ACT 1 SCENE 1

Masculine Honour:

The theme of masculine honour is successfully introduced in Act 1

Scene 1 to prepare the audience for the rest of the play.

Physical conflict exists between the two feuding families. Emotional

conflict is introduced through the character of Romeo.

From the outset it is clear that Gregory and Sampson servants of

House Capulet are looking for physical conflict, they are armed with
swords even though servants at that time typically went unarmed.They
speak of conquering Montague men and women. When they meet
Abraham and Balthasar, servants of House Montague, Sampson
symbolically bites his thumb indicating that he is looking for a fight.

Tybalt arrives and will not “talk of peace!I hate the word”.

The powerful prince arrives calling the mob “rebellious subjects,

enemies to peace”. He threatens them with torture.
The scene then changes direction from physical conflict to emotional
conflict when Lady Montague questions Benvolio regarding her son's
whereabouts. Benvolio reveals that Romeo is in the forest with a
“troubled mind”. The audience is intrigued to find out what has caused
this depressive behaviour. The question is asked by Benvolio “do you
know the cause? ” which would echo the audience's thoughts. The
audience learn that Romeo’s emotional inner conflict is due to his love
for Rosaline who has rejected his advances.

Dramatic:

It portrays all of the layers of Veronese society, from those lowest in

power, the servants, to the Prince who occupies the political and social
pinnacle.
There is excellent characterization of Benvolio as thoughtful and
fearful of the law, Tybalt as a hothead, and Romeo as distracted and
lovelorn, while showing the deep and long-standing hatred between the
Montagues and Capulets.
It introduces the important theme of masculine honor. In Verona, a
man must defend his honor whenever it is transgressed against,
whether verbally or physically. This concept of masculine honor exists
through every layer of society in Verona.
ACT 1 SCENE 4

This scene does not directly offer plot exposition

however the scene does present the general sense of fate.

Romeo is not in the mood for dancing as his love for Rosaline is causing
him too much misery “under love's heavy burden do I sink”.Mercutio
encourages Romeo to “borrow Cupid's wings” and soar above his
troubles.

Romeo states that he “dream'd a dream” the previous night but before
he can tell them what he dreamt Mercutio interjects with a lavish
description of Queen Mab.
This scene also introduces us to the clever, whirling, entrancing
Mercutio. His passions are different to those that motivate Romeo to
love and Tybalt to hate. Mercutio believes in neither. In fact, Mercutio
stands in contrast to all of the other characters in Romeo and Juliet
because he is able to see through the blindness caused by
wholehearted acceptance of ideals.

Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech is one of the most famous in the play.
Queen Mab brings dreams to sleeping people.Interestingly the words
“quean” and “mab” were references to whores in Elizabethan England.
The speech begins light heartedly, Queen Mab bringing dreams suited
to each individual but by the by the end of the speech, Queen Mab is
revealed as a“hag” who teaches maidens to have sex. The tale has spun
into something much, much darker. This dark vision is an accurate
portrayal of the world of the text.

At the end of the scene Romeo shares his premonition that the night’s
events will lead to his “untimely death”. This clever use of
foreshadowing by Shakespeare creates dramatic tension in the scene
as the audience anxiously considers whether Romeo’s premonition will
become a reality. It also introduces the theme of fate as Romeo
ignores his instincts and proceeds to the party anyway.

ACT 1 SCENE 5

The meeting of Romeo and Juliet dominates the scene. The

extraordinary use of language captures both the excitement and
wonder that the two protagonists feel.
 Romeo sees Juliet and is mesmerized by her beauty “beauty too rich
for use, for earth to dear”/”Did my heart love till now?”/”she hangs
upon the cheek of night as a jewel in an Ethiop’s ear”.

The first conversation between Romeo and Juliet is an extended

Christian metaphor packed with religious language “good pilgrim”, “this
holy shrine”. Using this metaphor, Romeo ingeniously manages to
convince Juliet to let him kiss her. The metaphor holds a further
function as the religious overtones associate their love with the purity
and passion of the divine.

Conflict: Tybalt recognises Romeo’s voice and wants to kill him

immediately “to strike him dead I hold it not a sin”. He vows to make
Romeo suffer (masculine honor).

Juliet discover that Romeo is a Montague and vise versa. Juliet “My
only love, sprung from my only hate!”

Romeo: Character Analysis

Changeable Romeo is changeable "Did This shows that Romeo is fickle, as in

as at the start of the my an instance he forgets about his
play he declares his hear infatuation with Rosaline. He states that
love for Rosaline, t this is the first time he has felt true love.
however, his love His boyish infatuation for Rosaline has
 emotions and till been replaced by a deep and
feelings soon change now meaningful love for Juliet.
when he meets Juliet. ?

