Romeo and Juliet: A Commentary

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is arguably the most famous love story in Western literature. It is a play full of passion, violence, poetry, and tragedy. First performed around 1595, its enduring popularity over the centuries lies in its universal themes of love, hate, fate, and the consequences of feuding and revenge.

This commentary is designed as a guide to help students navigate the complex world of Romeo and Juliet. Each chapter will focus on a specific scene or group of scenes, offering insight into the language, characters, and themes. We will explore Shakespeare's use of language, such as his masterful employment of metaphors, similes, and puns. We will delve into the motivations and actions of the characters, from the star-crossed lovers themselves to the feuding families and their associates.

Through a close reading of the text, we aim to uncover the play's hidden depths and appreciate Shakespeare's genius. We will examine the play's historical context, considering how Elizabethan society shaped its themes and characters. We will also explore the play's enduring relevance, asking why Romeo and Juliet continues to resonate with audiences today.

Whether you are a student encountering Romeo and Juliet for the first time or revisiting it with fresh eyes, we hope this commentary will enhance your understanding and appreciation of this timeless masterpiece.

Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is more than a simple love story. While the play is driven by the passionate romance between its two young protagonists, it also explores a range of complex themes, including the destructive nature of feuds, the power of fate, and the interplay of love and violence.

The play is set in Verona, Italy, where two powerful families, the Montagues and the Capulets, are locked in a bitter, generations-old feud. This background of conflict immediately sets a tense and dangerous atmosphere. The opening scene of the play plunges us into the violence of this feud, with servants from both households brawling in the streets.

Against this backdrop of hate, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall deeply in love. Their love is sudden and all-consuming, a stark contrast to the hatred that surrounds them. Romeo and Juliet's love challenges the entrenched animosity of their families, offering a glimmer of hope for reconciliation. However, their relationship is doomed from the start.

The feud between the Montagues and the Capulets creates insurmountable obstacles for the young lovers. Their families' hatred prevents them from openly expressing their love, forcing them to meet in secret and rely on clandestine means to communicate. This secrecy, while initially romantic, ultimately contributes to their downfall.

Fate also plays a significant role in the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare uses a number of foreshadowing elements to suggest that their love is destined for a tragic end. From the opening lines of the Prologue, we are told that Romeo and Juliet are "star-cross'd lovers" who will "take their life." This sense of inevitability pervades the play, creating a sense of dramatic irony as we watch the lovers hurtle towards their tragic fate.

Through the characters of Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare explores the power and intensity of young love. Their passion is immediate and overwhelming, defying reason and convention. Romeo, initially infatuated with Rosaline, falls head over heels for Juliet at first sight. Juliet, initially hesitant about marriage, is quickly swept away by Romeo's charm and devotion. Their love is idealistic and romantic, marked by poetry, declarations of eternal devotion, and a willingness to defy all odds.

The play also explores the darker side of love, highlighting its potential for violence and despair. Romeo's love for Juliet drives him to kill Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, leading to his banishment from Verona. Juliet's love for Romeo leads her to take a desperate gamble with a sleeping potion, a decision that ultimately results in their tragic deaths.

Romeo and Juliet is a play full of memorable characters, each contributing to the unfolding drama. Romeo is a passionate and impulsive young man, driven by his emotions. Juliet, though young, displays courage and determination in pursuing her love. Mercutio, Romeo's witty and cynical friend, provides comic relief while also highlighting the dangers of the feud. Friar Lawrence, Romeo's confidant, attempts to guide the lovers towards a happy ending but ultimately fails to avert tragedy. The Nurse, Juliet's confidante, offers a more down-to-earth perspective on love and marriage, often providing comic relief with her bawdy humor and practical wisdom.

Shakespeare's language is one of the most striking features of Romeo and Juliet. The play is renowned for its poetic beauty, its passionate speeches, and its use of vivid imagery. Shakespeare masterfully blends prose and verse, adapting his language to suit the different characters and situations. He employs metaphors, similes, and puns to create layers of meaning and evoke a wide range of emotions.

The enduring appeal of Romeo and Juliet lies in its universal themes and its timeless exploration of human experience. The play's themes of love, hate, fate, and the consequences of violence resonate across cultures and generations. Its characters are complex and relatable, their motivations and actions rooted in universal human emotions.

The Prologue of Romeo and Juliet serves as a crucial introduction to the play, setting the stage for the tragic love story that is about to unfold. It is spoken by a Chorus, a single character who addresses the audience directly, providing them with essential information about the play's plot and themes.

