill! In sadness, cousin, I do love a woman. (I, i, 193-195) This sentence truly shows the reader what type of emotions Romeo is going through, he is a man who is heartbroken over a woman. So far in the play all we have seen of Romeo is that is very depressed, emotional and dramatic. At this moment we just found out that Romeo is grieving over the absence of Rosaline in his life.
Although Romeo is only a young man of the age sixteen he thinks that he will never love another as much as he loved Rosaline. 4. Personal Reaction to the events Now I’ll tell you without asking. My master is the great rich Capulet; and if you not of the house of Montague’s, I pray come and crush a cup of wine. Rest you merry.
(I, ii, 79-81) In this line the servant of the capulets is talking to Romeo and inviting him to Lord capulets party in return for Romeo helping him read a letter, not taking the time to ask if he is a Montague. This is very foolish of the servant because if lord Capulet, his master, found out that he had invited a Montague to his party he would for sure be fired, banished or even killed! But in defense of the servant, he was in a rush and he was just trying to thank Romeo for his kind services to him. 5. Plot Now old desire doth in his deathbed lie, And young affection gapes to be his heir; That fair for which love groaned for and would die, With tender Juliet matched, is now not fair. (II, i, 1-4) This tells us the plot because we now no that Romeo is over his so-called “love” for Rosaline and is serious about Juliet.
If someone were to not no what was going to happen in the story they would get a hint now because of Romeo’s comparing of Rosaline, who he loved so dearly, to Juliet, who he now thinks is thousands of times better than Rosaline. From reading this you can conclude that love each other dearly and will end up with each other. 6. Personal Reaction to the Events Can I go forward when my heart is here? Turn back, dull earth, and find thy center out. (II, i, 1-2) My reaction to Romeo saying this to himself is that this proves that Romeo is a normal person who has doubts, worries and feelings. He is wondering about his relationship with Juliet, whether he is making the right decisions, and how everything will end up.
If I were in Romeo’s place I would be very stressed because he is threatening his relationship with his family, friends and his life all for one girl. 7. Language O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo? Deny thy father and refuse thy name; Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love, And I’ll no longer be a Capulet. (II, ii, 33-35) This is one of the most famous lines from Romeo and Juliet, if you were to ask someone who had never even read the play they would probably no what it was from anyways.
Shakespeare is expressing Juliet’s emotions in a beautiful poetic way. She is saying that she would give up her relationship with her family because she loves Romeo so much, this is a huge deal because without your family, who are you? 8. Language Yond light is not daylight; I know it, I. It is some meteor that the sun exhales To be to thee this night a torchbearer (II, v, 12-14) These lines express dramatic irony because the audience knows that Romeo is leaving so early from there wedding night because he was banished for killing Tybalt but Juliet doesn’t. All of the language is totally different from what we use today, if someone were to say, “yond light is not daylight,” the people around them would probably think that they were crazy, but in Shakespearean times this was normal.
9. Character Now, good sweet nurse-O lord, why looks thou sad? Though news be sad, yet tell them merrily; If good, thou shames t the music of sweet news By playing it to me with so sour face. (III, v, 21-24) Juliet is a very sweet and beautiful girl according to her love Romeo. Juliet is planning on marrying Romeo but in these lines she is frantically questioning her nurse to find out if and where Romeo is going to marry her. If I were in Juliet’s place I would be about ready to kill the nurse for not telling me. 10.
Personal Reaction to the Events Your lady mother is coming to your chamber. The day is broke; be wary, look about. (III, v, 39-40) This is a very shocking moment for Juliet. She had just spent the night with Romeo for there wedding and now her mother is coming up to speak with her, who knows nothing about Romeos relationship with her daughter. I’m sure that Juliet’s heart probably dropped when she heard the nurse tell her that her mother was on her way, I know that mine would have. 11.
Language Thou counterfeits a bark, a sea, a wind: For still thy eyes, which I may call the sea Do ebb and flow with tears; the bark thy body is (III, v, 32-34) In these lines there are many metaphors. Lord Capulet compares his eyes with the sea, which he then continues the sea into her tears. Then he is saying that the bark is his body. The bark can also mean that he is talking about a boat and the body of a boat, either way it is a metaphor. 12.
