Samuel P's List: English

• He says that all plants, herbs, and stones have their own qualities. He goes on by saying that there is nothing on Earth that cannot be used to do both good and bad things. Therefore, according to Friar Lawrence, poison is not intended to be used only for evil purposes.

  • good info about act 2
• Another instance of symbolism in Romeo and Juliet is when the love between Romeo and Juliet is used as a symbol of religion. When Romeo says “Call be but love and I’ll be new baptized” (2.2.54), he is saying that Juliet’s love will make him born again.

• Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written early in the career of William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers

• Act I

   

  The opening lines sum up the entire play: Two families have fought each other for what could be over a century. A son from one house and a daughter from the other house fall in love, but this love is not meant to be. Both lovers will take their lives, and their deaths will bring peace to both houses.

• Benvolio and Mercutio enter the scene.
• Romeo enters the scene stating that his friends jest at him for something they don't understand.

  • info on when romeo enters the scene
• Romeo enters the scene and tells the friar that he wants to marry Juliet.
• Finally the Nurse relents and tells her that she is to marry Romeo at the church later that afternoon.
• Friar Laurence and Romeo enter the scene with the fryer telling Romeo marrying so quickly is a mistake.

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• he beginning action of this scene is in sharp contrast to the latter parts.  It begins with the two youth lovers peacefully parting but ends with anger and demands from the elders.  There are forwards that suggest when Romeo and Juliet meet again they will be in a tomb.  "Methinks I see thee, now thou art so low, as one dead in the bottom of a tomb."   The harsh actions of Old Capulet drive Juliet to feel hopeless.  Old Capulet is upset that he will not be able to host another celebration and that his daughter doesn't like the suitor he has picked out.  However, the outrage of Juliet's father justifies the secretive marriage and fuels the power of the feud.
• This action packed scene incurs the first instance of tragedy for the young lovers.  Romeo is forced to deal with the reality of his marriage.  He has married a Capulet—his lifetime enemy.  He also chooses to avenge a friend's death rather than spare Juliet's sorrow.  A dying Mercutio sets up the action for the rest of the play when he repeatedly exclaims,  "A plague o' both your houses!"  This reminds the audience of the tragedy that will soon occur and propels Romeo.  Tybalt's untimely return drives Romeo, acting on emotion, to kill him.  Romeo contrasts his earlier effort to avoid confrontation increasing the dramatic tension in the scene.  He struggles with resisting the urge to fight and then acting on impulse.

  • great summary on the novel Romeo and Juliet

• The consequences of Juliet's speedy actions earlier in the play are now catching up with her.  Juliet is first mad at Romeo for killing Tybalt but then takes her role as a wife and shows support for him.  Her age is reflected in this conflict.  She impulsively gets mad at Romeo but tries to behave as an adult by supporting Romeo's duty to avengs his friends death.  The action is completely driven by the Nurse who delivers the bad news to Juliet and agrees to go find Romeo. 

  3.3 

  SUMMARY 
• The experience and wisdom of the Friar save Romeo and Juliet's love.  The Friar has a hard time relating to Romeo's intense situation but comes up with a proposal.  This scene parallels the despair of Juliet in the previous scene.  Both Romeo and Juliet, driven by emotion, need the help of elders to intellectually plan their action.

• The focus of the action changes from Romeo and Juliet's struggle to the Capulet family.  This is one of the few scenes where either Romeo or Juliet is not present.  However, Old Capulet's rash, secretive decision is like Romeo and Juliet's courtship.  Thus, predicting another tragedy as a result of haste.  The scene is short, quick and to the point, suggesting Old Capulet's authority and power. 

  3.5 

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• As noted in the previous Analysis sections, Shakespeare foreshadows Romeo and Juliet's tragic ending by peppering the whole play with images of death. In Act 4, death finally comes to the forefront. Even though the audience understands that Juliet's death is a ploy, watching her plan and execute her suicide is an emotional moment - the extreme measures Juliet and Romeo are willing to take to be together are proof of their tragic desperation.

  • info about when shakespear foreshadowes Romeo and juliets tragic ending

• The final scene of the play brings both the transcendent reunion of Romeo and Juliet and the reconciliation of the feuding families. The family tomb becomes a symbol of both birth and death. It is, on the one hand, the womb from which Juliet should emerge alive — and hope be born anew. However, the tomb is also a dark and fateful vortex that consumes life, light, and hope. Romeo pledges in Act V, Scene 1, that he will defy fate and lie with Juliet that night. In his final act, he falls by her side and lies with her in perpetuity.

• William Shakespeare was baptized on April 26, 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. From roughly 1594 onward he was an important member of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men company of theatrical players. Written records give little indication of the way in which Shakespeare’s professional life molded his artistry. All that can be deduced is that over the course of 20 years, Shakespeare wrote plays that capture the complete range of human emotion and conflict.