In Act 1, Scene 1 of Romeo and Juliet, how does Shakespere prepare the audience for the tragedy that us to follow? Comment upon the plot/action, character, language and themes.

A-Level: English

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The play in question of Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy which was written in the 12-1300th by William Shakespere. Williams Shakespere not only wrote tragedies but comedies and histories including 154 sonnets. This play archives a tragedy status as it ends in death and misery for the star-crossed lovers and the purpose of which to make an emotional impact on the audience. But its not all bad with most tragedies by Williams Shakespere. Its not just doom, gloom, revenge and death; there’s love, optimism and funny bits to. The play is set in fair Verona where warring families Montagues and Capulets are fuelling against each other. At the very start there is a prologue. The prologue introduces and summarises the play you are about to see. Shakespere uses this; not because he wants his audience to know what happens in the play. But to wonder why and how these events unfold and to set the mood, using a sonnet form. The sonnet form is recognised by its structure and rhythmic style of usually 14 lines, and is found not only in the prologue but in the Lady Capulet’s speech and the first 14 lines Romeo and Juliet speak to each other. The prologue is also used to introduce the themes of the play; love, fait, hate and conflict preparing the audience for the tragedy that follows.
The opening action draws the audience’s attention from the feud between Sampson and Gregory. Right from the start the use of puns is used to attract attention. “No for then we should be colliers”. This grabs the attention of the audience not only for the laughter as minutes later on it turns to crude then quickly to violence from Abraham’s sentence. “Do you bite your thumb at us sir?” With the opening containing three contrasting atmospheres it gets the dispassionate audience grasped to it. Furthermore by containing three controversial ideas it could almost suggest to the audience that there is a lot more gripping action to come, giving them clues to the upcoming action.
Benvolio is a kind hearted, trust worthy member of the house of Montague. On arrival he changes the situation immediately. “You know not what you do”. From this he changes the atmosphere around the characters and they “beat down there swords”.
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