Character How, how, how, how, chopped-logic? What is this? “Proud”- and “I thank you”- and “I thank you not: – And yet “not proud”? Mistress minion you, Thank me no than kings, nor proud me no proud, But fettle you fine joints ‘gains Thursday next To go with Paris to Saint Peter’s Church, Or I will drag thee on a hurdle thither. Out, you greensickness carrion! Out, you baggage! You tallow- face! (III, v, 150-157) Lord Capulets loves his daughter very much but he also loves money and family status. Juliet has the chance to marry Paris who is kinsman with the Prince, which would make the Capulet family gain a lot of social status. Little does Lord Capulet know that Juliet has already been married to Romeo, the enemy of the family.
Without even knowing about the situation he is telling Juliet to leave the house and call her “t allowed-faced” and a “greensickness carrion.” If he knew about Romeo who knows what Lord Capulet might do to his beloved daughter. 13. Character Hold, daughter. I do spy a kind of hope, Which craves as desperate an execution As that is desperate which we would prevent If, rather than to marry County Paris, Thou hast the strength of will to slay thyself. (IV, I, 68-72) Friar Lawrence is the priest in the city of Verona. Unlike most people he is friends with Romeo and Juliet.
Here he is suggesting to Juliet to take the poison that will make her look dead to most people but awaken after two days to Romeo awaiting her. Friar doesn’t think about all of the consequences that could occur because of his actions he thinks about trying to help Romeo and Juliet come together happily… no matter what. 14. Character God shield I should disturb devotion! Juliet, on Thursday early will I rouse ye. Till then, adieu, and keep this holy kiss (IV, I, 46-49) Paris is kinsman with the Prince; therefore he is a very popular guy, except with Juliet.
He is persistent to marry Juliet even though she is just twelve year old and already married to Romeo (although he doesn’t no that she is married. ) Throughout most of the play Paris is oblivious to the whole Romeo and Juliet situation, he thinks that Juliet doesn’t want to be around him a lot because she is grieving over the death of her cousin Tybalt. 15. Language The Roses in thy lips and cheeks shall fade To wanny ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall Like death when he shuts up the day of life; (IV, I, 99-101) The language in these lines by Friar Lawrence are very interesting. When Shakespeare wrote, “to wanny ashes, thy eyes’ windows fall” he was actually saying that the color of her eyes would change to the color of pale ashes and when he says, “windows fall” he doesn’t actually mean that windows will be falling he means that her eyelids will shut closed as if she were dead because of the poison. 16.
Plot I could not send it-here it is again- Nor get a messenger to bring it thee, So fearful were they of infection. (V, ii, 14-16) This part is very important in terms of the plot because without this scene the ending would be totally different and Romeo and Juliet might have been able to live happily ever after. Friar Lawrence is learning that the messenger that is suppose to have given Romeo the letter about Juliet taken the poison didn’t get the letter to Juliet. Friar Lawrence has decided to take the letter to Romeo himself instead of trusting another messenger to go.
17. Language Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, Gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth, Thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open And in despite I’ll cram thee with more food. (V, iii, 45-49) This is like many other lines in the play, it is an extended metaphor. In the first line Romeo is talking about his stomach and the womb of death and then he uses the word, “morsel” and then, “rotten jaws” and then, “cram” and “food.” Shakespeare tied all of these together in one clever line. 18. Personal Reaction to the events O comfortable friar! Where is my lord? I do remember well where I should be, And there I am.
Where is my Romeo? Poor, Poor Juliet has just woken up from taking her poison two days again very confused and panicked. She remembers that she was suppose to wake up in the tomb but she was suppose to find Romeo there waiting for her, instead she will find Paris and Romeo dead on the floor of her tomb. 19. Character What misadventure is so early up, That calls our person from our morning rest? (V, iii, 187-188) This is the Prince of Verona speaking. He is surprised to be awakened from by the watchman in the middle of the night. The prince is told the Romeo and Paris are dead is Juliet’s tomb.
This is a huge surprise to the prince because the prince is kinsman with Paris and Romeo was suppose to be banished already from all of Verona. The Prince is has a very large job ahead of him, he has to tell both rivaling families that there beloved children have died in the name of love. 20. Personal Reaction to the Events O brother Montague, give me thy hand.
This is my daughter’s jointure, for no more Can I demand This is a sad and bitter ending to such a wonderful play. Finally after many family members deaths and the horrible death of the two young people in love, Romeo and Juliet, the Montague’s and the Capulets come together in a time a grief. It took tragedy and loses to finally make them realize that hating each other was wrong and that they should just live together peacefully.