ACT 2 SCENE 2: The Balcony Scene

A soliloquy is a literary device, most often found in dramas, in which a

character speaks to him or herself, relating to his or her innermost
thoughts and feelings as if thinking aloud.

Romeo: “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?” from
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.

Be not her maid since she is envious.

Her vestal livery is but sick and green,

And none but fools do wear it. Cast it off!

It is my lady. Oh, it is my love.

Oh, that she knew she were!

She speaks, yet she says nothing. What of that?

Her eye discourses. I will answer it.—

I am too bold. ‘Tis not to me she speaks.

Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,

Having some business, do entreat her eyes

To twinkle in their spheres till they return.

What if her eyes were there, they in her head?

The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars

As daylight doth a lamp. Her eye in heaven

Would through the airy region stream so bright

That birds would sing and think it were not night.

See how she leans her cheek upon her hand.

Oh, that I were a glove upon that hand

That I might touch that cheek!

ROMEO'S SOLILOQUY

In Act II, scene II lines two to twenty six Romeo expresses his
thoughts for Juliet in a stunning soliloquy. He employs metaphors,
similes and hyperbole in a declaration of love for the beautiful young
Capulet.

When Romeo sees Juliet on the balcony he uses a metaphor of the sun
to describe how light and lovely she appears to him “It is the east,and
Juliet is the sun”. He continues to expand on the metaphor by
describing that the “envious” moon would be jealous of Juliet, the sun
because Juliet, as the sun, is much more beautiful than the moon itself.
Ironically Romeo compares Rosaline to the moon earlier in the play and
therefore Juliet “outshines” her.

Romeo soliloquy is packed with hyperbole reflecting the intense

emotions he feels for Juliet. He describes her eyes as “Two of the
fairest stars in all the heaven”. He states that her luminous eyes could
be stars in the nights sky. By comparing Juliet to stars that light up
the dark Romeo demonstrates his love for Juliet in a dark and
unaccepting world.

Romeo employs exquisite imagery when he says that Juliet is just like
an angel as she stands on the balcony above his head. He says she is
just as magnificent as an angel flying above in the air. Romeo uses a
simile to compare Juliet to an angel as she stands on the balcony above
his head “bright angel...as is a winged messenger of heaven”. This
religious imagery solidifies the purity of this juvenile relationship and
builds upon the pairs first conversation, an extended Christian
metaphor.
JULIET'S SOLILOQUY

This soliloquy begins with Juliet atop her balcony, reflecting on the
struggle and complications that arise with Romeo's name and heritage.
Juliet is faced with the dilemma that romeo is her "enemy”.

● Pleading language: “Deny thy father and refuse thy name” Initially
desperate for Romeo to be from another family.
● Rhetorical Questions: “What's in a name?” Frustration - how
important is a name?
● Metaphor and descriptive imagery: “we call a rose by any other
name would smell as sweet”. Juliet progresses from frustration to
love and desire. Chooses the person over the name.
● Repetition: “Romeo” - newly found acceptance- not afraid to
declare her love and say his name - she has disconnected him
from his family.

TASK
Romeo: Character Analysis
KEYWORD: RECKLESS

“They will murder thee”

ACT III Scene I

The play reaches a dramatic crescendo in Act III scene I as Romeo
and Juliet's private world clashes with the public feud and has tragic
consequences. The theme of masculine honor is embedded in this scene
just as it is embedded in Veronese society. Initially Romeo abandons
the concept of masculine honor and typical male interaction and
therefore is emotionally distinct from the other characters in the
scene. He walks atop his euphoric cloud buoyed by blissful thoughts of
marriage to Juliet, peace, unity, and harmony and refuses to fight
Tybalt telling Tybalt that he loves him for reasons unbeknownst to him,
a quote that illustrates this is “The reason I have to love thee”.

Mercutio is disgusted by Romeo's abandonment of masculine

aggression.

“O calm, dishonorable, vile submission!”

Mercutio does not understand why Romeo will not respond to his
dueling challenge, a traditional mechanism to assert and protect
masculine honour. Mercutio and Tybalt duel.

Following Mercutio's death Romeo states that his love for Juliet has
made him “effeminate.” He believes that love has weakened him,
damaging his sense of masculine honor.Romeo accepts the
responsibilities thrust upon him by the social institutions of honor and
family duty and avenges Mercutio's death by slaying Tybalt.

“Either thou or I, or both, must go with him”.

