Analysis of Act One, Scenes 2-3

Question 1

Why doesn’t Capulet immediately consent to Paris and Juliet’s marriage in Act 1, Scene 2?
Give two reasons.

Answer 1

Capulet thinks that Juliet is too young to marry — he wants Paris to wait “two more Summers” before marrying her. He also wants Juliet to consent for the marriage herself. He tells Paris to “woo her” and “get her heart”.

Question 2

Give an example from Act 1, Scene 2 where fate plays a role in bringing Romeo and Juliet together.

Answer 2

The Capulet’s servants ask Romeo to read the party invitation to him. After reading the invitation, Romeo decides to go to the party, where he meets Juliet.

Question 3

what is the nurse’s opinion of Paris?

Answer 3

The Nurse approves of Paris, describing him as “a man of wax” and “a very flower”

Question 4

What is the audience’s initial impression of the following characters?
a) Juliet
b) the Nurse

Answer 4

a) Juliet appears reserved
and obedient when she is
first introduced in Acts 1,
scene 3. She speaks
formally to her mother,
calling her “Madame” and
asking “what is your will?”
b) The Nurse comes across
as a comical, talkative
character. She makes
vulgar jokes and repeats
herself a lot. Both Lady
Capulet and Juliet ask her
to stop talking.

Question 5

How do scenes 2 and 3 build anticipation for the Capulet’s party at the end of Act 1?

Answer 5

In Act 1 scene two, the audience discovers that Romeo is planning to go to the Capulet’s party in order to see Rosaline. In the next scene, they find out that Juliet will be at the same party, where she is supposed to look out for Paris. This builds anticipation, because the audience is expecting Romeo and Juliet to fall in love with each other, and it seems as if they might meet at the party.