Full Summary of the Play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare - Book Report/Review Example

Romeo and Juliet Introduction William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet is one of the most renowned dramas of the English language. Its tragic ending coupled with its exploration of youthful passionate love make it renowned even numerous centuries after its original publication. Today it stands as a testament to these ideals and represents fate and youthful exuberance in a tragic setting perhaps more powerfully than any of Shakespeare’s plays. This essay examines the structure of the play, analyzes the characters, and advances an interpretation of many of the scenes. Summary and Analysis Romeo and Juliet opens with a prologue scene. With the famous line, “A pair of star crossed lovers take their lives” The prologue functions to set the tone for the rest of the play through introducing the setting. Through its reference to ‘star crossed lovers take their lives’ it also refers to the role of destiny in these two characters lives and how they will eventually take their lives. It’s a powerful instance of foreshadowing that is easily missed in a quick reading. In the first scene Sampson and Gregory walk through the streets of Verona. They are from the house of Capulet who is in conflict with the house of Montague. The men discuss their hatred for the house of Montague. Soon the men encounter two men from the house of Capulet –Benvolio. Abraham, and eventually Tybalt and Lady Capulet. Sampson and Gregory bite their thumb at the men, which is a sign of great disrespect, and this causes a physical confrontation to ensue. The scene functions to grab the viewer’s attention as it immediately results in a physical conflict. Eventually the prince enters and states that if the civil disruption continues that he will put to death those who caused it. He states, “Once more, on pain of death, all men depart” (Act I, Scene i). After the fight is stopped, Benvolio remains with Montague and Lady Capulet. They discuss how the fight began and then Lady Capulet expresses concern over her son Romeo and asks Benvolio whether he knows of his whereabouts. Benvolio responds that he had seen him, “Where, underneath the grove of sycamore/ That westward rooteth from the citys side” (Act I, scene i), however he indicates that Romeo eventually went away. They discuss the cause of Romeo’s strange behavior, and at this instance Romeo enters. Benvolio sets about finding the cause of Romeo’s strange behavior and Montague and Lady Capulet exit. Romeo states that he is in love with Rosaline but she doesn’t care for him. It’s worth considering Romeo’s characterization at this moment. While one would originally think to find Romeo doting on Juliet, he is actually discussing Rosaline. One must consider Shakespeare’s intention in this regard: is the viewer to believe that Romeo easily falls in love, or is his love with Rosaline merely an immature love to which Juliet demonstrates its mature fulfillment? The next scene features Capulet and Paris. They walk along Verona and discuss Capulet’s desire to marry Juliet. While Juliet is only fourteen and still too young to marry, Capulet informs Paris of a party that is occurring later to which he should attend and begin courting Juliet. The scene demonstrates that Juliet’s decisions are in great part restricted to her father’s desires. Peter is given the task of writing the invitation list. Later in the scene Peter encounters Benvolio and Romeo and asks them to read the list because he is not able to read himself; Romeo notices Rosaline’s name on the list and decides to attend the party. In this instance, the play advances the plot through the concurrence of a number of disparate elements: Romeo and Benvolio’s conversation regarding Rosaline intersects with Peter, who has just left Capulet and Paris who had been speaking about Juliet; it’s clear at this point that Romeo and Juliet’s paths will ultimately cross. In the next scene the reader is first introduced to Juliet. In the conversation Lady Capulet and Juliet’s Nurse discuss the Party and how Paris is going to be there. They inform Juliet that Paris is interested in marrying her and Juliet responds, “I’ll look to like, looking liking move; / But no more deep will I endart mine eye / Than your consent gives strength to make it fly” (Act I, scene iii). Juliet is stating that she will act in accordance with how her mother tells her to act towards Paris. This further shows that she is in great part restricted by the actions of her parents and still in a relative state of immaturity. In the next scene Romeo, Benvolio, and Mercutio are about to enter the party. Even though they are wearing masks Romeo begins to worry about how they will gain admission since they are Montague’s. He then states that he is worried because he had a dream last night that told him the party was a bad idea to attend. Romeo then expresses concerns that, “With this nights revels and expire the term/ Of a despised life closed in my breast/ By some vile forfeit of untimely death” (Act I, scene iv). This is another element of foreshadowing – already the prologue has indicated as much, that references the fateful ending of the play, and ads insight into the significance of the events that are about to occur. The next scene occurs in the party. This is the first instance in the play where Romeo sees Juliet. He asks someone at the party who she is. Tybalt notices that Romeo is attending the party and that since he is a Montague resolves to attack him. Capulet reprimands him and stops him from doing so. Romeo then approaches Juliet and then begins speaking with her, and then they finally kiss. When they speak it is in a sonnet form that mirrors the sonnet in the prologue. One might argue that the similarity in form between these two speeches also creates a link between their