Romeo and Juliet - Act I

Romeo and Juliet (Prologue and Act I)

From the very beginning of Act I, we see that there is quite a bit of witty banter between both the Capulet and Montague houses as well as within them. Much of this has to do with picking a fight from another person in which the banter is used to its full effect in order to agitate the other person so they may draw their sword. Other times it is used to lighten the mood (such as by Benvolio to Romeo to try and cheer him up) or to silence a person (such as when Capulet does this to Tybalt at the party). The banter here tends to make me think sometimes that this is more of a comedy than a tragedy because of how much it is used. However, it does its job of making the reader laugh at some parts and scowl at its use at others. Compared to Much Ado About Nothing, the banter is less intelligent and more playfully used than the sarcastic banter in the latter.

When Romeo speaks with Benvolio in 1.1 we see how airy and light Romeo’s words seem to be even though he is very upset. I also noticed that Romeo’s words are quite poetic and have an undertone of flourishing love even to the very end of his speaking. As he talks to Benvolio, we see rhyming couplets as well that also help set apart his words from those of Benvolio or others. Although Romeo does seem to be sad in the beginning, I’m not entirely convinced that he is by the end due to the underlying tones as well as the way he speaks.

I read Romeo and Juliet in high school, but this time it is much easier for me to read. I also understand the witty banter more and didn’t realize how many sexual innuendos were used throughout even just Act I. I am also able to recognize the underlying tones from different speakers and how these tones play into how the person acts towards certain people.