Act 1, Scene 1 Flashcards
It’s true, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall. Therefore I will push Montague’s men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall
This quote highlights the themes of violence and conflict and female subservience that are present throughout the play. The phrase ‘weaker vessels’ is a biblical allusion as the adjective ‘weaker’ highlights than women were seen as the lesser sex and ‘vessel’ show that they were seen as vessels to just produce children as it is deemed their duty. The whole quote is a sexual innuendo.
Nay, as they dare. I will bite my thumb at them, which is a disgrace to them if they bear it. (bites his thumb)
In this quote, Shakespeare introduces the theme of male pride and honour as he is saying it’s disgraceful if he insults the Montague’s they do not retaliate. The phrase ‘bite his thumb’ was an insult equivalent to swearing.
What, drawn and talk of peace! I hate the word As I hate hell, all Montagues, and thee; Have at thee, coward!
Tybalt is quite a fiery and rash character contrasted by Benvolio who is trying to deescalate the situation. Shakespeare uses the rule of 3 to emphasise Tybalt’s hatred towards the Montagues.
If ever you disturb our streets again, Your lives shall pay the forfeit of the peace
The Prince who says this line is the authority figure in Verona so what he says becomes law. Shakespeare uses dramatic irony as the Prince says ‘your lives’ will pay the price, but it is in fact Romeo and Juliet who end up dying. The Prince is shown to be in control of Verona and its citizens and the use of the pronoun ‘our’ perhaps has a double meaning as it shows everyone is the city is affected but also the Prince uses the royal plural pronoun which is when 1 person speaks for everyone again showing his power and certainty in action
With tears augmenting the fresh morning’s dew, Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs.
Romeo is shown to be suffering from his unrequited love for Rosalind which has put him in a state of depression and Shakespeare uses metaphors as well as natural imagery to exhibit the state of his sadness. Montague describes him as adding to the ‘dew’ with his ‘tears’ and to the ‘clouds’ with his ‘sighs’ and the poetic nature of this speech aligns with Romeo’s position as a Shakespearean lover. He is seen to be quite melodramatic
Tut, I have lost myself. I am not here. This is not Romeo. He’s some other where.
Romeo is essentially saying that he’s not himself because of his unrequited love for Rosaline. Shakespeare was writing in the Renaissance which was a time of higher enlightenment especially in philosophical thought which lead the Elizabethans to believe that humans were made of 3 parts, mind, body and soul. Essentially, Romeo is trying to argue that due to his heartbreak , his soul has broken so he is not the same. Unrequited love was seen as a disease in Elizabethan times, with symptoms including fever, mood swings and madness
What, drawn and talk of peace? I hate the word, as I hate hell, all Montagues and thee
This characterises Tybalt as a violent, arrogant and villainous character, through comparing the Montagues to demons (religious imagery) and the repetition of ‘hate’ emphasises his strong feelings as well as the fact he hates peace. Benvolio and Tybalt are shown as character foils to each other
Purple fountains issuing from your veins / bloody hands
The Prince clearly disapproves of the Montagues and Capulets fighting, and makes use of graphic language and imagery to exemplify the extent to which he hates violence. The metaphor creates an image of blood gushing out of people veins which would shock the audience
Rebellious subjects / enemies to peace / profaners of this neighbour-stained steel
The Prince emphasises the fact that even normal civilians are getting pulled in the feud and the names he uses shows how he disapproves of violence and fighting. You could say he is a pacifist. ‘Neighbour-stained’ suggests that this conflict is turning people against each other, perhaps their friends and family
Will they not hear?
It is clear that the Prince is growing increasingly frustrated that no one is listening to his decrees and it could perhaps suggest that he may not actually be quite as powerful as we think because they have already fought 3 times with no consequences so they are not scared
Could we but learn from whence his sorrows grow, we would as willingly give cure as know
Romeo hasn’t told anyone what is wrong despite the fact that Lord Montague would really like to know so he can help his son and ‘cure his sorrows’, which shows him as quite a caring, loving father. Therefore, he acts a character foil to Lord Capulet who is quite strict and mean
Is the day so young? / But new struck nine
Romeo and Benvolio’s conversation is an example of stichomythia which is where 2 characters speak shortly with each other and this increase the tension of the scene which is likely to capture the attention of the reader. It also shows that they are extremely close as they can understand each other with minimal words
Out of her favour where I am in love
The cause of Romeo’s sadness is that he loves someone who does not love him back. Benvolio as well as the audience is trying to figure who it could possibly be that he loves but Romeo instead just keep describing her quite complementary which intrigues the audience. It is eventually revealed to be Rosaline and this could be an example of courtly love as he is a young, noble male who worships her, a beautiful, chaste and unattainable woman. He also ponders about love itself which he sees as unhappy as it has made him depressed not joyful