message – namely, that the poetic relationship of the character’s is fated to end tragically. Soon Juliet’s nurse enters and brings Juliet away. Juliet asks the Nurse to find out who the man was she was kissing and the Nurse discovers it was Romeo. Juliet is upset because he is a Montague. The next scene begins Act II and it is another prologue. It further advances the notion that while Romeo and Juliet are in love their families forbid them to be together. Yet, even in the face of these restrictions they are determined to be together and have found means to make it happen. In the next scene in Act II, Romeo has just left the party and instead of going home he goes looking for Juliet. He jumps a fence and eventually ends up at her home under her window in the beginning of the second scene. This is the famous balcony scene and is one of the most famous and emblematic scenes in all of Shakespeare. Romeo compares Juliet to a number of things, and Juliet responds with the seminal lines, “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Act II, scene ii). The next day Romeo encounters Friar Lawrence. The Friar is able to tell that Romeo is not acting like his normal self and begins to think that Romeo is still smitten over Rosaline. Romeo informs the Friar that he is not in love with Rosaline, but now he is in love with Juliet. The Friar mentions how Romeo’s love is so transitory and switches form one person to the next so easily. Romeo then asks Friar Lawrence to marry him and Juliet and even though the Friar initially thinks it is a bad idea he eventually agrees because he believes it will bring the Capulets and the Montagues together. In another scene Mercutio and Benvolio discuss how Tybalt is angered at Romeo for showing up at the party the night before and has challenged him to a dual. Romeo eventually enters and they inform him of the news, making fun of him for the way he has been acting. Soon Juliet’s Nurse enters and has a conversation with Romeo. He asks her to tell Juliet to meet him at a specified time at the Friar’s so they can be married. In the next scenes the Nurse returns to Juliet who has been waiting anxiously. She informs Juliet of her conversation with Romeo and tells her that he wants to meet her at Friar Lawrence’s place so they can be married. Similarly, Romeo is waiting with Friar Lawrence and tells him that he doesn’t care about the consequences of his actions because they can only pale in comparison to the exuberant feeling of love he is now experiencing. The Friar warns him of acting too rashly, however Romeo’s statements are another clear element of foreshadowing in the play. Later in the play Romeo and Mercutio are walking along an encounter Tybalt. Tybalt attempts to attack Romeo, but Romeo refuses because he has already married Juliet and is now part of Tybalt’s family. Instead Mercutio and Tybalt fight and Tybalt stabs and kills Mercutio. Mercutio goes to his death by damning both the Montagues and the Capulets, “A plague o’ both your houses” (Act III, scene i). Tybalt then attempts to attack Romeo and Romeo draws his sword and kills him. The Prince then enters and decides, rather than having Romeo killed, to banish him from the city of Verona. This complicates the plot even further as now Romeo is unable to be in the same city as his new bride. The Nurse informs Juliet of what has occurred and she is understandably distraught at the occurrences, although she indicates that she is considerably more upset that Romeo has been banned than that Tybalt has been killed. This indicates that Juliet’s character has developed as she is able to rationalize her devotion to Romeo, rather than becoming merely the pawn of her emotions. In another scene, Romeo speaks with the Friar about his punishment stating that he would rather be killed than banished, because now he is forced to live without Juliet. In another scene Capulet speaks with Paris and states that a wedding will be held between them soon, further complicating the entangled occurrences. In the next scene Romeo has come to visit Juliet and now that it is soon dawn he must hurry away or face death. After Romeo leaves Lady Capulet enters and informs Juliet of the marriage that has been planned between her and Paris. Juliet resolves to escape and exits to Friar Lawrence. She states that she will commit suicide if he cannot help her. The theme of suicide here represents Juliet’s only escape from a male-dominated world. When Juliet reaches the Friar she also encounters Paris who kisses her. After he leaves she devises a plan with the Friar to pretend to marry Paris, but then to actually take a potion which will make her appear dead, after which she will escape to Mantua to marry Romeo. Although Juliet rationalizes that drinking the potion might result in her ultimate harm she resolves to drink it anyway. Soon she is discovered by her family and they begin to mourn. Balthasar encounters Romeo and mistakenly informs him that Juliet has died. Romeo is distraught and resolves to rest with Juliet that night. He then goes to the apothecary and buys a vial of poison. The Friar is then depicted and comes to realize that his letter has not reached Romeo and as a result Romeo will not be able to go to Juliet’s tomb to save her; instead the Friar resolves to go himself. Romeo goes to visit Juliet’s tomb but is encountered by Paris whom he is forced to kill. Romeo then descends into the tomb and takes the potion, indicating that he wants to spend eternity with Juliet, “here/ Will I set up my everlasting rest,/ And shake the yoke of inauspicious stars/ From this world-wearied flesh” (Act 5, scene iii). Juliet awakes and discovers that Romeo has killed himself; as a result of Romeo’s death she resolves to kill herself as well. Upon discovering the tragic deaths the Capulets and Montagues finally resolve to end their feud and build statues for Romeo and Juliet. Read More