The concept of masculine honour results in the death of two young men
and the banishment of another in this scene.
Act 4 Scene 3

***DECISIONS***

Juliet: determined and brave

JULIET DECIDES TO FAKE HER OWN DEATH SO

THAT SHE DOESN’T HAVE TO MARRY PARIS

Juliet is determined not to marry Paris. She bids her

nurse and mother farewell and wonders if she will see
them again “God knows when we shall meet again”. She
is overwhelmed with fear “fear thrills through my
veins”. Locked in catastrophic thoughts Juliet
considers calling her mother and nurse back so that
they can comfort yet she does not realising that she
must “act alone”.

Juliet takes out the vial that Friar Lawrence gives her.
As she prepares to drink it she is once again
overwhelmed by fear and doubts. She considers the
fact that the plan might not work and so she places a
dagger beside her bed demonstrating her
determination not to marry Paris “this (dagger) shall
forbid it”. She also fears that the potion may wear off
early and she will awake early in the tomb, alone and
struggling to breathe “and there die strangled”.

Juliet’s decision evoked feelings of sympathy within me

for multiple reasons. Firstly she battles to overcome
her anxieties….

She ultimately risks her life to be with the one she

loves...

“Romeo...I drink to thee”...

Act 5 Scene 1

***DECISIONS***

Romeo: Decisive
ROMEO DECIDES TO COMMIT SUICIDE BESIDE
JULIET’S BODY

Romeo’s servant Balthasar arrives at Mantua with “ill

news” for him from Verona. He informs Romeo of
Juliet’s death, “her immortal part with angels lives”.
Romeo curses the heavens in grief “I defy you, stars!”.
He is traumatised and this is illustrated in Balthasar's
description of him,“your looks are pale and wild”.

In this scene Romeo is decisive. He does not seek help

and advice from Friar Lawrence but takes action of his
own accord. He decides to commit suicide by drinking
poison beside Juliet’s corpse, “Well, Juliet, I will lie
with thee tonight”. Romeo’s decisiveness is evident
when he exploits the apothecary.He insults him, calling
him a coward and reminds him of his poverty. The deal
is made for “40 ducats”.

This decision is important because…

ACT 5 SCENE 3: The Tragic Conclusion

There are two key points to remember from this scene:

1. Theme of masculine honor

2. Irony

Masculine Honour

-General Introduction which includes a definition of

masculine honour - please see below

The theme that I found fascinating in my studied

drama is the theme of masculine honour. Masculine
honour centers on the belief that aggression is
justifiable and necessary in response to insult or
threat. Veronese society, a patriarchal society is
governed by this theme, indeed masculine honour is the
catalyst for the death of many of Verona’s citizens.

-PQA 1 - Exposition - Act 1, Scene 1 - Capulets Vs.

Montagues - Servants - Cousins, Lords etc.

-PQA 2 - Act 3, Scene 1, Tybalt kills Mercutio - Romeo

kills Tybalt
-PQA 3 -Closing Scene - Romeo kills Paris

The theme of masculine honour is evident again in the

closing scene of Romeo and Juliet as Paris fights to
defend Juliet and House Capulet. Paris recognises
Romeo as the man who killed Tybalt and therefore
Juliet, as Juliet supposedly died of grief. He believes
Romeo has come to violate Juliet's corpse, “to do some
villainous shame to the dead bodies”.He fights Romeo
to prevent this. Romeo begs Paris to leave but Paris
refuses, they fight and Paris is killed.

This scene epitomises once again the tragic

consequences of masculine honour. Similar to Act three
scene one Romeo, in a suicidal state abandons the
concept, he does not want to commit more violent acts.
Paris however embraces the theme of masculine honor
and pursues the conflict, similar to Mercutio and
Tybalt and he becomes another victim of the concept.

Irony

Ironically in death Romeo and Juliet have created the

world that would have allowed their love to live. It is
also ironic that the tragic double suicide evokes
feelings of astonishment rather than sadness in the
audience.

Friar Lawrence tells the story of Romeo and Juliet’s

secret marriage and its consequences and the Prince
scolds the Capulets and Montagues, calling the tragedy
a consequence of their feud “see what a scourge is laid
upon your hate”. Capulet and Montague clasp hands and
agree to put their vendetta behind them “O brother
Montague, give me the hand”.

It is tragic that it takes the death of their son and

daughter for the heads of both houses to pave a
pathway for peace in Verona. It is also ironic that
Romeo and Juliet’s tragic deaths evoke astonishment
rather than sadness in the audience. Yes we
acknowledge the loss of life but we are shocked by the
incredible act of love that Romeo and Juliet have
committed. Their suicidal impulse is viewed as an
element of love, it is as much a part of love as the
romantic euphoria of Act 2. As such,the double suicide
represents the fulfillment of their love for each other
and this is illustrated in the image of the “happy
dagger”, the object Juliet uses to take her own life.
Their deaths preserve their love and this makes them
transcendent.