The Chorus opens by introducing the setting of the play: "In fair Verona, where we lay our scene." This immediately establishes a sense of place, transporting the audience to the Italian city where the story takes place. The Chorus then introduces the two feuding families, the Montagues and the Capulets, describing them as "Two households, both alike in dignity." This description emphasizes the equal standing of the families, suggesting that their feud is based on a long-standing and deeply rooted hatred rather than any difference in social status.

The Chorus goes on to highlight the destructive nature of the feud, stating that "From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, / Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." This foreshadows the violence that will erupt throughout the play, emphasizing the tragic consequences of the families' hatred.

The heart of the Prologue lies in its introduction of the two lovers, Romeo and Juliet. We learn that they are "A pair of star-cross’d lovers" who will "take their life." This immediately establishes a sense of inevitability, suggesting that their love is destined for a tragic end. The phrase "star-cross'd" implies that their fate is determined by forces beyond their control, hinting at the influence of destiny in the play.

The Prologue concludes by outlining the structure of the play, stating that it will encompass "The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love, / And the continuance of their parents’ rage, / Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove." This reinforces the sense of tragedy, suggesting that only the deaths of Romeo and Juliet can bring an end to the feud.

Shakespeare's use of the Chorus in the Prologue is a clever dramatic device. By addressing the audience directly, the Chorus creates a sense of intimacy and immediacy, drawing them into the world of the play. The Chorus also provides the audience with a framework for understanding the play's plot and themes, preparing them for the tragic events that are to come.

Act I Scene 1: Servants' Brawl

The opening scene of Romeo and Juliet plunges us directly into the heart of the feud between the Montagues and the Capulets. We are introduced to two servants from the Capulet household, Sampson and Gregory, who are armed and looking for trouble. Their conversation reveals the deep-seated animosity that exists between the two families.

Sampson's opening line, "Gregory, on my word, we’ll not carry coals," is a play on words. "Carrying coals" was a common expression at the time, meaning to endure insults or humiliation. Sampson is asserting that he and Gregory will not tolerate any disrespect from the Montagues. Gregory's response, "No, for then we should be colliers," continues the wordplay, referencing the workers who carried coal. This exchange establishes a tone of aggression and bravado, suggesting that the servants are eager for a fight.

Sampson's declaration that "A dog of the house of Montague moves me" reveals the extent of his hatred. The word "dog" is a derogatory term, indicating his contempt for the Montagues. His willingness to "take the wall" of any Montague man or maid is a further assertion of dominance. In Elizabethan England, taking the wall, or walking closer to the buildings, was seen as a sign of superiority.

Gregory's response, "That shows thee a weak slave, for the weakest goes to the wall," challenges Sampson's bravado. This sets up a dynamic between the two servants, with Sampson representing a more aggressive and confrontational approach and Gregory a more cautious and pragmatic one.

The arrival of Abram and Balthasar, servants from the Montague household, escalates the tension. Sampson's decision to "bite his thumb" at them is a deliberate insult. In Elizabethan England, biting one's thumb was considered a rude gesture, equivalent to giving someone the middle finger today. This act of aggression triggers a confrontation, with both sides drawing their swords and fighting.

Benvolio, Romeo's cousin, enters and attempts to stop the fight. His line, "Part, fools! put up your swords, you know not what you do," highlights the senselessness of the violence. Benvolio represents a voice of reason and peace, contrasting with the hot-headed servants.

The arrival of Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, further inflames the situation. Tybalt is a fiery and aggressive character who revels in the conflict. His declaration, "What, drawn, and talk of peace? I hate the word / As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee," reveals his deep-seated hatred for the Montagues. He immediately challenges Benvolio to a fight, escalating the brawl into a full-blown street fight.

The arrival of the Prince and his guards restores order. The Prince's speech is a powerful condemnation of the violence, highlighting the destructive consequences of the feud. He reprimands both families, reminding them that their "civil brawls" have "thrice disturb’d the quiet of our streets." He warns them that if they disturb the peace again, "Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace."

The Prince's speech serves as a turning point in the scene, marking a shift from the chaotic violence of the brawl to a more somber and reflective mood. It establishes the Prince as a figure of authority and justice, setting the stage for the consequences that will follow from the feud's violence.

The brawl in Act I Scene 1 is a crucial opening to the play. It immediately establishes the central conflict, introducing the key characters and themes that will drive the story. The violence of the brawl sets a tone of danger and foreshadows the tragedy that is to come.