Prologue Flashcards
Two households, both alike in dignity,
The 2 households, the Montagues and the Capulets, are both alike in social status and the first line expresses their likeliness making the feud even more ironic
In fair Verona,
The play is set in Verona, Italy. It’s very rare to find a Shakespearean play not set in an exotic foreign climate as it would not only absolve him of any treasonous social commentary but also appeals to the masses. Furthermore, the word ‘fair’ could mean both beautiful and just. The second ,earning indicates that the Prince of Verona (who enforces the law) treats both families equally and not above the law.
From ancient grudge break to new mutiny,
‘Ancient grudge’ is a hyperbolic term for a longstanding feud as is the case with these 2 families. It is important to note that the origin of the feud is never mentioned. The adjective ‘ancient’ holds connotations of something old, sacred and untouched as though it is something that has always existed and will never break. It is juxtaposed by the phrase ‘new mutiny’ which may mean there is new violence which foreshadows the intensity of the feud that happens due to the young lovers
Where civil blood makes civil hands unclean.
Meaning the blood of citizens soils the hands of fellow citizens. It’s possible that Shakespeare is ironically playing on the word Civil as it’s a very uncivil act to be spilling blood in the streets all the time
From the fatal loins of these two foes
‘Loins’ perhaps refers to the genitalia of Romeo and Juliet’s parents. We still use the phrase ‘the fruit of one’s loins’ to mean children today. Loins was also used as a pun. In Shakespearean pronunciation, loins was pronounced the same as lines thus suggesting that the 2 lovers are from literal loins but also the genetic lines of their respective parents. ‘Fatale means deadly whilst ‘loins mean vitality therefore Shakespeare is reinforcing the idea that fate was against Romeo and Juliet using an oxymoron
A pair of star-cross’d lovers take their life;
Many people believed their fate was written in the stars but for Romeo and Juliet the star spelled the worst. It foreshadows at a scene later in the play (Act 5, Scene 1) where Romeo cries out ‘I defy you stars’ after he learns of Juliet’s supposed suicide. He suggests that this tragic turn of events should be blamed on fate. The phrase ‘take their life’ holds a double implication as it could means to ‘derive their lives’ (being born) but also taking one’s life in committing suicide
Doth with their death bury their parents’ strife
Shakespeare employs the use of chiasmus placing ‘death’ and then ‘bury’ at the centre of the line suggesting the only way to end their parents’ strife is with the death of Romeo and Juliet
The fearful passage of their death-mark’d love,
‘Death-mark’d’ could mean doomed but also ‘with death as their objective’
And the continuance of their parents’ rage,
Which, but their children’s end, nought could remove,
These lines suggest that Romeo and Juliet already have their fate written for them due to their parents hatred and only the death of the lovers will quell it
Is now the two hours’ traffic of our stage;
‘Two hours’ refers to the conventional amount of time for a play to last during Shakespeare’s time as the majority of the audience would be standing to watch so it couldn’t be too long.
To which if you with patient ears attend,
What here shall miss, our toil shall strive to mend.
Meaning that if you listen carefully, to what you have not yet heard, we will try to fix that (referring to their fate). Again, it’s a comment on the nature of putting on a play in itself. Shakespeare audience would often go to this play already knowing the plot but like most of Shakespeare’s work the most interesting part is the way the story is told
