Romeo and Juliet: Themes, Characters, and Conflict
The play "Romeo and Juliet" explores themes of love and conflict amidst chaos and fate. The story follows the tragic romance of the eponymous protagonists, Romeo and Juliet, who belong to feuding families. As the play unfolds, we see the consequences of their infatuation, melodramatic behaviors, and the impact of destiny on their lives. The characters, such as Romeo, Lady Montague, and Benvolio, navigate through a world filled with passion, despair, and family ties.
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RECAP The fight begins with a play. What are the two main themes of Romeo and Juliet? a) Chaos and madness b) Death and despair c) Family and fate d) Love and conflict What does the Prince say will happen to the next character that is caught disturbing the peace again?
Keywords: Infatuated adjective. Showing an intense, short-lived passion. E.g. He was obviously infatuated with her. Someone who is infatuated may: show extreme actions and expressions feel powerless behave foolishly
Keywords: Melodramatic adjective. Exaggerated or over-emotional. E.g. Her temper tantrum was exhaustingly melodramatic. Someone who is behaving melodramatically may: behave in an extreme manner act in a shocking or surprising way be seen as foolish by others
Quick check. Which is an example of melodramatic behavior: A. Crying hysterically about breaking a pair of sunglasses B. Causing a scene over a small problem C. Answering a question in a calm manner. Infatuation often leads to: A. Sensible behavior B. Irrational behavior Which is a consequence of infatuation: A. Feeling powerless as a result of your feelings. B. Being able to see clearly and solve problems C. Feeling completely satisfied D. Sleeping easily Melodramatic behavior is often considered to be: A. Foolish B. Normal
Romeo Romeo is the protagonist in the play. This means he is the main character in the story. He (and Juliet) is also an eponymousprotagonist because his name appears in the title of the story. Romeo is one of the star-crossed lovers that was mentioned in the Prologue.
After the fight After the fight scene between the Montagues and Capulets, we meet Lord and Lady Montague. They are worrying that they have not seen their son all day. Benvolio is Romeo s friend. He says that Romeo has been acting strangely and agrees to help find him and find out what is upsetting him. Not long after, Benvolio finds Romeo. Romeo explains that he is deeply in love with a girl named Rosaline, but Rosaline does not love him back.
Act 1 Scene 1 Lady Montague asks Benvolio for help Lady Montague uses lots of imperatives because she does not understand where her son is or why he is acting so strangely? Lady Montague: O where is Romeo? Saw you here today? Right glad I am he was not at this fray? Benvolio: So early walking did I see your son. Towards him I made, but he was ware of me, And stole into the covert of the wood. Fray = fight Covert = lots of trees and places to hide
Lord Montague is also concerned Lord Capulet lists Romeo s strange behaviour. Montague: Many a morning hath he there been seen, With tears augmenting the fresh morning s dew, Adding to clouds more clouds with his deep sighs, But all so soon as the all-cheering sun Should in the farthest east begin to draw The shady curtains from Aurora s bed Away from light steals home my heavy son, And private in his chamber pens himself, Shuts up his window, locks fair daylight out, Benvolio: My noble uncle, do you know the cause? Montague: I neither know it nor can learn of him. Augmenting to make something greater Aurora the Roman Goddess of the dawn.
Benvolio finds Romeo Benvolio: What sadness lengthens Romeo s hours? Romeo: Not having that which, having, makes them short? Benvolio: In love? This time, Benvolio asks uses lots of imperatives to suggest his lack of understanding. Romeo: Out Benvolio: Of love? Romeo: Out of her favour where I am in love Benvolio: Alas that love, so gentle in his view, Should be so tyrannous and rough in proof.
Romeo explains how he feels Romeo: Not mad, but bound more than a mad-man is; Shut up in prison, kept without my food, Whipt and tormented The verb tormented suggests great suffering and the melodramatic infatuation that Romeo feels.
Meanwhile Lord Capulet is having a party. He will be introducing his daughter, Juliet, to a man named Paris who has asked for her hand in marriage. Romeo and Benvolio learn about the party and find out that Rosaline will be there. Benvolio convinces Romeo to go to the party and compare Rosaline s beauty with others with the hope that he will forget about her. Romeo doesn t think he will ever find anyone as beautiful as Rosaline.
Act 1 Scene 2 Romeo says no one will compare to Rosaline s beauty. Romeo: One fairer than my love! The all-seeing sun Ne er saw her match since first the world begun. The exclamatory sentence shows Romeo s melodramatic reaction to Benvolio s suggestions.
Quick check. Which of these characters are eponymous protagonists in the play? A. Benvolio and Romeo B. Romeo and Rosaline C. Romeo and Juliet D. Lord Montague and Romeo Who is Romeo in love with? Is Romeo involved in the fight with the Capulet servants? Who is having a party that evening?
What is Romeos attitude to love at the beginning of the play?
What is Romeos attitude to love at the beginning of the play? Grading guide GOOD Basic point about Romeo s attitude VERY GOOD Backed up by a quote with a bit of an explanation EXCELLENT Alternative interpretations- personal response Romeo is struggling to deal with love because Romeo is used to being loved and having his own way. Rosaline does not love him so Romeo is sad. Shakespeare shows that Romeo is feeling sad. This is shown in the quote : he was ware of me and stole into the woods. The quote shows us that Benvolio knows that Romeo is not ok as Romeo runs into the woods to avoid being asked questions by him. Rosaline is not replying to Romeo and this makes him feel sad. Romeo says that his days are long because of not having that which, having makes them short . This suggests that he doesn t know how to handle Rosaline s rejection. It also indicates that time is slowing down and Romeo is getting more and more frustrated as he isn t getting any attention which is making him feel even more upset.
What is Romeos attitude to love at the beginning of the play? Grading guide GOOD Basic point about Romeo s attitude VERY GOOD Backed up by a quote with a bit of an explanation EXCELLENT Alternative interpretations- personal response Romeo s father does not understand Romeo s behaviour because he runs away into the trees and doesn t talk to anyone about it. Shakespeare shows that Romeo is behaving strangely. His father speaks to Benvolio because he is concerned and says, I neither know it, nor can learn of him which suggests that he does not understand his son s unusual actions which include sitting in darkness alone. I think that Romeo s actions are typical to being in love. On the other hand, maybe Romeo is just being a typical teenager and wants his own space..
Now answer the question yourself What is Romeo s attitude to love at the beginning of the play? What is Romeo s attitude to love at the beginning of the play? You must use paragraphs and not bullet points. Present your work well. Use subject terminology. Use quotations. Link your ideas to the context of the play. Words to include: Sentence starts: Romeo infatuated melodramatic interrogative exclamatory Romeo is struggling to deal with love because Shakespeare shows that Romeo is feeling sad This suggests that Rosaline is Shakespeare shows that Romeo is behaving strangely Grading guide GOOD Basic point about Romeo s attitude VERY GOOD Backed up by a quote with a bit of an explanation EXCELLENT Alternative interpretations- personal response
Recap 1. What does melodramatic mean? 2. Who is Romeo in love with at the start of the play? 3. Who goes to speak to Romeo about his foolish behavior? 4. At the end of this scene, what event have Benvolio and Romeo decided to attend? 5. What sort of sentences does Shakespeare use to emphasise Romeo s feelings of infatuation?
What knowledge have you learnt today? What skills have you learnt/developed today? How has your previous learning helped you today?
